Electric cars have seen a massive spike in popularity over the last few years, with more and more people opting for electric power and a greener fuel source as opposed to the more traditional petrol or diesel engine. That's especially true in light of the fast-approaching 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars that emit harmful gases from their tailpipe. The ban is part of an attempt by the UK government to lessen the nation's overall contribution to climate change. However, you'll still be able to use such a car beyond 2030.
But if you're buying a new car or van before that point in time, it's going to have to be an electric vehicle of some sort. Yet you might not be sure about the different types of electric cars and the different types of electric vehicles on offer, as well as the exact difference between hybrid cars and electric cars. Indeed, the opening up of new and greener technology also brings with it a minefield of complex terminology.
If you're as equally confused as many other people, then we invite you to read on and take a dive into this exciting new area of modern technology to determine which type is right for you.
What Are The Different Types Of Electric Vehicles?
There are three main types of electric cars and vehicles: Battery Electric Vehicles, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and Hybrid Electric Vehicles.
1. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Pros
- Zero emissions
- Makes no noise
- No high refuelling costs
- Long range
Cons
- Long charge times
These are your thoroughbred, pure electric vehicles and cars. As fully electric vehicles, they run solely on electric power in the form of a battery pack and an electric motor. As such, the only fuel source is electricity and they produce zero emissions when driving. Because they aren't conventionally powered, fully electric cars and vehicles are remarkably quiet when on the move. You only noise comes from wind resistance and the tyres, so you'll just about be able to hear a pin drop.
Obviously, you don't 'fill up' a battery electric vehicle the same way as you would a petrol or diesel car. Instead, you've got to use a charger. It's similar to charging your phone: you plug it in, charge it up, and then the car is powered by the charged battery. As for where you charge it, people normally get a wall-box charger installed at their home. Or, alternatively, there are plenty of public charging stations which are becoming increasingly available.
Some leading examples of a battery electric vehicles are the Kia e-Niro, the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2.
2. Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Pros
- Fairly long range
- Retains feel of a diesel/petrol vehicle
Cons
- Requires more charging
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is a halfway house between a pure-bred battery electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. The main difference with the one which we've already covered is that it's powered by a battery pack, electric motor AND a petrol or diesel engine. The electric battery power usually offers around 30 miles worth of driving, which is less than the average battery electric car. However, you then have the option to tap into the petrol or diesel engine for greater driving range and longer journeys. That means that, in addition to its electrical nature, a plug-in hybrid electric car still retains some of the benefits of conventionally-powered cars and vehicles.
To charge the battery pack, simply plug it in with a charger and charge it as you would a normal battery electric car. A plug-in hybrid vehicle may also charge slightly through regenerative braking, but that won’t charge the electric battery fully. And, of course, once you've run out of battery power altogether, you'll have to switch to your alternative source of power and fill up the tank in the same way as with petrol or diesel cars. With that safety net in place, it's pretty much a middle point between full hybrid and fully electric cars and vehicles.
Some examples are, the plug-in hybrid IONIQ and the [Toyota RAV4](Toyota RAV4) Search more PHEV's
3. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
Pros
- No need for plug-in charging
- Ideal for stop-start city driving
Cons
- More CO2 emissions
- Poor fuel economy when driving long distances
Similar to before, a hybrid electric vehicle has both a battery pack and an electric motor in addition to a petrol or diesel engine. The main difference is that you don't plug them in to charge via an external source, and they're the closest thing to a diesel or petrol car out of the three electric vehicle types we've covered. They're not as environmentally-friendly as battery electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids, but they still produce less CO2 than conventional diesel or petrol cars.
As mentioned before, you won’t be able to charge hybrid vehicles yourself with a charger. Instead, the batteries receive their energy through regenerative braking. This is energy that would typically be wasted when slowing a car down to assist the internal combustion engine (ICE) of the car. Hybrid electric vehicles will usually be able to run for a couple of miles on their fully electric battery, meaning that they can be a great choice for city driving at relatively low speeds.
Some examples are the hybrid Kona and the hybrid KIA Sportage. Search more HEV's
Which Type Of Electric Vehicle Is Right For Me?
The type of electric car that is right for you will obviously depend on a number of personal preferences and circumstances. A fully electric BEV is the best option if you want to go for zero emissions and save money on fuel costs, as well as help the environment, which is always a good thing! You’ll also experience a smooth and quiet drive like no internal combustion engine car could provide. On the downside, no noise and zero emissions comes at a cost, as constantly charging your fully electric car or vehicle can sometimes be a pain.
A PHEV is ideal if you want to make the leap towards electric driving but without having to rely fully on an electric battery, as you've got a fuel or diesel tank as back-up. The electric battery allows you to travel up to 30 miles without touching your fuel, and if you need it, you can simply pop to a petrol station to fill up your car. All of that can mean big savings on running costs.
Thirdly, an HEV also provides a good balance between saving money on fuel, but without the need to constantly charge your car. Finally,
In addition to those general points, you may also want to weigh in the following factors when considering an EV:
Budget
Electric vehicles, and particularly fully electric BEV's, can often have a higher list price attached to them and so leasing one usually works out more expensive than leasing a conventional engine petrol or diesel vehicle. However, the overall running costs for an electric vehicle can also work out significantly cheaper.
Range
What would owning an electric vehicle be like without a bit of good old range anxiety? Range refers to how far an electric vehicle can go on a single charge, and whilst the majority will have enough range for your average daily commute, you may want to have a think about how many miles you can do each day and the sort of range that's most realistic for you. It's worth pointing out that some electric vehicles do offer rapid-charging, but if you don't want to rely solely on a chargeable battery, a PHEV is probably the way to go.
Access to a Charging Point
You can never underestimate the logistical challenges. Whilst there are an increasing number of electric vehicle charging points around the country, you'll need to consider whether a home charging point might be better for you than public charging facilities. If you live in a flat in a tightly-packed area of a city with no means of installing a wall-box charger city in flats, then a hybrid vehicle could be an option to consider.
Of course, when deciding on an electric vehicle, you may also just like the look of a specific model due to its looks and features – and that’s important too!
What is a Range Extender?
Range extenders still run on electricity but have a small petrol or diesel engine that's used to recharge the batteries and improve a vehicle's range. As we now know, range is always an issue, so the aim of range extenders such as the BMW i3 REX is to give you an extra 70 to 100 miles of range once the batteries are used up, offering greater flexibility when it comes to charge times.
They're preferable over pure hybrids for those longer motorway journeys. However, the extra engine weight means they aren't particularly economical when generating power, so the overall range is still likely to be less than that of a pure electric car or van.
Leasing With LeaseLoco
You’ll find all vehicle types available to lease at LeaseLoco. If you’re thinking that one of these electric vehicle types sounds good for you, then why not head straight over to our search pages to search and compare the hottest lease deals on the market right now:
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
We have plenty of additional information on electric vehicles if you’d like to be a little more prepared before starting your search. Or if you have any particular queries at all, our live chat team will be more than happy to help out!