What Type of Electric Vehicles Are There?

The popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is on the rise nationwide, and consumers have a variety of options to choose from when looking to purchase one. Below, we've outlined the most common types.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

When people refer to EVs, they are usually talking about Battery Electric Vehicles. These vehicles run entirely on electricity and do not have a gasoline engine. They get their power from rechargeable battery packs and are considered zero-emission vehicles because they do not emit any harmful pollutants from their tailpipes.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles use both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor. They are able to recharge their battery through regenerative braking, which captures energy that is usually lost during traditional braking and repurposes it to help the gasoline engine during acceleration.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Like hybrid vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles have both an engine and an electric motor, but they have larger battery packs and can be plugged into the grid for recharging. They can travel a limited distance on electricity alone before switching to the gas engine for additional power.