What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is increasing nationwide, offering shoppers a range of options to choose from. To help with the decision-making process, we've highlighted some of the most common types of EVs below.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people mention EVs, they are usually referring to Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles are fully electric and do not rely on gasoline engines for power. Instead, they use rechargeable battery packs, making them zero-emission vehicles that don't generate harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution hazards like traditional gas-powered vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles combine both gas-powered engines and electric motors to provide power. The battery can be charged through regenerative braking, which converts energy that would typically be lost as heat during braking into electricity. This energy is then repurposed to assist the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also combine gas-powered engines and electric motors, but typically have larger batteries than traditional hybrids. They can partially recharge their battery through regenerative braking and can also be plugged into the grid to recharge. A PHEV can travel several dozen miles solely on electric power before the gas engine kicks in. Once the all-electric range is depleted, they can run on gasoline like a traditional hybrid.