Essential Electric Vehicle Terms Explained: EV, PHEV, BEV, FCEV & More

Understanding Key Electric Vehicle Terms and Abbreviations

As electric vehicles (EVs) rapidly gain popularity, a new set of terms and abbreviations has emerged. Understanding these terms—such as AC, DC, MHEV, PHEV, kWh, and more—will help you grasp the essentials of electric cars. At YallaMotor, we're here to explain what these words mean so you can confidently discuss electric vehicles and stay informed.

Essential Electric Vehicle Terms

• EV (Electric Vehicle): Refers to vehicles powered entirely by electricity.
• PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle): These cars run on both electricity and conventional fuel. Unlike standard hybrids, their batteries can be charged via an external power source, similar to fully electric vehicles.
• MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle): A mild hybrid uses a smaller electric motor that supports a larger combustion engine. The electric motor is charged through regenerative braking, which captures energy typically lost during braking and feeds it back to the battery for extended driving range.
• BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle): A vehicle powered solely by electricity stored in onboard batteries, with no combustion engine.
• FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle): Popularized by brands like Toyota, these vehicles use a fuel cell—often hydrogen-powered—to generate electricity for the motor. An example is the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai.
• ICE (Internal Combustion Engine): The traditional engine type found in most vehicles today, running on gasoline or diesel. However, ICE vehicles are expected to see a significant decline in the coming years as electric options become more prevalent.

Charging Terms: AC and DC Explained

Electric vehicles can be charged using two types of electrical current:

• AC (Alternating Current): This is the standard current supplied by most power outlets. AC is easier to transmit over long distances at high voltage, reducing energy loss. However, EVs must convert AC into DC before storing energy in their batteries, which increases overall charging time.
• DC (Direct Current): Direct current is supplied by fast chargers, such as those offered by Tesla at charging stations. Since the conversion to DC happens outside the car, charging is significantly faster than standard AC charging.

Understanding kW and kWh

• kW (Kilowatt): A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts. In electric vehicles, kilowatts measure the car's power output. For those accustomed to horsepower, 1 kW is roughly equivalent to 1.35 horsepower.
• kWh (Kilowatt-hour): This unit measures the total amount of electrical energy your EV can store or use. Battery capacity is listed in kWh, indicating how much energy the battery can deliver over one hour at a rate of one kilowatt. Think of it as the EV equivalent of a fuel tank, but measured in energy rather than liters.