Jumping into the world of electric vehicles can feel like learning a new language. Suddenly, you’re dealing with acronyms, technical terms, and buzzwords you’ve never heard before. To make things easier, we’ve put together a helpful guide explaining all the common EV terms you might come across.

Electric Vehicle Types

When you start shopping for an EV, you’ll quickly notice there are different types of electric vehicles to choose from. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones:

BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)

A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is a pure electric cars that run only on electricity. They’re charged via mains electricity and don’t have a petrol or diesel engine backup. Think of them as the true electric experience.

PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has both an electric battery and a traditional combustion engine. You can plug them in to charge the battery, but once the charge runs out, the petrol or diesel engine kicks in.

HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

Unlike PHEVs, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) charge their small batteries via the engine rather than plugging into a power source. They can’t run solely on electricity, but the battery helps improve fuel efficiency.

FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)

A fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) runs on hydrogen rather than electricity stored in a battery. A fuel cell electric vehicle creates electricity onboard to power the motor, emitting only water as a by-product.

EV Battery and Power Talk

EVs come with their own lingo when it comes to power and batteries. Understanding these terms will help you make sense of an EV’s performance and range.

kW (Kilowatt)

A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power that measures how much energy an electric motor can produce. More kW usually means more power and faster acceleration.

kWh (Kilowatt-hour)

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy storage that tells you how much electricity the battery can hold. The higher the kWh, the greater your battery capacity and the more range your EV has on a single charge.

Range

The range refers to how far an EV can travel on a single charge. Driving style, terrain, and temperature can all affect your car’s range.

Regenerative Braking

Regenerative braking is a clever system where the energy used to brake the car is converted back into power to recharge the battery.

State of Charge (SoC)

State of Charge (SoC) is EV equivalent of a fuel gauge, showing how much battery power is left, usually displayed as a percentage.

State of Health (SoH)

State of Health (SoH) is an indicator of how well your EV’s battery is holding up over time. A high percentage means your battery is performing close to its original capacity.

EV Charging Basics

EV charging isn’t as complicated as it sounds, but there are a few different options you’ll want to get your head around.

Level 1 Charging

Level 1 charging involves plugging your EV into a standard household socket. It’s the slowest method, often taking more than 24 hours to fully charge a large battery.

Level 2 Charging

Level 2 charging involves a dedicated 240V outlet, usually installed at home. This method is much faster than Level 1 and is the go-to choice for most EV owners charging overnight.

Level 3 Charging (DC Fast Charging)

Level 3 charging (DC fast charging) is the fastest method and is usually found at rapid charging points in public locations. It can recharge most EVs within 30 minutes to an hour.

EV Charging Connections

There are a few different types of charging plugs used by EVs, which can be a bit confusing. Here’s what you need to know:

Type 1 (J1772)

A Type 1 (J1772) connector is a five-pin plug mostly used by older EVs and models from the US and Asia. It’s suitable for single-phase charging only.

Type 2 (Mennekes)

A Type 2 (Mennekes)connector is a seven-pin plug that supports single-phase and three-phase charging. It’s quickly becoming the standard across New Zealand and is commonly used by European brands.

CCS (Combined Charging System)

A combined charging system (CCS) is a plug type that combines AC charging and DC charging capabilities. It’s essentially a Type 2 plug with added DC pins, allowing for much faster charging.

CHAdeMO

CHAdeMO is a DC charging plug mostly used by Japanese brands like Nissan and Mitsubishi. The name is short for the Japanese phrase meaning “How about a cup of tea?” because the idea is you can charge your car in the time it takes to have a quick cuppa.

EV Slang and Phrases

New to the EV scene? Here’s some of the lingo you’ll hear people throw around. Don’t worry, it’s all pretty straightforward once you know what it means.

Range Anxiety

Range anxiety refers to the fear of running out of battery before you reach your destination. Good planning and an expanding charging network can make this a non-issue.

ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)

ICE is an acronym for internal combustion engine, and refers to any car powered by petrol or diesel.

Getting ICEd

Getting ICEd is a term that refers to when a petrol or diesel vehicle blocks an EV from accessing a charger, preventing charging.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) refers to the ability of some EVs to supply power back to the grid when it’s needed.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)

Vehicle-to-home (V2H) refers to when an EV provides electric power to your home, which can be handy during power cuts or to save on energy costs during peak times.

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is a feature allowing your EV to power appliances or devices directly, making it a great option for camping trips or outdoor work sites.

Important EV Standards to Know

You’ll see these acronyms pop up whenever people talk about an EV’s range. Here’s what they actually mean.

WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure)

The WLTP is the most accurate testing standard for measuring an EV’s range under realistic driving conditions.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

The EPA standard is a US-based testing standard. It’s known for providing lower, but more realistic, range estimates compared to WLTP.

NEDC (New European Driving Cycle)

The NEDC is an outdated testing method that often overestimates range. Most modern EVs are now rated using WLTP or EPA standards instead.

Handy EV Hardware Terms

Understanding the tech behind EVs doesn’t have to be overwhelming. These are some of the key terms worth knowing.

Battery Pack

The battery pack is the cluster of cells in your EV where energy is stored. A typical electric car battery uses lithium-ion technology, just like your smartphone.

Onboard Charger

The onboard charger is a bit of technology in your EV that converts AC power from your home into DC power to store in the battery.

Wall Box

The wall box is a dedicated charging station installed at home. It provides much faster charging than a standard wall socket.

Make the Switch to Electric With Only Cars NZ

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