There is no better time to begin learning about types of electric vehicles, with the EV market booming, more than one million electric vehicles are now on UK roads, plus sales are growing rapidly each year. It is estimated that by the end of 2021 one in ten new cars will be electric, with drivers opting for cleaner and cheaper plug-in electric power rather than petrol and diesel engines.
You may have seen many acronyms when researching electric cars, this is because the choices of EV now go beyond those powered by batteries alone, there are options that combine a traditional engine or rely on fuel cells. Depending on your desired vehicle features, there is an EV for everyone, here you can explore the main types of vehicles available on the market today.
BEV – Battery Electric Vehicle
What is a BEV, and how is it powered? A battery electric vehicle is a fully electric vehicle using only rechargeable batteries and no petrol or diesel engine.
What are the benefits? Battery electric vehicles are zero – emission vehicles, so when driving a BEV they do not generate any harmful tail-pipe or carbon emissions into the atmosphere. They are the cleanest cars on the road as they are powered entirely by a rechargeable electric battery.
BEV’s electric charging means that they are also cheaper to run, averaging around £1.30 for 100 miles of driving, depending on the cost of electricity. With new smart charging technologies driving the industry forward and a wide range of vehicles offering great battery capacity, BEVs offer a low maintenance solution to cost-effective, eco-friendly driving. BEV owners can charge their vehicles at home, using a specially designed car charging unit, or at one of the more than 42,000 public charge point connectors throughout the UK. A typical BEV has a range of 100-300 miles on a single charge!
With no traditional petrol or diesel engine, these electric vehicles tend to benefit from a low centre of gravity, as the electric battery is typically spread across the floor of the vehicle. A low centre of gravity improves handling and comfort for the driver. It is also worth noting that because EV have much simpler electric motors than internal combustion engines, they actually accelerate faster than gas-powered cars, and have more than enough speed for every-day usage.
HEV – Hybrid Electric Vehicle
What is a HEV, and how is it powered? Hybrid electric vehicles run on both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that uses energy stored in a battery. The conventional engine charges its batteries via regenerative braking, recouping kinetic energy used to stop the car to charge its battery, this then helps the traditional engine accelerate the vehicle. Regular hybrid vehicles cannot plug into a charging unit to recharge.
What are the benefits? A hybrid electric vehicle produces lower tail-pipe emissions than comparably sized traditional combustion engine vehicles, since the hybrid’s engine is usually smaller in comparison. SO if you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to petrol or diesel cars without having to make life adjustments, these are a great choice.
There are savings to be had when switching to a HEV, with a lower carbon footprint when a hybrid is in use, owners benefit from tax reductions in comparison to the same vehicle in a petrol or diesel model. There are also government schemes in place to support the purchase of hybrid vehicles with rebates available on purchase to support drivers to become more environmentally responsible.
HEV’s are especially efficient in towns and cities due to the regenerative braking technology, they will drive solely on energy at lower speeds, and most benefit from automatic start and stop technology too.
PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
What is a PHEV, and how is it powered? A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to drive the car. As PHEV’s have a much larger battery than a regular hybrid, they still benefit from rechargeable braking but also require the use of an electric car charger.
What are the benefits? PHEV’s can drive anywhere from 10-50 miles before their traditional gas engine provides support, making them an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. Typically, short trips undertake solely battery – powered driving, but once the electric power has been used the traditional engine takes over. You can charge a PHEV either with a conventional, household 3-pin plug socket, a domestic wall charger or using public charging bays.
Plug in Hybrids tend to be cheaper to purchase than fully electric vehicles and still benefit from great savings such as grant funding, lower tax and less money spent on fuel. Plus, if you live in the city, you could also avoid paying charges for driving your car, such as London’s congestion charge.
PHEV’s are an ideal step into electric driving, helping drivers get comfortable with electric vehicle chargers and street charging facilities. As most plug-in hybrid vehicles are model extensions, it shouldn’t feel very different to driving the same vehicle in a petrol or diesel model. With the option to refuel or effortless vehicle charging there is no need to worry about running short of range even on the longest trips.
