Electric Vehicles: What are the four different types?

The big buzzword in the automotive industry these days is electrification. While plenty of brands have been pioneers of the idea for years and years, including Honda, the whole industry is beginning to shift in that direction. There are more electric vehicles on today’s market than ever before, and more will continue to be introduced next year, the year after and so forth. In total, there are four different types of electric vehicles, but we’re aware that you the consumer might not know the difference between them. Since Honda has dabbled in all four categories, we thought we’d go ahead and give you the rundown.

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Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Did you know that the classic hybrids we’ve seen on the roads for decades are considered electric vehicles? A lot of people might think you have to charge a car in order for it to be an EV, but that’s not true. Classic hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) simply combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, thus earning its designation and being much more efficient than gas-only vehicles.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) takes this a step further by pretty much doing the exact same thing but adding the ability to charge the battery through an external socket. This enables the vehicle to be driven very briefly on electricity only, adding to the vehicle’s versatility and efficiency.

Battery Electric Vehicles

The “true” EV, if you will, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are widely considered the pinnacle of electric driving. These vehicles are probably what you picture when you imagine an EV. They do away with the gasoline engine in favor of a rechargeable battery pack and any number of electric motors. The battery can be charged through a socket to enable longer distance driving.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

Finally, that brings us to the fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). These models are wholly unique in that they require fuel, but not gasoline. Instead, they’re powered by hydrogen fuel cells that allow chemical energy to be converted directly into electricity.

Do you remember the Honda Clarity? While there have been plenty of hybrid vehicles on the Honda lineup, the Clarity was available in three different models, each of which represented one of the other types of EVs: Clarity Electric, Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell. Moving forward, we’re sure Honda will introduce more entries into all four categories. Feel free to give us a call with any questions!