Types of Electric Vehicles: How would you define an electric vehicle? The term electric car can refer to an all-electric vehicle, like the Chevy Bolt or Tesla Model S, or it can refer to what are known as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, like the Toyota Prius. Another type of electric vehicle is called a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), which uses hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity to power its electric motor.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV):
Starting with Hybrid type of electric vehicles HEVs run on both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor. Since they also have a gasoline-powered ICE, they can switch to that if their battery runs out or if you want to go farther without charging. Most hybrid cars are either full hybrids, which get some power from the ICE all of the time, or mild hybrids, which only get power from their electricity some of the time. Since full hybrids can operate like a traditional car when it’s convenient for you, these types tend to be more popular among consumers and automakers.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs):
Fuel cell EVs use a fuel cell that combines hydrogen with oxygen to create electricity. The hydrogen is stored in tanks on board and reacts with oxygen drawn into an electrochemical cell. The only thing that comes out of a FCEV is water, so they’re considered zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Hydrogen-powered cars aren’t widespread yet, although several carmakers have announced plans to launch them soon.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs):
A battery-electric vehicle, also known as a battery-only or BEV, is an all-electric vehicle powered only by batteries. A battery is used to power an electric motor that in turn spins the wheels and propels you down the road. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs): While it’s technically still an all-electric vehicle like its BEV counterpart, FCEVs typically run on hydrogen gas and can be refueled much faster than traditional batteries. Fuel cell EVs are considered clean cars because they produce zero harmful emissions – just water vapor – during operation. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs): An HEV combines two sources of power for propulsion: electricity from a battery and gasoline from a tank.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle:
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can be driven on pure electricity as well as using its internal combustion engine. PHEVs are sometimes called Extended Range Electric Vehicles or E-REVs. The majority of current PHEVs use lithium-ion batteries. Most PHEVs have smaller battery packs and shorter range than full BEVs, but their running costs are cheaper for similar mileage due to lower fuel consumption than conventional vehicles. In some countries such as United Kingdom, China, and several others, there are tax incentives for PHEVs and sometimes other EVs also.
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