We’re here to explain and to help you understand the language surrounding all things electric. The age of electric cars is well and truly upon us, so now is the time to catch up!
The terms “Electric car” and “Electric vehicle” are often used interchangeably, however, there are differences between the two.
The term “electric vehicle” is used to describe any vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion. This includes: hybrid electric vehicles (HEV’s), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV’s), battery electric vehicles (BEV’s) and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV’s)
The term “electric car” is used to describe a battery electric vehicle (BEV).
The term “hybrid electric vehicle” is used to describe a vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion and a gasoline engine for range extension, which is needed to provide the mileage for your car. Hybrid electric vehicles can be classified as mild, plug-in or full.
The term “battery electric vehicle” is used to describe a vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion and has a battery pack that stores electrical energy.
And, finally, the term “fuel cell electric vehicle” is used to describe a vehicle that uses a fuel cell to generate electricity to power an electric motor.
