Hybrid Car
Electric Vehicle
Electric vehicles use electric motors to drive their wheels. They derive some or all of their power from large, rechargeable batteries.
All-electric EVs, where the battery is the only power source. Most current (non-luxury) models have a quoted range of 80-120 miles (130-190 km). In practice, range varies according to driving style, terrain and the use of auxiliary equipment such as heating/air conditioning.
Electric Vehicle Component
Type of Electric Vehicle
Battery electric vehicles
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are powered by electricity stored in large batteries within the vehicles.
These batteries are used to power an electric motor, which drives the vehicle. This system allows BEVs to operate with zero emissions at their point of use. Most new BEVs also use ‘regenerative braking’, which allows the electric motor to act as a generator in order to re-capture energy that would normally be lost through heat dissipation and frictional losses – this improves energy efficiency and reduces brake wear.
Hybrid electric vehicles
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are powered by a combination of electricity and either petrol or diesel.
The electricity is used only as an intermediate energy storage medium to improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle. They therefore DO NOT need to be plugged in to recharge the battery. This cuts down on the amount of fuel needed, producing fewer emissions and lowering overall fuel costs.
As with BEVs, most hybrids also use ‘regenerative braking’, which captures energy from braking to be put back into the battery - this improves energy efficiency and reduces brake wear.
Plug in hybrid electric vehicles
Plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) work similarly to conventional hybrid vehicles in that they can operate using their petrol or diesel engine as well as stored electricity for an electric motor. However, they have much larger batteries than conventional HEV and can also be charged from the mains
Electric vehicles use electric motors to drive their wheels. They derive some or all of their power from large, rechargeable batteries.
All-electric EVs, where the battery is the only power source. Most current (non-luxury) models have a quoted range of 80-120 miles (130-190 km). In practice, range varies according to driving style, terrain and the use of auxiliary equipment such as heating/air conditioning.
Electric Vehicle Component
Type of Electric Vehicle
Battery electric vehicles
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are powered by electricity stored in large batteries within the vehicles.
These batteries are used to power an electric motor, which drives the vehicle. This system allows BEVs to operate with zero emissions at their point of use. Most new BEVs also use ‘regenerative braking’, which allows the electric motor to act as a generator in order to re-capture energy that would normally be lost through heat dissipation and frictional losses – this improves energy efficiency and reduces brake wear.
Hybrid electric vehicles
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are powered by a combination of electricity and either petrol or diesel.
The electricity is used only as an intermediate energy storage medium to improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle. They therefore DO NOT need to be plugged in to recharge the battery. This cuts down on the amount of fuel needed, producing fewer emissions and lowering overall fuel costs.
As with BEVs, most hybrids also use ‘regenerative braking’, which captures energy from braking to be put back into the battery - this improves energy efficiency and reduces brake wear.
Plug in hybrid electric vehicles
Plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) work similarly to conventional hybrid vehicles in that they can operate using their petrol or diesel engine as well as stored electricity for an electric motor. However, they have much larger batteries than conventional HEV and can also be charged from the mains