You'll hear a lot of acronyms when considering the transition to an electric vehicle (BEV, HEV, FCEV, PHEV). It can be a bit overwhelming but let's talk you through what they all mean.
- BEV (Battery electric vehicle)
These are your pure electric cars. These cars are powered by rechargeable battery packs, with no secondary source of power. These cars plug into an electricity source to recharge. Through AGL Electric Car Subscriptions we offer a range of BEV cars including Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and MG. With fully electric range of 260-500km there is no need for a back-up power source. - HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle that combines a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric propulsion system (hybrid vehicle drivetrain). The powertrain is intended to achieve better fuel economy than a conventional car. These cars do not plug in to recharge. - FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)
A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is an electric car that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles that emit only water and heat. These cars do not plug in to recharge and, instead, refuel with their power source e.g. hydrogen. - PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
A plug in hybrid electric vehicle comes with both a traditional combustion engine and a battery. Like standard hybrid electric vehicles, the battery can be charged by the petrol engine and regenerative braking. Unlike standard hybrid EVs, the battery can also be charged from an electric power source. - MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
A mild-hybrid car has a small electric motor that can enable the ICE engine to switch off sooner under breaking and at idle. It cannot be charged from an external power source and is not capable of electric-only driving. It simply aims to provide a small reduction in fuel usage. It's worth noting that mild hybrids aren't reported as hybrid vehicle sales. - ICE (Internal Combustion Vehicle)
An internal combustion engine refers to vehicles that run on a fuel source that is combusted like petrol or diesel.