There are four types of electric cars, with the following:

2. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

3. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

4. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

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Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), also called All-Electric Vehicle (AEV), runs entirely on a battery and electric drive train. These types of electric cars do not have an ICE.
Electricity is stored in a large battery pack that is charged by plugging into the electricity grid.
The battery pack, in turn, provides power to one or more electric motors to run the electric car.

Basic Configuration of BEVs:

Fig. BEV configuration

2. The wheels are driven by one or more electric motors, which are powered by the batteries through a power converter circuit.

3. The battery’s DC power is converted to AC by an inverter and applied to run the ac motor.

Fig. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Power is converted from the DC battery to AC for the electric motor.
The accelerator pedal sends a signal to the controller which adjusts the vehicle’s speed by changing the frequency of the AC power from the inverter to the motor.
The motor connects and turns the wheels through a cog When the brakes are pressed or the electric car is decelerating, the motor becomes an alternator and produces power, which is sent back to the battery.
Examples: Volkswagen e-Golf, Tesla Model 3, BMW 13, Chevy Bolt, Chevy Spark, Nissan LEAF, Ford Focus Electric, Hyundai.

The advantages of BEVs are as follows:

Simple construction, operation, and convenience.
These do not produce any greenhouse gas.
They do not create any noise.
They provide instant and high torque, even a low speeds.
The BEVS are perfect vehicles for urban driving which requires running at slow o medium speeds, and these ranges demand a low torque.

The disadvantages of BEVs are as follows:

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

This type of hybrid car is often called a standard hybrid or parallel hybrid. HEV has both an ICE and an electric motor.
In these types of electric cars, the internal combustion engine gets energy from fuel (gasoline and others type of fuels), while the motor gets electricity from batteries.
The gasoline engine and electric motor simultaneously rotate the transmission, which drives the wheels.
The difference between HEV compared to BEV and PHEV is that the batteries in HEV can only be charged by the ICE, the motion of the wheels, or a combination of both.
There is no charging port so the battery cannot be recharged from outside of the system, for example from the electricity grid.

Fig. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

HEV has a fuel tank that supplies gas to the engine like a regular car.
It also has a set of batteries that run an electric motor.
Both the engine and electric motor can turn the transmission at the same time.
Examples: Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid.

PHEV is a type of hybrid vehicle that is both an ICE and a motor, often called a series hybrid.
This type of electric car offers a choice of fuel. This type of electric car is powered by a conventional fuel (such as gasoline) or an alternative fuel (such as biodiesel) and by a rechargeable battery pack.
The battery can be charged with electricity by plugging it into an electrical outlet or electric vehicle charging station (EVCS).
PHEV typically can run in at least two modes:

All-electric Mode, in which the motor and battery provide all the car’s energy.
Hybrid Mode, in which both electricity and gasoline are employed.

Fig. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

PHEVS typically start up in an all-electric mode and operate on electricity until their battery pack is depleted. Some models shift to hybrid mode when they reach highway cruising speed, generally above 60 or 70 miles per hour.
Once the battery is empty, the engine takes over and the vehicle operates as a conventional, non-plug-in hybrid.
In addition to plugging into an outside electric power source, PHEV batteries can be charged by an internal combustion engine or regenerative braking. During braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, using the energy to charge the battery.
The electric motor supplements the engine’s power, as a result, smaller engines can be used, increasing the car’s fuel efficiency without compromising performance.
Examples: Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, Chevy Volt, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford C-Max Energi, Ford Fusion Energi, Mercedes C350e, Mercedes S550e, Mercedes GLES50e, Mini Cooper SE Countryman, Audi A3 E Tron, BMW 330e, BMW i8, BMW X5 xdrive40e, Fiat 500e, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Porsche Panamera SE-hybrid, Volvo XC90 T8.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), also known as fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) or Zero Emission vehicles, are types of electric cars that employ ‘fuel cell technology to generate the electricity required to run the vehicle.
In this type of vehicle, the chemical energy of the fuel is converted directly into electric energy.

The working principle of a ‘fuel cell’ electric car is different from that of a ‘plug-in’ electric car.
This type of electric car is because the FCEV generates the electricity required to run this vehicle on the vehicle itself.
Examples: Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Tucson FCEV, River simple Rasa, Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Nexo.