Exploring the Different Types of Electric Vehicles

If you’re hoping to reduce the amount of money that you spend on gas, you’ve got plenty of options in the new EV marketplace. In the everyday sense, drivers often use “electric vehicle” to refer to a specific kind of design: battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, run entirely on electric power. For that reason, they’re often the first to come to mind when someone mentions electric vehicles.

However, a vehicle may be accurately described as “electric” as long as it includes an electric motor—and that means the term technically applies to hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well. Moreover, there are different ways to make a fully electric vehicle, even though battery-electric models are by far the most common today.

How Many Types of Electric Vehicles Are There?

So, how many types of electric vehicles are on the roads near Edgewater and Crofton? Just three, but a fourth type deserves a mention because it may become more common in the years down the road. Read on to get familiar with all your options:

• Hybrid Electric Vehicles: If you choose a traditional hybrid, you won’t have to change anything about the way you drive or refuel. In these models, an electric motor and battery supplement the performance of the engine in order to reduce the amount of fuel that you consume. Moreover, the engine and the alternator recharge the battery. That means you’ll never have to plug in.
• Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles: For many drivers, a plug-in hybrid vehicle offers the best of both worlds. These models can be driven on gas, on a combination of gas and electric power, or, for short distances, on electric power alone! You’ll need to plug in to recharge the battery, but most PHEVs can be recharged with Level 2 methods in just a few hours. Like traditional hybrids, these models include both an electric motor and an engine—but the batteries in PHEVs are much larger.
• Battery Electric Vehicles: Battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, may also be referred to simply as EVs. They use no gasoline at all—and that means you’ll be responsible for plugging in and recharging on a daily or weekly basis. Still, since you can install a charging station at home or rely on the increasingly vast network of charging stations near Annapolis and Severna Park, you might find that maintaining your power level is easier than you expected!
• Hydrogen Electric Vehicles (Fuel Cell): In the United States, hydrogen electric vehicles are only sold in California. That’s because the infrastructure that’s required to refuel them is basically non-existent in the rest of the country. However, since the fuel cells in hydrogen electric vehicles can be refilled in minutes, rather than hours, some feel that these designs will become more common as the years go on.

What Type of Electric Vehicle is Right for You?

Now that you understand the basic differences between all four types of electric vehicles, you might be ready for a deeper look at your options. Any type of EV can be a good choice, but only one type will be a perfect fit for your needs. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Any person can integrate hybrid ownership into their current routine, and thereafter enjoy better gas mileage on every drive.
• Models like the 2023 Range Rover PHEV and the 2023 Range Rover Sport PHEV offer more than forty miles of all-electric range—and that means they can empower you to knock out your daily commute without using any gas at all! Since they can also run on gas or gas/electricity, they’re also great for long-distance road trips where charging infrastructure may be less readily available.
• At least for now, battery electric vehicles are the best fit for drivers who rarely drive long distances or don’t mind longer pit stops on the road. Most BEVs offer between 200 and 300 miles of range, if not more—and Land Rover BEVs will be joining our lineup in model-year 2024!

Find Your New Land Rover PHEV at Land Rover Annapolis!

If you’re ready to electrify your drives through Annapolis, don’t wait to let us know. We can help you build and order a new Land Rover PHEV SUV today—or help you decide if it’d be better to wait for one of next year’s new Land Rover EVs! No matter which way you decide to go, we’re here to help.