What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity nationwide, and there are several options available for interested buyers. Here we've compiled a list of the most commonly found types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people talk about EVs, they're usually referring to Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles run solely on electricity and don't use gasoline engines. The rechargeable battery pack provides the power to run the vehicle. BEVs are considered zero-emission vehicles because they don't produce harmful tailpipe emissions or air pollution that gasoline-powered cars typically generate.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gas-powered engine and an electric motor. They're able to recover energy through regenerative braking, which is typically wasted as heat in the brakes and rotors of traditional gasoline-powered engines. In hybrids, this energy is repurposed to support the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles also utilize both an engine and an electric motor. Like traditional hybrids, they can partly recharge their batteries through regenerative braking. However, they usually have a larger battery than regular hybrids, and they can plug into a power grid for recharging. PHEVs can travel for several dozen miles on electricity before the gasoline engine kicks in. Once the all-electric range is depleted, they function like regular hybrids and can run on gasoline.