Exploring Types of Electric Cars

When considering fossil fuels and the prices at the gas pumps, many people opt to look at different types of electric cars. If you have never owned an electric car before, you might be hesitant about making the switch. However, as the technology becomes better and incentives are introduced to offset the price of electric vehicles, now is the time to act.

Growth of All Types of Electric Cars

There are three main types of electric cars on the roads: Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). There are currently about 10 million electric vehicles on the road. Still, the federal government is looking to put incentives in place to encourage 50% of all drivers to adopt electric technology by 2030. While the U.S. might not hit the goal, there is no denying that there is room for growth among all types of electric cars.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Typically referred to as “hybrids” for short, hybrid electric vehicles are one of the oldest and most common types of electric cars. The technology for electric cars has been around for decades, but it wasn’t profitable to bring them to market until the start of the new century. The landmark Toyota Prius introduced the electric car to the marketplace in 1997 and, since then, the Prius has continued to rule the market. HEVs cannot plug in and recharge and, therefore, do not require charging stations. Instead, they utilize the combustion engine and braking system to recharge their propulsion while in movement.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

As their name implies, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can be plugged in to charge in between trips. For this to work, they have larger batteries than typical hybrid models, which also means that they can propel a vehicle for a longer time before relying on combustion engines. The Ford C-Max Hybrid and the Honda Clarity PHEV, for example, can go as far as 50 miles solely on battery power. These types of electric cars are great for longer-range drivers and offer a gas option if there is no charging station available.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Battery electric vehicles stand alone among the many types of electric cars because they only rely on electric power to run. Powered solely by their batteries, these types of electric cars have fewer parts, which can help reduce maintenance costs. However, they require forethought before a trip, as you need to monitor the battery level and identify charging stations enroute to your destination in order to keep it fully charged for long drives.

When contemplating the switch to electric vehicles, it’s important to consider what types of electric cars would best fit your lifestyle. From HEVs to PHEVs and BEVs, there’s truly an option for everyone.