What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity across the nation, and shoppers have a range of options to choose from. Here, we've outlined some of the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

BEVs are what people usually refer to when talking about EVs. These vehicles run solely on electricity from a rechargeable battery pack and do not require a gasoline engine. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles as they do not produce harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution hazards typically associated with gasoline-powered 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 normally lost as heat during braking and repurposes it to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

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