EV Explainers

Electric vehicle terminology is vast and if you’re new to the world of EV it can be hard to keep up with the amount of acronyms, abbreviations and jargon.

It’s important to be in the know about some of the technical language so you can feel as confident as possible making the switch to EV. We’ve put together a glossary of EV Explainers with some key terms to get you up to speed.  

Types of vehicle:

EV = Electric Vehicle.

BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle. More commonly known as an EV, this car is powered by electric motors.

PHEV = Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A PHEV uses petrol or diesel as well as electricity. It has a larger battery than an HEV.

HEV = Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A vehicle that’s mainly powered by petrol or diesel with a small battery and an electric motor to boost efficiency.

ZEV = Zero Emission Vehicle. A vehicle that emits zero pollutants while running.​

ICE vehicle = Internal Combustion Engine vehicle. A vehicle fuelled by the combustion of petrol or diesel.

ULEV = Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles i.e. a vehicle that has less than 75g/km tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions. 

Key concepts:

kW = Kilowatt (measurement unit used to determine how much power an electrical appliance uses)

kWh = Kilowatt hour (amount of energy that is required to power an electric vehicle for one hour aka 1kWh = 1000 watts).

Smart charging = charging cycle of an EV that can be altered by external commands.

CPO = Charge Point Operator is a company that operates a portfolio of charge points.

EVCP = Electric Vehicle ChargePoint.

EVSE = Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment - also known as EV charging stations, electric charging points or charging points.​

Load balancing = distributes the available capacity proportionally over all active charging stations, so that optimal charging is supplied to all EVs being charged at that location.​

Types of charging:

AC = alternating current. This is what is used to charge your appliances and electric vehicle at home

DC = direct current. This is a type of electricity flow that can charge electric vehicles at faster speeds. DC charging stations provide DC power direct to the battery.

Rapid Charging = rapid chargers usually have an output of between 50-350kW and currently provide the fastest way to charge an EV.​

Fast Charging = fast chargers typically have an output of 7kW or 22kW.​

Granny Charger = the slowest form of electric vehicle charger. Granny charging takes power from a typical 13amp 3 pin domestic socket and charges at a rate of 2.3kW.​

Charger Connector Types:

Type 2 = a seven pin plug with one flat edge, this is the European and UK standard for AC charging.

CSS Socket = Combined Charging System. A charging plug and vehicle communication standard for DC fast charging.

Type 1 = a five pin plug that also features a clip. This is the predominant AC charging connection in the US. In the UK it is limited to a particular set of vehicles – early EVs and some PHEVs

CHAdeMO charger = a round four pin plug