Electric vehicles, or EVs, are a familiar sight on a growing number of streets in the United States. An EV operates on a battery instead of using fossil
fuels, and it releases no carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, this expanding branch of the automotive industry has developed its own vocabulary, and understanding
these terms can help you to make an informed decision when you buy your next vehicle.
Ampere/Amp: A unit that measures electrical current. Specifically, it's used to measure the rate of the flow of electrons. An EV charging station
features amperage on the display screen.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): A car or truck that has a battery as its single power source
Blended Mode: This is a feature of a hybrid EV that runs on both electricity and gasoline. It switches from electricity to gasoline when the battery
goes dead.
Cathode: The positive electrode on a battery that takes in electrons
Charging Station: A facility or structure capable of supplying power to the battery of an EV
Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC): The fastest method of charging an EV. DCFC has the ability to charge a battery in 20 to 30 minutes. It is also
known as a Level 3 charger.
Drive Unit: The portion of an EV that provides the power, including the battery, transmission, and motor
Electronic Testing Lab (ETL) Label: An EV with this label has met industry safety standards.
EV Battery: The battery supplies the energy necessary to operate an electric vehicle.
Factory ZERO: The first General Motors automotive plant dedicated solely to making EVs
Greenhouse Gas (GHG): A type of gas, such as carbon dioxide, that absorbs infrared radiation from the ground and then sends it back into Earth's
atmosphere
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): A dual power system that operates with an electric motor as well as an internal combustion engine
Incentives: Benefits such as federal tax credits that people can earn by going green and switching from a gasoline-powered engine to an EV
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE): A conventional engine that runs on gas or diesel fuel
Kilowatt (kW): The power measurement used for EV batteries. One kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts.
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): The unit used to measure the capacity of an EV's battery
Level 1 Charger: The slowest type of EV battery charger, which supplies energy via a 120-volt socket
Level 2 Charger: An EV charger that plugs into a 240-volt socket. It's capable of recharging a battery overnight.
Lithium-Ion Battery: A rechargeable power source used in EVs
MHEV: A car or truck known as a mild hybrid, which has a gasoline-powered engine as well as a motor that runs on electricity. An MHEV's battery
cannot supply enough energy to operate the motor on its own.
Miles per Kilowatt-Hour (mpkWh): A measurement of the number of miles an EV or a hybrid can travel per kilowatt-hour of electricity used
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Battery: A less popular battery type for EVs and hybrids, which can store a smaller amount of energy than lithium-ion
batteries
Off-Peak Charging: Periods of time when the cost is lower for charging an EV due to less activity on the electrical grid
On-Board Charger: An EV device used to charge the battery that turns alternating current into direct current
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): A car or truck with both a gasoline motor and an electric one. The gasoline engine only kicks in if the
battery dies or if extreme acceleration is necessary.
Range: The amount of distance an EV can cover after fully recharging its battery
Regenerative Braking: When the kinetic energy lost while engaging the brake is captured and converted into electricity to power an EV
SAE-J1772: The code that refers to the North American standard connector for an EV
State of Charge: The level of charge an EV battery has at any time
Tethered Charger: A type of charger that has a cable permanently attached to it. Many home EV chargers feature this design.
Trickle Charging: When power is supplied to an EV battery in a gradual way in an effort to prevent total drainage
Utility Rate: The cost of electricity. The utility rate is especially important to EV owners when trying to determine the best time to charge their
battery.
V2V: A technological feature allowing one EV to charge the battery of another
Watt: The fundamental unit that measures electrical power
ZEV: A car or truck that releases zero exhaust while in operation
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