Welcome to the electric car dictionary!
This guide will help you understand the language of electric mobility and get familiar with the terms used in this exciting industry. As we move towards more and more electric cars on our streets, it’s important that you know what they are, how they work, and what they mean.
We’ll start with the basic terms included in the electric vehicle dictionary:
Electric Motor
An electric motor is characterized by having instant torque, as well as not generating any type of pollutant emissions during its use, and without the need for a clutch or gear change (which is why they are automatic).
Electric motors are used in all kinds of vehicles, from cars to boats and trucks. They can also be used in industrial applications such as heavy machinery, where they can replace diesel engines.
Range anxiety
It’s a funny thing, but it’s one of the things that has kept electric car drivers from taking to the road.
The fear that your car won’t make it to your destination—and you’ll have to come back the same way you came!—can be frustrating and even scary. But more and more models are offering longer ranges, and more and more charging stations are being installed throughout the country, which helps reduce this anxiety.
Smart Charging
Smart Charging is a system that allows electric vehicles, charging stations and operators to share data connections.
This means that when an electric vehicle (EV) is plugged into a charging station, the data connection between the EV and the charging station is used to determine the optimal charging protocol for the vehicle. The system optimizes this protocol so that it matches the needs of both parties.
Acronyms for electric mobility
Within the electric vehicle dictionary, there are many acronyms that refer to different types of electric vehicles and other aspects related to the charging process:
HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
This acronym refers to conventional hybrid vehicles that do not need to be recharged. In this case, the main engine is the internal combustion engine (mostly petrol) and they have a battery and electric motor that serve as backup at certain times. They can only be driven in electric mode for short distances and at low speeds. The battery is recharged by the braking recovery system and by the internal combustion engine itself.
PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
This Acronym refers to plug-in hybrids. They work thanks to the combustion engine but have an electric motor and batteries. They can be driven in 100% electric mode (with a reduced range of around 32 miles), in hybrid mode, or only with the combustion engine. This type of vehicle must be charged by plugging the car into the electric grid.
MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
These are cars known as “semi-hybrid” whose main engine is the internal combustion engine but which are equipped with a 48-volt system that provides a little extra power and torque in certain circumstances.
BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) (Battery Electric Vehicle)
These cars are entirely electric. They only have their batteries, which are often lithium-ion batteries, to power them. The car must be connected to the electric grid, either at home or at designated charging locations, in order to recharge a small portion using the energy recovery system (regenerative braking).
ZEV
A vehicle with zero emissions, often known as a Z.E. or ZEV, doesn’t emit any CO2 or other pollutants. Both hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and 100% electric automobiles are mentioned.
PWS or the AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) (Pedestrian Warning System)
All electric vehicles are required by law to have an audio warning system that alerts pedestrians to their presence.
CPO (Charge Point Operator)
CPO refers to the managers of EV charging stations, which can be commercial businesses, public organizations like local councils, businesses with expertise in infrastructure for charging, etc.
BMS (Battery Management System) (Battery Management System)
This electrical system controls how the battery is charged and discharged. By tracking power, amperage, voltage, and cell temperature, it gathers information about its condition and lets us know how the battery is doing overall.
Hope it helped 