BASICS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
There are several different types of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) available today. Take a look at the chart below to review the different options.
TYPE OF PEV | DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE |
Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) or Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) | This type of vehicle's only source of energy is electricity; PEVs are 100% powered by their battery pack and have no internal combustion engine or gasoline. Also known as a 'pure electric' vehicle. | THINK City; Nissan Leaf |
| Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) | EREVs have both battery-powered and gas-powered components. While EREVs predominantly run off battery power, most have an on-board gas powered generator to continually recharge the battery. | GM Volt |
| Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) | PHEVs are powered by on-board battery packs as well as an internal combustion engine. These vehicles typically begin driving on battery power (30-50 mile range) and when the charge is depleted, it switches over to basic hybrid functionality for the rest of its range until the battery is recharged. | Coming soon to market |
Did you Know?
The table below compares fuel costs for different types of vehicles for a 100 mile trip. (Based on US national average energy costs. Source: Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicles Data Center)
| Vehicle Type | Fuel Cost per 100 miles |
| Internal combustion engine | $13.36 |
| Hybrid electric vehicle | $8.78 |
| Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle | $7.10 |
| Electric vehicle | $3.74 |