Types of Electric Vehicles

May 18, 2022

If you watched the car commercials during the Super Bowl, you may have noticed that almost every ad featured some type of electric vehicle. And that’s not surprising. While still representing only a tiny fraction of U.S. car sales, they are growing in popularity. EV sales in 2021 surpassed 1 million units, driven by a desire to be more environmentally conscious, plus rising gas prices.

Here is a description of the three types of electric vehicles.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

HEVs – referred to as “hybrids” – have been around for decades. A hybrid electric vehicle combines a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric propulsion system. The internal combustion engine does most of the work, and most hybrids cannot run on battery power alone. The battery does enhance fuel efficiency, as some models can get more than 50 miles per gallon of gasoline. Also, this is the only type of electric vehicle that cannot be charged with an EV charger. Instead, they use their internal combustion engines and braking systems to recharge their batteries.

Examples of HEVs include:

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

PHEVs run on battery power until the charge runs out, and then switch to a gas-powered internal combustion engine.

These vehicles generally can be driven 25 miles or more on the battery, and then switch to gas, although there are PHEVs with a battery range of more than 100 miles. These cars are great for people who generally drive a limited number of miles to and from work every day. Drive, return home and use your battery charger to recharge the battery overnight. Then, go out the next day.  Also, you can drive long distances without worrying about recharging, because if you run out of battery power, the gas-powered engine will kick in.

PHEVs include:

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Battery electric vehicles run solely on battery power. They can have ranges of 250 miles or so.  While they are more expensive than PHEVs initially, the fact that there is very little maintenance and no need to buy gasoline could make them a better purchase over time. Electricity rates may be a tradeoff to the price of gas depending on gas and electricity prices.  Of course, if you are planning on driving long distances, you’ll need to make sure you will have access to charging stations. And because the battery is so much larger than a PHEV battery, you’ll need a charger that will be able to charge it overnight.

BEVs include:

Contact Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric for EV Chargers

No, we do not sell electric cars. But if you have an EV or are in the market for one, we can install an EV charger for you. We’ve been in business since 1928, and we’ve made a name for ourselves as one of the most trusted and reliable plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical companies in Chicagoland. Visit Ravinia Plumbing today to learn more, and to schedule an appointment.