What Type Of Electric Vehicle Is Best For Me?

Hybrid electric vehicles, or HEV as they are commonly referred to, are technically not considered electric vehicles. Instead, they have a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which uses energy stored in batteries. The ICE runs on gas, and the engine and regenerative braking charge the battery. During regenerative braking, the electric motor captures electric energy generated by the rotating wheels and stores it in the battery. Their electric power is used for smaller engines and many of the vehicle’s accessory functions, such as lights and sound system, and when the vehicle is stopped, it helps reduce engine idling.

Most shoppers think a plug-in hybrid and a Hybrid are the same. Well, they are not. As you just read, an HEV runs off the ICE. A PHEV runs first and foremost on its electric motor and only taps into the gas engine as a last resort when the battery runs out of power. A typical PHEV can run on pre-electricity for 15-30 miles of electric range before the gas engine turns on. For example, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel 25 miles on electric power. This is why a PHEV is an excellent transition to an electric vehicle, as they eliminate the worry of where or when you can charge up when your battery is running low. However, as the name suggests, you do need to plug it in to recharge your battery. You recharge by plugging them into a standard 120-volt household outlet or a 240-volt charging unit. The charging plug equipment comes with the vehicle.

Battery electric vehicles, also called all-electric vehicles, differ from HEV and PHEVs in several significant ways. The most obvious difference is that they do not have an internal combustion engine and take no gasoline. Instead, BEVs have an electric motor and a large lithium-ion battery for propulsion. BEVs must be plugged into a wall outlet or public charging station to be recharged. BEVS do not contain the typical liquid fuel components and therefore emit no exhaust. Plus, as they do not have an ICE, they require much less maintenance.

If you have more questions or are ready to take your EV shopping to the next level and test drive one, the team at Coon Rapids Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram would be honored to help. Please browse our selection of brand-new HEV, PHEV, and BEV. We know that you have a plethora of options when it comes to choosing a car dealership. That’s why we make it our utmost priority to provide you with top-quality vehicles at a reasonable price point. So please stop into our showroom, or contact us with any questions!