Some electric vehicles even rely on fuel cells or gasoline generators to provide electricity instead of powerful battery banks.
Unlike other types of EVs, BEVs rely only on battery power.
These vehicles dont have internal combustion engines, dont have tailpipes, and produce zero emissions during operation.
Julie Bang
Since there is no internal combustion engine, the battery needs to be charged by plugging it in.
This typically provides about three to five miles of range for each hour the vehicle is plugged in.
During initial operation, the electric motor will usually draw on the batteries in the vehicle.
A hybrid car engine.cipango27/iStock/Getty Images Plus
The ICE can then charge the batteries.
In some HEVs, the batteries can also be charged through regenerative braking.
This can effectively extend the range of an HEV and help reduce emissions.
Close up of the plug-in/gas port of an Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).Boy_Anupong/Moment/Getty
The main benefit of an HEV is convenience.
From the perspective of the driver, an HEV is no different from an ICE vehicle.
The downside is that they still burn fossil fuel and still produce a significant amount of carbon emissions.
HydroGen 3 Fuel Cell Minivan Engine.Arctic-Images/The Image Bank Unreleased
Otherwise, theyre a lot like standard hybrid-electrics.
PHEVs are referred to as parallel because the electric motor and the ICE work in parallel.
Instead, this jot down of vehicle has a gas-powered generator.
The distinction is that the generator is only capable of generating electricity.
It isnt connected mechanically to the drivetrain of the vehicle.
An EREV is like a BEV with an emergency gas generator.
Any extra electricity is then used to charge the batteries.
However, they do produce carbon emissions whenever the gas generator is running.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Fuel cell technology is intriguing, because it generates electricity without carbon emissions.
Fuel cells are charged with hydrogen, which then reacts with oxygen to generate electricity as needed.
