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The 4 Types Of Electric Vehicles You Need To Know

The electric revolution is here! The buzz around these alternatively fuelled vehicles has been steadily growing over the last few years, but 2020 was a landmark year, with the UK government bringing forward the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030 (2035 for plug-in hybrids).

Electric and hybrid vehicles encompass a range of benefits and incentives for drivers, and manufacturers across the globe are charging towards an electric future, with several exciting new releases each year. It's easy to make the switch to electric/hybrid, but if you've had a quick look at the models on offer and are baffled by the acronyms - from PHEVs to mHEVs - fear not, help is at hand!

Here are the four main types of electric and hybrid vehicles, and some popular models you can find right now at Hendy:

  1. Electric vehicles (EVs)

    As the name suggests, electric vehicles run on electricity alone - no petrol/diesel engine, and therefore no emissions! Also referred to as all-electric or BEVs (battery electric vehicles), these innovative models store energy in a large battery that 'fuels' a powerful electric motor, which can be charged via a home charge point, at work, or at thousands of public chargers across the UK. These vehicles can even recover charge while you're driving by utilising the energy usually lost when braking.

    Examples of 100% electric models include the Ford Mustang Mach?E, Kia e-Niro, Hyundai KONA Electric, Honda e, Jaguar I-PACE, MG ZS EV, Nissan LEAF, SEAT Mii Electric and Renault ZOE. Click here to view more.

  2. Hybrids (HEVs)

    Hybrid vehicles use a combination of a petrol engine and electric batteries (which run an electric motor) to power the car - no plugging-in required! Also known as full hybrids, self-charging hybrids or HEVs, they can automatically switch between conventional mode and pure electric mode, for short distances. Similarly to EVs, they can also generate their own electricity to charge their batteries, by recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted.

    Examples of full hybrid models include the Ford Mondeo Hybrid, Suzuki Swift and Lexus UX. Click here to view more.

  3. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)

    A plug-in hybrid vehicle works in a similar way to a self-charging hybrid - a petrol engine that works with an electric motor and a battery - but the battery is much larger than in a self-charging hybrid. With a PHEV, you can enjoy miles of all-electric driving while having a back-up engine ready and waiting for those long-distance adventures.

    Plug-in hybrid examples include the All-New Ford Kuga PHEV, Ford Transit Custom, Kia Niro PHEV, Honda CR-V Hybrid and ŠKODA SUPERB iV. Click here to view more.

  4. Mild hybrid vehicles (mHEVs)

    Mild hybrid vehicles are a brilliant way of introducing yourself to electrified driving. They work in a very similar way to self-charging hybrids, but have smaller batteries. A mild hybrid cannot drive on battery power alone - instead, the petrol or diesel engine does the majority of the work, and the electric motor is there to provide assistance.

    Examples of mild hybrid models include the New Ford Puma mHEV, Ford Tourneo Custom mHEV, and New Hyundai Tucson mHEV Click here to view more.

Which Is Right For You?

Each powertrain is designed to suit different driving styles and lifestyles - for example, electric cars are perfect for city dwellers, whereas mild hybrids are ideal for those who want to ease themselves into electric powertrains, and don't wish to plug their car in.

If you'd like advice on the benefits of each powertrain and the models available, why not contact your local Hendy team today to discuss your options for making the switch?

Click here to view the latest electric and hybrid models available at Hendy!

Join The Electric Revolution With Hendy

For more tips and helpful guides about electric/hybrid driving, check out our News page. From the types of vehicles available to information about charging, our series of articles will give you complete confidence when making the switch!