The Ultimate EV Glossary

If you’re new to the EV scene, you may be unfamiliar with much of the terminology used when referring to charging, driving and connectors. We know it can be tricky to get your head around everything EV related, so we’ve broken everything down into a handy guide so you can decode the jargon and become an EV lingo expert.

Types of Vehicles

Electric Vehicle (EV)

An EV is a vehicle that uses an electric motor to power the wheels. This includes fully electric and hybrid vehicles.

Plug-in Vehicle (PiV)

A plug-in vehicle is any vehicle that plugs into an external power source to charge.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A battery electric vehicle is a vehicle that runs entirely on battery power, such as fully electric EVs. They have zero emissions, are incredibly efficient and the term is often used interchangeably with EV.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

A HEV is a vehicle that uses both battery power and a fuel-powered engine. They produce emissions, though less than traditional fuel-powered vehicles.

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

A PHEV is a hybrid electric vehicle that charges by being plugged into an external power source.

Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)

An ULEV is a vehicle that produces very low emissions (tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions of less than 75g/km). All BEVs are ULEVs and some hybrids are also included in the category.

Range-Exended EV (RE-EV)

A range-extended EV is an electric vehicle with a backup petrol generator to help extend the range.

Full Hybrid or "Self-Charging" Hybrid

This is a hybrid electric vehicle that can charge its own battery with the energy generated from braking and coasting. They mainly use fossil fuels to move from A to B as their electric ranges tend to be short.

Types of Charging

AC (Alternating Current)

AC charging is how most appliances are run and how a home charger tops up an EV.

DC (Direct Current)

DC is how batteries are charged. When charging an appliance, such as a laptop, the charger converts AC into DC to charge the battery. EV chargers do the same thing.

Slow Charging

Slow charging (also sometimes called trickle charging) is reserved for overnight charges at home and is either powered by dedicated charge points or through a standard 3 pin plug.

Fast Charging

This is the best type of charging for a top up while out and about. These charge points offer 7kW and are typically found in homes, workplaces and car parks.

Rapid Charging

This is the fastest type of charging and is mainly used for en-route charging on longer journeys. They are often placed in places where rapid charging is convenient, such as supermarkets.

Types of Charger Connectors

Type 1

This is a five-pin plug with a built-in clip, commonly found in the US and usually found in EVs manufactured by Asian and US brands such as Nissan, Mitsubishi and GM/Vauxhall/Opel.

Type 2

This is a seven-pin plug with one flat edge and was originally favoured by European brands such as BMW and VW. It is becoming the most popular type of charging connector.

CHAdeMO

This is a round four-pin plug that is only used for rapid charging and typically compatible with EVs manufactured by Asian brands such as Mitsubishi and Nissan.

Combined Charging System (CCS)

The CCS charging socket is a European standard that American and Asian manufacturers are beginning to adopt. It looks like a Type 2 with extra contacts at the bottom and enables DC charging through CCS with the pins providing auxiliary power to the computer in the car.

UK 3 Pin

This is standard for a UK electrical outlet and can be used to charge some EVs in an emergency, but does not feature the same safety or speed as other connector types so it’s best saved only for a last resort.

Key Concepts

Top Up Charging

Top up charging is plugging your vehicle in whenever you park while out and about to give your EV charge a boost.

Home Charging

This refers to plugging your EV in to charge while it's parked at home, usually overnight. A dedicated charge point is the best and safest way to do this. If you’re interested in having one installed, be sure to get in touch.

En-Route Charging

This is usually rapid charging during a long road trip using a public charge point.

Range Per Hour

This is the distance an EV can travel after one hour of charging. The number varies depending on the type of charger used, the battery size of the EV and the state of charge of the battery.

Vehicle to Grid (V2G)

V2G is the technology that lets EVs send energy to your home so you don’t need to use energy off the grid. This is usually used during times of peak demand when the grid is under more strain than usual.

Vehicle to Load (V2L)

V2L is the technology that lets an EV use its battery to power other devices, such as a phone or laptop. This is useful in emergency situations, for camping trips or other outdoor activities where power sources could be limited. Not all EVs have V2L capabilities built-in, so it’s always worth checking before choosing an EV.

RFID Cards

RFID cards are used to access public charging stations. They’re linked to your account and allow you to start a charge and pay for the electricity used.

Kilowatt (kWh)

This is a unit of energy equivalent to the energy transferred in one hour by one thousand watts of power. EV batteries are typically measured in kilowatt hours. One kilowatt hour is around 3-4 miles of range in a BEV.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) vs Personal Contract Hire (PCH)

PCP is a type of hire purchase financial product to mimic the types of pricing in leasing, but you own the car and are at risk of the car’s value decreasing at the end of your term use.

PCH is a personal lease financial product that lets you rent a top spec electric car from a business, give it back when the term ends and swap it for the newest selection of EVs and high tech products.