Electric vehicles come with a barrage of overwhelming acronyms you have probably not heard before – our handy glossary of terms will help make things easier to understand. If you think we have missed any, please get in touch via [email protected]
Alternating Current, where electric charge changes direction periodically.
Occasionally batteries are quoted in Ampere-hours. 3Ah equates to around 1kWh.
Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles, a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than traditional petroleum fuels.
Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS). As of 1 July, all new private and commercial electric and hybrid vehicles must come fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) to meet audio warning legislation.
Battery Electric Vehicle, also known as Electric Vehicle (EV), it is 100 per cent electric, powered by a battery that can be plugged into the mains.
Benefit in Kind. HMRC considers a company car to be a benefit-in-kind, in other words a perk over and above your salary, which is why you have to pay tax on it. An employer (or a limited liability company) will deduct any company car tax due to HMRC at the source. Your car is taxed at different rates, called benefit-in-kind rates, depending on:
Combined Charging System, mostly used by European EVs including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, but also Ford and General Motors.
An abbreviation of "CHArge de MOve", a DC charging system used for rapid charging an EV.
Direct Current, where electric charge only flows in one direction.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, a government-funded scheme to support the rollout of home charging equipment for plug-in vehicles.
Extended Range Electric Vehicle, also known as an Range-extended Electric Vehicle (REX). It has a plug-in battery pack and electric motor, as well as an internal combustion engine. The electric motor drives the wheels, with the internal combustion engine acting as a generator to recharge the battery when it is depleted.
Electric Vehicle, also known as Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), it is 100 per cent electric, powered by a battery that can be plugged into the mains.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, supplies electric energy to recharge electric vehicles. EVSEs are also known as EV charging stations, electric recharging points or charging points.
Fuel Cell Vehicle (also known as HFCV), a type of EV able to generate its electrical power using hydrogen as a fuel.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, also known as Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV), a type of EV able to generate its electrical power using hydrogen as a fuel.
Grid-enabled Electric Vehicle (also known as PEV), a vehicle that runs at least partially on battery power and is recharged from the electricity grid.
High Capacity Charger, type of charger used by Telsa for rapid charging.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle, a vehicle with a petrol or diesel engine plus one or more electric motors. Charges it batteries as it goes.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (also known as FCV), a type of EV able to generate its electrical power using hydrogen as a fuel.
Internal Combustion Engine, a regular petrol or diesel vehicle.
A term to indicate that an EV charging bay is occupied by a non-EV.
A measure of battery capacity – the higher the kilowatt Unit of electric power, the further you will go on a charge.
A measure of energy used in electric applications.
Lithium-ion or Li-Ion Battery, rechargeable battery used in most EVs. You should retain 80 per cent after eight years of regular use.
Motor Vehicle Emissions Group cycle, assesses the emission levels of car engines and fuel economy in passenger cars (excluding light trucks and commercial vehicles), also referred to as Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
New European Driving Cycle test, to be gradually replaced by the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). It assesses the emission levels of car engines and fuel economy in passenger cars (excluding light trucks and commercial vehicles), also referred to as Motor Vehicle Emissions Group (MVEG) cycle.
A Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle is a US denomination for battery electric vehicles (BEV) that are built to have a top speed of 25 miles per hour and a maximum loaded weight of 1400 kg.
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), a team working across the government to support the early market for Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV).
Proton-exchange Membrane fuel cell also known as a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), a type of fuel cell mainly for transport applications.
Proton-exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, also known as a Proton-exchange Membrane fuel cell (PEM), a type of fuel cell mainly for transport applications.
Plug-in Electric Vehicle (also known as GEV), any EV that can be charged from the grid.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
Range-extended Electric Vehicle, also known as an Extended-range electric Vehicle (E-REV). It has a plug-in battery pack and electric motor, as well as an internal combustion engine. The electric motor drives the wheels, with the internal combustion engine acting as a generator to recharge the battery when it is depleted.
A battery’s State Of Charge, the equivalent of a fuel gauge for the battery pack.
Transport for London, a local government body responsible for the transport system in London.
Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles, a vehicle or van that emits 75g/km CO2 or less.
Vehicle Excise Duty (or road tax). Zero emission cars worth less than £40,000 don't incur any VED in the first year. A standard rate or £140 per year is then charged from the second year of ownership. If a car's list price exceeds £40,000, the owner will be charged a premium of £310 in addition to the standard rate. The rates only apply to new cars sold and registered on or after 1 April, 2018.
V2G, also referred to vehicle to grid technology, enables energy stored in electric vehicles to be fed back into the power grid to help supply energy at times of peak demand.
The Workplace Charging Scheme, a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge points.
Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure. The WLTP cycle which replaces the New European Driving Cycle test (NEDC) is developed using real-driving data, gathered from around the world and therefore better represents everyday driving profiles. It is divided into four parts and each part contains a variety of driving and braking phases.
Zero tailpipe Emissions Vehicle
