Understanding Key Terms Related to Electric Vehicles

Introduction

The rapid rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has introduced a variety of terms and abbreviations that can help you understand key aspects related to these cars. Familiarity with terms like AC, DC, MHEV, PHEV, kWh, and others will enhance your knowledge. At YallaMotor, we aim to help you grasp these terms and engage in discussions about electric vehicles confidently after reading this article.

Essential Terms

We begin with the term EV, which stands for electric vehicle, referring to cars that run entirely on electricity.
Next is PHEV, an acronym for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, which represents hybrid cars that utilize both electricity and fuel. This type allows for charging the vehicle’s battery, similar to fully electric cars, unlike regular hybrids.
Then we have MHEV, short for Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This type features a smaller electric motor that assists a larger fuel engine. The electric motor is charged through a regenerative braking system that captures energy lost during braking to recharge the battery, extending the vehicle's driving range.
Lastly, BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle, meaning this vehicle operates solely on an electric battery.

Charging Terminology

There are two types of electric currents used for charging electric vehicles: AC and DC.
The term AC stands for Alternating Current, while DC refers to Direct Current. Transmitting high-voltage AC is generally easier than transmitting DC, as it experiences less energy loss during transmission. However, electric vehicles must convert AC to DC before the electricity can be stored in the battery, which can increase the charging time for vehicles connected to AC outlets. This is why companies like Tesla have introduced rapid DC chargers to facilitate quicker charging at stations.

Kilowatt and Kilowatt-Hour

For those of you who have attended science classes, you may know that kilowatt (kW) equals 1,000 watts, making it a straightforward measure of power in electric vehicles. For car enthusiasts focused on horsepower, the kilowatt unit will become the new standard, with 1 kilowatt equating to approximately 1.35 horsepower.
The term kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of measurement for electrical energy, representing the amount of energy transferred in one hour at one kilowatt of power. The capacities of electric vehicle batteries are measured in kilowatt-hours, indicating their energy storage capacity, akin to a fuel tank in a conventional car, but measured in a different unit.