Electric vehicles are among the newest innovations today in the automotive industry. Aside from saving energy resources such as natural gas and oil, they also have little to no dangerous environmental effects as they don’t emit CO2 gas at all. Below you'll find the different types of electric vehicles:
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
This type of electric vehicle combines a conventional internal combustion engine with a battery pack and electric motor to minimize fuel consumption. A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) accomplishes this by driving the vehicle with an electric motor when an ICE is remarkably inefficient, such as accelerating from a stop. Hybrids can also favour the ICE unit when it is more efficient to do so, such as travelling at highway speeds.
Since hybrid vehicles can only be refuelled with traditional fuels, most commonly petrol, they drive like regular ICE vehicles. HEV technology charges the battery through' regenerative braking' and activates the electric motor system at suitable conditions. It eliminates the need for drivers to charge the vehicle to a power outlet or monitor charge.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Another type of electric vehicle is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). It utilizes a battery pack and electric motor with an ICE, similar to a hybrid. The difference is that it comes with other unique features.
This type of electric vehicle comes with bigger battery packs and electric motors that are more powerful than hybrids. The reason is that the electric system does a tremendous job of lifting while driving. It indicates that you can drive PHEVs entirely on electricity, with the ICE turned off.
Experts from RAC approved garages can tell the similarity of driving a plug-in hybrid to a hybrid electric vehicle since they recharge the battery automatically and switch from ICE and electric power depending on the condition. But, you can choose to fill PHEVs using both electricity and fuel. You can run a PHEV entirely with petrol if the battery is empty and vice versa.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
This type of electric vehicle is an 'all-electric' car. It exclusively utilizes electricity to run and has electric motors powered by battery packs on board. It doesn’t include any ICE, but its batteries have a huge capacity since it solely relies on electricity. As a result, BEVs often cost more than other EVs due to their huge battery capacity.
Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV)
A mild-hybrid electric vehicle employs a 48-volt starter motor and an integrated starter generator (ISG) to support the ICE. However, the ISG only assists the ICE and cannot accelerate the vehicle independently. For this reason, the MHEV cannot be considered a "true EV."
Additionally, FCEVs are similar to BEVs because they only use electric energy. The difference lies in their method of storing energy. While BEVs store electrical energy from a charger, FCEVs create an electrical charge on their own using a chemical reaction that primarily involves hydrogen.
Conclusion
Electric vehicles are eco-friendly. They provide a wide range of benefits, making them a good option for those planning to buy a new car.
