The vehicle that is powered by electricity is known as an electric vehicle (EV). Knowing the distinctions among the three main categories of vehicles that are sometimes referred to as “electric” is important:
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are electric-only automobiles. A BEV uses electricity to charge the vehicle’s battery. The electric motor is then powered by that battery, which moves the vehicle forward. There are no tailpipe emissions since the vehicle does not consume gasoline to drive. Instead, how the electricity used to power a BEV is produced determines how much carbon is emitted. The Hyundai Kona EV, Nissan LEAF, and Chevrolet Bolt are a few popular BEVs in our programme.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) pair an internal combustion engine with an electric motor that is powered by batteries. You operate your car much like an all-electric vehicle and charge it with power. However, the internal combustion engine acts as a backup if and when you run out of charge. A PHEV’s carbon footprint is still influenced by the fuel mix used to create the energy even if it solely uses electricity to operate. The internal combustion engine’s tail-pipe emissions begin to increase as soon as the vehicle is started. The Toyota Prius Prime, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Honda Clarity are a few popular PHEVs in our programme.
Additionally combining an internal combustion engine with an electric power system are hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). HEVs are not technically “EVs” since they must be “charged” using gasoline rather than electricity because you cannot plug them in to do so. However, because HEVs incorporate innovations like regenerative braking, they are more effective than conventional internal combustion engines. The Toyota Prius is the most well-known HEV.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids are what we mean by “EVs” (PHEVs). HEVs are excluded from the Drive Green initiative.
When a fuel (such as gasoline, diesel, or ethanol) is added to an internal combustion engine, it ignites and produces energy that causes the engine to move. This is how traditional automobiles operate. However, throughout this process, the automobile emits carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.
Would you want to learn more about electric cars? In addition to the Drive Green website sections, we frequently blog about environmentally friendly transportation. View our blogs about electric vehicles here!
