What are the different types of electric vehicles?
Currently, the types of electric vehicles on the market can be categorized into 3 types: Battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, which are divided into: hybrid, plug-in hybrid. The specific introduction is as follows:
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
A battery electric vehicle is a vehicle that completely relies on the on-board rechargeable battery as its power source, and it does not have the engine, transmission and other components of a traditional fuel vehicle.
Working principle: the electric energy in the battery is transmitted to the motor through the motor controller, and the motor converts the electric energy into mechanical energy to drive the vehicle. For example, Tesla Model 3, its battery pack provides power for the vehicle, and the motor can quickly output torque according to the driving demand, realizing the vehicle's acceleration, deceleration and other actions.
These vehicles do not produce tailpipe emissions during operation, which is very friendly to the environment and helps reduce urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Without engine noise and vibration, the driving and riding experience is quieter.
Compared with traditional fuel vehicles, the energy conversion efficiency is higher, enabling more efficient use of energy.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
Hybrid vehicles are equipped with both a fuel engine and an electric drive system, and these two power sources can work together according to different driving conditions.
Working Principle: In starting, low-speed driving conditions, the vehicle mainly relies on the electric motor to drive, at this time the engine can not work or run at a lower efficiency; when the vehicle needs to drive at high speeds or rapid acceleration, the engine and the electric motor work together to jointly provide power for the vehicle. Like Toyota Highlander is a typical hybrid vehicle, its power system can intelligently switch power modes to achieve the purpose of energy saving.
Through the reasonable cooperation between the electric motor and the engine, the fuel consumption is reduced, which can save a certain amount of fuel costs compared to traditional fuel vehicles. At this point, there is no need to worry about the range of pure electric vehicles, because the fuel engine is used as a backup power source and can continue driving when the battery is low.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
PHEVs are in between battery electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. They have a larger battery capacity than that of a typical hybrid electric vehicle, and can be recharged through an external power source.
How it works: When the battery is fully charged, it can drive a certain mileage purely on electricity like a battery electric vehicle; when the battery is depleted, the vehicle switches to hybrid mode, which is driven by both the engine and the electric motor or by the engine only. For example, the BYD Tang DM-i can be used in pure electric mode for daily short-distance trips, and for long-distance trips, there is no need to worry about range, as the fuel engine can be used.
Users can choose between pure electric mode or hybrid mode according to their travel needs, enjoying the quietness and low cost of pure electric driving while relying on the fuel engine to continue driving when needed.
