Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric cars all use electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center explains how each type works and what the agency lists for range, charging and incentives. It also explains how these vehicles are described and classified.
What “electric vehicle” means in these categories
According to the Department of Energy, all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles are sometimes all called electric cars, electric-drive vehicles, electric vehicles, or EVs. The agency notes that some of these vehicles still use liquid fuels in conjunction with electricity. It also says all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are referred to as plug-in electric vehicles.
All-electric vehicles: how they work
All-electric vehicles, also called battery electric vehicles, have a battery that is charged by plugging the vehicle in to charging equipment, the Department of Energy says. These vehicles always operate in all-electric mode. The agency reports that they have “typical driving ranges from 150 to 400 miles.”
All-electric vehicles: costs, uses and limits
The Department of Energy states that many states offer incentives for purchasing new electric vehicles. The agency also provides tools for charging information, including an Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations tool. It offers electric vehicle readiness guidance to help communities plan for EVs and EV charging.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: how they work
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that uses energy stored in a battery, according to the Department of Energy. To enable operation in all-electric mode, plug-in hybrids have a larger battery that can be plugged in to an electric power source to charge. Most plug-in hybrids can travel between 20 and 40 miles on electricity alone and then will operate solely on gasoline, similar to a conventional hybrid.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: costs, uses and limits
The Department of Energy notes that many states offer incentives for purchasing new electric vehicles. The agency provides consumer and fleet resources on vehicle and charging options. It also maintains tools that show public charging station locations.
Hybrid electric vehicles: how they work
Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine in combination with one or more electric motors that use energy stored in batteries, the Department of Energy says. An HEV cannot plug in to off-board sources of electricity to charge. Instead, it uses regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine to charge.
The agency explains that regenerative braking captures energy normally lost during braking by using the electric motor as a generator and storing the captured energy in the battery. In an HEV, the extra power provided by the electric motor may allow for a smaller combustion engine. The battery can also power auxiliary loads and reduce engine idling when the vehicle is stopped, which the agency says results in better fuel economy without sacrificing performance.
Hybrid electric vehicles: system designs and costs
The Department of Energy describes mild and full hybrids. Mild hybrids—also called micro hybrids—use a battery and motor to help power the vehicle and can allow the engine to shut off when the vehicle stops; they cannot power the vehicle using electricity alone. Full hybrids have larger batteries and more powerful electric motors, which can power the vehicle for short distances and at low speeds.
According to the agency, full hybrids can be designed in series or parallel configurations. Parallel hybrids connect the engine and the electric motor to the wheels through mechanical coupling, and both drive the wheels directly. Series hybrids, which use only the electric motor to drive the wheels, are more commonly found in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The Department of Energy notes that a wide variety of HEV models are available. It says HEVs are often more expensive than similar conventional vehicles and that some cost may be recovered through fuel savings or state incentives. The agency highlights the “Can a Hybrid Save Me Money?” tool on FuelEconomy.gov to compare an HEV with a comparably equipped non-hybrid model from the same manufacturer and see fuel cost savings associated with the HEV option.