How to tell the difference between electric vehicles

Electric car(opens in new tab), or EV, is a generic term for several types of battery-powered vehicles. It can be a polarizing or politicized term, so some people feel they have to decide if they are EV enthusiasts or anti-EV skeptics. In reality, the issue is more subtle than that. There are three types of EVs. Some run on battery power only, while others combine battery and gas power.

There are three main types of electric vehicles:

• A fully battery-powered electric vehicle (EV or BEV)

• Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

Each has advantages and disadvantages in terms of fuel economy, cost and driving experience. Below are the key differences between EVs, HEVs and PHEVs so you can choose the right one for your needs.

To spot the main differences between EVs, HEVs and PHEVs, here’s a tip from PCMag’s Emily Dreibelbis.(opens in new tab)

What is an electric vehicle

Confusingly, EVs, also known as BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), do not have an internal combustion engine that converts gasoline into propulsion. Instead, it runs solely on power from one or more large batteries.

EVs began as a lesser-known driving option for the environmentally conscious, but hit a tipping point in terms of mass adoption in the first half of 2022.(opens in new tab), according to Bloomberg. Fully battery-powered EVs now account for his 5% of new car sales in the US. While still only a fraction, this is the level of adoption at which many new technologies such as mobile phones, televisions and the Internet will start accelerating their transition from the periphery to the mainstream.

Refueling an EV means plugging a charging nozzle into a port hidden in a flap on the outside of the vehicle, much like a traditional gas cap. The electricity then flows to the battery.Various public and private charging options available(opens in new tab), most manufacturers include a home charger. It fits into a standard household outlet on one end and goes inside the car on the other, so you can turn it on at night or whenever the car is in the garage.

Charging at home makes EVs an excellent choice for driving around town and commuting, especially at work(opens in new tab) Increasing as an employee benefit. Most people do most of their EV driving without going to a public charging station.

For long distances, a full charge can run 200-400 miles(opens in new tab), or hours of driving. Driving for more than a few hours means multiple charging stops, each adding from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the charge level of the stations you find.

A growing number of highway rest stops are equipped with fast chargers, which can be charged in 30 minutes to an hour, but are still limited.Automakers and governments are working together to expand the nationwide fast-charging network through initiatives such as gas station partnerships.(opens in new tab) and federal infrastructure bill(opens in new tab)But until charging stations are as ubiquitous as gas stations, it’s important to plan where you’re going to charge along your route.

What is a hybrid electric vehicle?

Hybrids were the first major market entrants when it came to EVs, especially with the global debut of the Prius. (opens in new tab)Early 2000s. These vehicles combine internal combustion engines with electric motors and switch between the two for better fuel economy.

For example, a hybrid car might run quietly on battery electricity when parked instead of idling on gasoline. When started, the internal combustion engine works again.

Hybrids typically claim twice the mileage per gallon of petrol cars, ranging from 40 to 60mpg. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average gas mileage for a gasoline car in 2021 was 25.4mpg.(opens in new tab).

Instead of charging via an external port like EVs and PHEVs, HEVs refill their batteries autonomously via energy from the gas engine. In addition, like EV and PHEV, “regenerative braking” is adopted. Every time you apply the brakes, the vehicle captures energy that would normally be lost and stores it for later use.

As long as you can afford the extra cost without the hassle of finding a charging station or spending extra time trying to turn it on, hybrids have easy quality. It will be more expensive, but cheaper than a plug-in EV.

For example, the 2022 petrol-powered Toyota Rav 4 starts at $26,975. The hybrid version is $29,575 and the plug-in electric hybrid version is $40,300. But every time gas prices spike, it’s easy to see how costs smooth out over time.

What is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle?

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), essentially hybrids of EVs and HEVs, are built to run on both gasoline and battery power. The main difference is that power comes from a plug-in charger, similar to an EV. PHEVs switch to petrol like hybrids when the battery runs out of power, but there are a few examples, like the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV. (opens in new tab)— Allows you to initially run on a gas engine while maintaining battery power that can be switched later.

Because of their larger batteries, PHEVs can run much longer on pure electricity than hybrids, resulting in better fuel economy. In the Rav 4 example, the petrol version is 27mpg (city driving), the hybrid version is 41mpg, and the PHEV is really impressive at 94 MPGe.(opens in new tab).

Like hybrids, many PHEVs do a small amount of charging while driving, primarily through regenerative braking. However, it is primarily designed to be charged from a plug-in port. Only then will it be possible to travel a certain distance purely on electricity. This is a distinct advantage over hybrids, where a small battery is present primarily to complement the gas engine or perform ancillary functions such as running air conditioning.

You can charge your PHEV at home or at a public charging station, so you can enjoy the EV life without worrying about long trips with the peace of mind of a gasoline tank.

For more information, see EV 101: How Do Electric Vehicles Work?(opens in new tab) Like the top EVs we tested(opens in new tab).

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.(opens in new tab), Mashable’s sibling site. PCMag.com(opens in new tab) A technology authority, providing lab-based independent reviews of the latest products and services.