Electric vehicles are set to rule the roads as internal combustion engines are phased out. Apart from classifications indicating the style of vehicles such as saloons, SUVs and sports cars, the type of electric car powertrain technology used is of interest.
This overview profiles the different types of electric vehicles – covering cars only – and looks at emerging concepts that may impact the market in future.
Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Battery-electric vehicles are “all-electric” and are 100 percent battery-powered. They use one or more electric motor(s) to turn the wheels and have zero tailpipe emissions.
Most battery electric vehicles need to be plugged in to recharge the battery, either at home or at a pubic charging point. Battery swapping is an alternative technology that allows battery electric vehicles to quickly exchange a discharged battery pack, although this technology has not been extensively used in Europe to date.
The range that BEVs can travel has grown dramatically over the years as battery technologies advance. The distances that BEVs can travel before requiring charging depends on make, model, driving style, vehicle age and environmental conditions and today there are some 130 EV cars on the UK market with an average range of almost 280 miles.
BEVs benefit from cheaper servicing too, having fewer moving parts than their combustion engine equivalents, and offer a quiet and responsive drive.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) offer the best of both worlds, combining an electric motor with an internal combustion engine both of which can drive the wheels. As the name suggests, they need to be plugged-in to an electricity supply in order to maximise their zero emission capability.
Typically, their battery range is between 30 – 50 miles, which more than covers the average distance travelled each day by UK drivers, particularly for privately owned PHEVs.
PHEV electric only range is ever increasing as new models come to market and for longer trips, or if the battery charge is depleted, an efficient petrol or diesel engine kicks in to power the vehicle.
Extended-range Electric Vehicles (e-REVs)
Extended-Range electric vehicles (E-REVs) are similar to pure electric vehicles and can typically travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. They contain an on-board ICE generator that can charge the battery when the level of charge drops below a certain level. Unlike a PHEV, the ICE generator does not directly provide power to the wheels.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are capable of zero emission driving but can’t be plugged in to charge, instead, they charge their own batteries as you drive, commonly generating electric power during braking. Typically, they offer less electric only range than a PHEV, given they have a much smaller battery, and the internal combustion engine is used in tandem with the electric motor, instead of being replaced by it.
Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs)
AMild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs), sometimes known as hybrid assist vehicles, have a petrol or diesel internal combustion engine equipped with an electric motor that can allow the engine to be turned off as the car is coasting or braking.
The motor can also be used to provide assistance to the engine, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Crucially, MHEVs cannot be driven on electricity alone.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) are zero-emission electric vehicles, which use hydrogen fuel cells to generate power. Hydrogen – stored in an on-board fuel tank – is combined with oxygen in the fuel cell and the only outputs are electricity, heat and water. FCEVs can be refuelled quickly at a hydrogen refuelling station (HRS), and do not require to be plugged in.
Reduced Emissions For a Better Future: SMMT Supports the Motor Industry
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For the latest UK electric vehicle registration data, including new electric car registration statistics and electric vehicle sales figures, please visit the SMMT Data Shop.
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