Research is a normal part of any car-buying process, but when shopping for gas-powered vehicles, we tend to search more on price, availability, and features than basic vehicle terminology.
When it comes to EVs, however, there are words, acronyms, and even slang that are still relatively new to most people and can cause confusion.
To assist you in your EV shopping or ownership experience, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common EV terminology with help from digitaltrends, Edison Energy and General Motors. These terms are sorted by category and simplified for sharing.
More comprehensive terminology lists and classifications can be found at the resources mentioned above or at myev.com. Here, we touch only on the basics to get you mor comfortable before you walk into a showroom.
Electric Vehicle (EV): a vehicle powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): a vehicle that runs solely on battery power.
Hybrid (HEV): vehicles powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV): a hybrid vehicle that runs on electricity longer than a traditional hybrid due to its electric battery plug-in feature.
Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV): a vehicle that primarily uses electric power but has a combustion engine for backup in the event of battery drain. Unlike a hybrid, the engine does not directly drive the wheels.
Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV): a vehicle that primarily uses an internal combustion engine with small amounts of support from an electric motor. They are not able to operate solely on battery power.
Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV): a vehicle that emits no pollutants or exhaust emissions.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): a vehicle that relies on hydrogen fuel cells to charge the vehicle’s battery.
Anode: the (negative) part of the EV battery that releases electrons during discharge.
Cathode: the (positive) part of the battery from which the current leaves the cell.
Battery Cell: the basic area of the lithium-ion battery that stores electricity.
Battery Module: a grouping of battery cells within a structure, usually for the purposes of temperature control.
Battery Pack: the battery system in an EV, made up of modules, a surrounding enclosure, high-voltage hardware, and protective structural features.
Drive Units: the element that gives EVs their horsepower and torque, made from the combination of single-speed transmissions and electric motors.
Wireless Battery Management System (wBMS): a wireless battery system that helps safeguard overall battery health by balancing the individual battery cell groups.
Battery heating system (BHS): a system that ensures the battery pack remains at ideal operating temperatures. A necessary component in cooler temperatures, which adversely affect battery life and charging speed.
Reducer: the EV equivalent to a transmission.
Drive Unit: the combination of an EV motor and its reducer (i.e., transmission).
Lithium-ion: the rechargeable battery technology used on most EVs.
Solid-state Battery: an emerging battery that will use a solid electrolyte between the anode and cathode, rather than a liquid electrolyte. This allows for a lighter, smaller battery that’s less prone to explosion.
On-board Charger (OBC): an element that converts alternating current to direct current to charge the EV battery.
Inverter: an element that converts a battery’s direct current into an alternating current.
Low Voltage DC-DC Converter (LDC): a component that reduces the voltage of an EV battery’s power so it can be used by systems within the car (e.g., headlights).
Vehicle Control Unit (VCU): the processing center of a vehicle. Coordinates power control, motor control, regenerative braking, power supply, and load management.
Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU): a unit that combines the inverter, low voltage DC-DC converter, and vehicle control unit into a single unit to oversee major responsibilities in an EV’s system.
Range Extender (REx): a small internal combustion engine used to recharge the EV battery.
Frunk: short for “front trunk” since EV’s don’t have motors under the hood.
Amp: a unit used to measure electric current. Short for amperage and usually used in context to EV charging speeds
Amp-hours (Ah): a measurement of the total current a battery can emit over one hour. Commonly determines the total energy capacity of any given battery.
Volts (V): a measurement that indicates the amount of work needed to move an amp of energy between two points.
Watts (W): a measurement that considers the force and the flow rate of electricity to determine the final electrical output for charging points.
Kilowatt (kW): one thousand watts.
Kilowatt-hours (kWh): a measurement of the power of one kilowatt maintained for one hour. Commonly determines the total power potential of any given battery.
Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg): a measurement of the energy density of a battery, relative to weight.
Ohms (Ω): a measurement of electrical resistance. Resistance determines how well a material conducts electricity.
Watt-hours Per Liter (Wh/L): measures the energy density of a battery, relative to volume.
Alternating Current (AC): the electrical standard homes are built on.
Direct Current (DC): the electrical standard most modern electronics and EVs are built on. EVs typically need to convert AC power to DC to charge their batteries.
Resistor: a module in an electrical circuit that slows current. This can be used to split voltage between different routes, match voltage to meet certain tolerance levels, or even generate heat.
Transistor: a module in an electrical circuit that modulates electrical power. This allows incoming electrical signals to be amplified, or switch from exiting onto one circuit from another.
Capacitor: a module in an electrical circuit that retains power.
Regenerative Braking: a method of braking used by EVs that provides an additional charge to the battery during the braking process.
Range: how far an EV can go on a single charge.
Torque: the twisting force that rotates the tires of a vehicle. EVs tend to have significantly higher torque than traditional cars.
Horsepower (hp): a measurement of work being done commonly used to convey how much power a vehicle has.
Revolutions per Minute (RPM): a measurement of how many times a shaft turns per minute to transfer power from a motor to a crankshaft. EVs have higher RPMs than internal combustion engines.
Level 1 Charging: EV charging through a common residential 120V outlet.
Level 3 Charging: the fastest form of EV charging, also known as DC charging. Commonly available at on-the-go locations such as gas stations and rest stops.
Single-phase Charging: a connector (the physical end of the cable at a charging point) that has a single cable for power draw.
Three-phase Charging: a connector (the physical end of the cable at a charging point) that has three cables for power draw. Typically required level 3 charging benefits.
Type 1 Plug: the most common EV connector. Charges up to 7kW via a five-pin, single-phase plug. Often used in the U.S. and known as SAE-J1772 or a J plug.
Type 2 Plug: a connector that charges up to 250kW via a seven-pin, triple-phase plug. Often used in Europe, and commonly referred to as a Mennekes plug.
Combined Charging System (CCS): a connector plug that charges up to 350kW and includes DC charging pins combined with a type 1 plug. Available in configurations for both the U.S. and Europe.