What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is growing in popularity across the country, and there are several options available to consumers. Here, we have summarized some of the most common ones.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Battery Electric Vehicles are often what comes to mind when discussing EVs. These vehicles operate solely on electricity from a rechargeable battery pack and do not require a gasoline engine. Because they don't produce harmful emissions like traditional gas-powered cars, BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. The battery can be charged through regenerative braking, which captures energy that would typically be lost as heat during braking and repurposes it to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also have both an engine and an electric motor. Similar to traditional hybrids, they can recharge their battery through regenerative braking. However, PHEVs usually have a larger battery and can be plugged into a grid to recharge. They can travel several dozen miles before the gas engine provides assistance, and once the all-electric range is depleted, they function as regular hybrids and can travel using gasoline.