partner post
types of electric vehicles
EV
EV stands for electric vehicle and describes a car that runs entirely on electricity. These cars do not have an internal combustion engine, but instead have a large battery that is charged by plugging it into a power source at home or at an outlet in a parking lot.
photo credit
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
PHEVs are slightly different from EVs. They are essentially the same as hybrid vehicles in that they use combined energy sources. The difference is that they need to be plugged in to charge their batteries instead of via the engine. For more information, see Sell My Car Direct.
hydrogen electric vehicles
HEVs are still very rare due to the technology and price of the vehicles. They mix hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to charge electric batteries. Due to their rarity, very few hydrogen charging stations are currently available.
batteries
kWh
Electric vehicle batteries are typically measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). For example, a vehicle with an 85kWh battery has a real range of 259 miles. This means that you should use about 34 kWh per hundred kilometers.
Ah
Sometimes electric vehicle batteries are measured in ampere-hours (Ah). For example, a vehicle with 60 Ah corresponds to 22 kWh and one with 94 Ah corresponds to 33 kWh. As a rule, it simply depends on the make of the vehicle.
Load
charging types
There are typically three types of charging for electrically powered vehicles. There is a slow charge (3kW), a fast charge (7-22kW) and a fast charge (43-50kW). The quick charges are AC or DC. The higher the vehicle’s kW rating, the faster it charges
types of plugs
There are typically two types of electric vehicle plugs, a Type 1 and a Type 2. The Type 1 plug has a 7-pin charging connector and the Type 2 has 5 pins. Most vehicles use a Type 2 connector, but some like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV use a Type 1 connector. You can use an adapter to convert the plug types.
mains charging
One of the advantages of electric vehicles is that they use less fuel because they can be charged from the grid. Most electric vehicles have a plug suitable for charging from the mains. Charging from the mains, while convenient, is slower than you would expect from a public charging station.
Wall box or home charger
If you are determined to charge your electric vehicle at home, you can get a home charging station that is a convenient way to charge your vehicle. You can choose between a slow 3kW charger or a more expensive 7kW charger. You will have to wait between 6 and 8 hours for a full charge.
Public charging stations
Public chargers are usually the best way to charge your electric vehicle. They are fast, efficient and sometimes even free. You will find a public charging station on the side of the road, in parking lots, at petrol stations and in hotel parking lots. They are usually inexpensive or free and offer a fast loading service.
