What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular nationwide, and potential buyers may encounter several options when considering purchasing an EV. Below, we've summarized some of the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people talk about EVs, they're often referring to Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles are entirely electric and do not use a gasoline engine. Instead, they rely on rechargeable battery packs for energy, and they are considered zero-emission vehicles since they do not produce harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution like traditional gas-powered cars.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. These vehicles can capture energy through regenerative braking, which would typically be lost as heat in the brake pads and rotors of a traditional gas-powered car. Instead, in a hybrid, this energy is repurposed to assist the gas engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also use a combination of an engine and an electric motor. Similar to traditional hybrid vehicles, they can partially recharge their batteries through regenerative braking. However, they have larger batteries and can be plugged into the grid to recharge. PHEVs can travel several dozen miles solely on electricity before the gas engine kicks in. Once the electric range is depleted, they operate like a traditional hybrid and rely on gasoline to continue driving.