As electric vehicles continue to rise in popularity, car manufacturers are forever striving for the latest and greatest technology, which means what is considered ‘the best EV on the market’ changes pretty fast.
To help you choose the right type of electric vehicle for you, we’re looking at some of the most common types of EV currently on the market.
These types of electric vehicles include:
Battery Electric Vehicle [BEV]
Battery electric vehicles are the most talked-about type of EV. Unlike petrol or diesel cars, they have no engine; the power comes from a battery – or group of batteries – located somewhere in the car.
Battery Electric Vehicles are the cars of the future, and while many people were initially concerned about the distance they could achieve between charges, many BEVs can now travel hundreds of miles, such as the Tesla Model 3 which can travel 340 miles on a single charge.
The batteries used in a BEV are rechargeable, of course, and guarantee zero-emission motoring every mile you drive!
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle [PHEV]
PHEVs balance the benefits of a fully electric vehicle, and the more conventional fuel-powered car. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle certainly has an advantage or two over a BEV – you can add fuel at a petrol station to extend the range of your car, for example – but what you don’t get is clean, zero-emission motoring.
PHEVs combine a small to medium-sized battery with a small to medium-sized engine, meaning they can operate in both fully electric and hybrid modes.
Self-Charging Hybrid
A self-charging hybrid is similar to a PHEV – it pairs a small battery with a petrol or diesel engine – but the key difference is that a self-charging hybrid doesn’t have a charging inlet. In other words, you don’t need to charge the battery on a self-charging hybrid from an external power source, only from the car’s internal engine.
The other key difference is that the battery is particularly small and can typically only provide a mile or two of purely electric power. Instead, the battery helps when moving at low speeds, or to improve efficiency when accelerating.
Extended Range Electric Vehicle [E-REV]
For comparison, a self-charging hybrid features a normal engine and a small battery, whereas an extended-range EV has a normal battery and a small engine. In fact, the engine used in an E-REV vehicle doesn’t drive the wheels at all. Instead, it’s attached to a small fuel tank and is used only for charging the battery.
Having a small engine – also known as a ‘range extender’ – means that you can stop at a petrol station if you need some extra range from the battery, but in practice, the amount of extra range isn’t huge, so you’ll be stopping often if you’re going on a long journey.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
Fuel cell electric vehicles are another alternative for those in the market for an EV. Operating like a BEV, this type uses the aid of a fuel cell powered by hydrogen to provide power, rather than a traditional EV battery. This means that the vehicle doesn’t need to be ‘charged’ and instead is refuelled by replacing the hydrogen in the fuel cell. This can take less than 5 minutes and is done using a pump, similar to that of petrol and diesel.
This is a great option to get an electric vehicle whilst bypassing the longer re-charging times, however, the hydrogen refuelling network in the UK is currently behind schedule with its list of refuelling points at only 15-strong. This is set to change though, as the government continues to build on availability, so don’t count this one out of your search.
Popular EV Brands
H2) Popular EV Brands
Although there are many brands which are plunging into the EV market and offering up their own take on battery and hybrid vehicles, there are some undeniable heavy hitters which are worth keeping on your radar.
We’ve listed some of these below and the reasons why we think you should check them out. Depending on which stage of your EV journey you’re at, you may find certain brands more suitable to your needs than others.
- Kia – Starting with the Kia Niro EV, the perfect entry-level smaller EV with a crossover vibe.
- Volkswagen – A great selection of all-electric mid-range SUVs with a sporty touch, ideal for families.
- Mercedes-Benz - Catering to those looking for luxury and executive-class EV travel.
Electric Vehicles at JCT600
At JCT600 we have a range of electric vehicles available, including all-electrics and hybrids, from a selection of different brands. We also have a great choice of used electric models to choose from - perfect for those shopping with a lower budget.
For regular updates on the ever-growing world of electric vehicles, keep an eye on our news page to stay in the loop.