Car EV is all about electric vehicles–which, thanks to manufacturers expanding their ranges and improving battery tech, offer zero-emission driving in a wide variety of body styles at multiple price points. But they only reach their full sustainable potential if they’re charged using electricity generated by renewable sources, not fossil fuels like coal.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

BEVs use an all-electric drivetrain, with no gasoline engine parts, so they can operate on battery power alone. They can also charge on fast or Level 2 charging stations.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

PHEVs use an electric motor to assist a gas-powered engine, so they can operate on both battery and gasoline power. They can also charge on slow or Level 1 charging stations.

Battery Electric Vehicles with Range Extenders (BEVRE)

BEVREs are a combination of a BEV and a small internal combustion engine, which runs on kerosene or propane to add range. They can be charged on a standard household outlet or on a public charger.

A regenerative brake system converts kinetic energy into electrical power, which recharges the batteries. The regenerative brakes also help with hill climbing.

An electric vehicle’s motor is its heart, converting electrical energy into mechanical power by running current through circuits of wound copper wire shaped in a cylinder. This forms a magnetic field that rotates a rotor housed within the cylinder, propelling the car’s wheels. The motor has 90% fewer moving parts than the gas-powered engines found in traditional cars. The drive unit also includes a transmission-like reducer, which adjusts the final amount of power sent to the driveshaft, axles and wheels.