Everything That You Need To Know About Variations of EVs
The car buying process for electric cars is a slightly different experience than when shopping for those that are gasoline-powered, because now there are different factors to consider. First off, there are different variations of EVs, such as those that depend on fuel cells, a hybrid of a gas engine and electric, along with a plug-in hybrid.
For the most part, driving around in an electric car can be a fun experience, but it’s important to know what type of vehicle will work best for you and your lifestyle. Here’s Everything That You Need To Know About Variations of EVs.
EVs and BEVs
Electric vehicles are distinct from most cars on the market, including other electrics because they don’t use internal combustion engines. Rather, these EVs are solely dependent on the power from the battery. Owners of these cars perform the charging in the comfort of their own home using Level 1 or Level 2 chargers, and sometimes more powerful Level 3 chargers (typically made for commercial charging sites).
Seeing how EVs rely on battery power with the aid of the conventional gasoline motor, they can journey much farther on a single charge than hybrids. Other times, this type of car is referred to as a BEV (battery electric vehicle). This term makes it easier to create a distinction between the BEVs and hybrids that run on battery power and gasoline engines.
HEVs
HEVs are hybrid electric vehicles. As previously stated, these types of cars use both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which uses that stored energy in a battery. One of the benefits of opting for a hybrid is being able to charge your batteries through regenerative braking.
How regenerative braking works is every time that you come to a stop, kinetic energy is stored and is used to charge the battery, and even helps the gasoline engine to accelerate the vehicle. Drivers who prefer HEVs for their incredible fuel economy numbers, especially because of their dependency on battery power, which lessens how much gas is actually used.
There are even different types of hybrids. One is dubbed a micro or mild hybrid, this vehicle uses both a battery and electric motor to power up the car. While it can’t rely just on electricity, it boosts fuel economy by turning off the gasoline engine in the middle of a complete stop. The other type of car is called a full hybrid, and this vehicle has the ability to ride on electricity by itself, though this is typically for only short distances.
PHEVs
Last on this list is the plug-in hybrid, otherwise known as a PHEV. This type of car is similar to that of an HEV in the sense that they both have a gasoline engine and battery-powered electric motor. The difference is that the plug-in runs primarily on its electric motor, and won’t tap into the gasoline engine until the battery runs out of power.
Overall, this system can decrease the amount of gas used by as good as 60 percent. Additionally, plug-ins can journey up to 40 miles without gasoline, compared to only a couple of miles with a traditional hybrid vehicle.
Types of PHEVs:
- EREVs (Extended Range Electric Vehicles) or series plug-in hybrids, have an electric motor push the vehicle, while the gasoline engine is responsible for generating electricity. When the battery runs out, the electricity in the engine’s stored electricity seizes power of the vehicle.
- Meanwhile, parallel or blended PHEVs have their internal combustion engines and electric motors to move the car together.
Driver’s Auto Mart
Now that you have the knowledge, why not use what you have learned and apply it to your car buying experience at Driver’s Auto Mart. We carry a wide range of vehicles from various manufacturers that are pre-owned and incredibly up-to-date.
Moreover, our EV-preferred customers will enjoy our selection of electrics such as the Chevy Bolt or Ford Fusion Hybrid. One simply has to check our online pre-owned inventory and chat with a representative for further assistance.