Types of Electric Vehicles: BEVs, PHEVs, HEVs – What’s the Difference?

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, or PHEVs, have both an engine and electric motor to drive the car. Like regular hybrids, they can recharge their battery through regenerative braking. They differ from regular hybrids by having a much larger battery, and being able to plug into the grid to recharge. While regular hybrids can (at low speed) travel 1-2 miles before the gasoline engine turns on, PHEVs can go anywhere from 10-40 miles before their gas engines provide assistance. Once the all-electric range is depleted, PHEVs act as regular hybrids, and can travel several hundred miles on a tank of gasoline. All PHEVs can charge at an EVgo L2 charger, but most PHEVs are not capable of supporting fast charging.

PHEV Examples:

Audi A3 E-Tron • Audi Q5 TFSIe PHEV • Audi A7 TFSIe • Bentley Bentagya • BMW 330e • BMWi8 • BMWx5 xdrive40e • Chevy Volt • Chrysler Pacifica • Fiat 500e • Ford C-Max Energi • Ferrari SF90 Stradale • Ford Escape PHEV • Ford Fusion Energi • Hyundai IONIQ PHEV • Hyundai Sonata • Jeep Wrangler 4xe • Karma Revero GT • Kia Optima • Land Rover Range Rover PHEV • Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring • Mercedes C530e • Mercedes S550e • Mercedes GLE550e • Mini Cooper SE Countryman • Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV • Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid • Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid • Subaru Crosstrek PHEV • Toyota Prius • Toyota RAV4 • Volvo XC90 TB • Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV