Electric Vehicle Terminology and Technology

Terminology

Below is a brief guide to some common terms used when discussing electric vehicles. Note that exact usage can vary from source to source, so it is important to check a document’s glossary when determining grant eligibility and implementing regulations. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)

• Electric Vehicle (EV): A vehicle that is completely or partially powered by electricity. Types of EVs include:
  • Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or All-Electric Vehicle: A vehicle solely powered by electricity stored in batteries. BEVs must be charged using charging equipment
  • Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): A vehicle with both a gasoline engine and a motor that uses electricity stored in a battery. PHEVs can use chargers to replenish their batteries
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): A conventional hybrid vehicle that primarily runs on gasoline but can charge a small battery using regenerative braking to improve fuel economy. Unlike PHEVs, HEVs cannot plug in to charge their batteries.
  • Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV): PEVs include BEVs and PHEVs, but not HEVs. This distinction is important for infrastructure requirements because PEVs replenish their batteries using chargers unlike conventional vehicles and HEVs that refuel at standard gas stations

• Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) or EV Charger: Equipment that provides charging ports which supply power to the battery in a PEV. One or more ports at the same location is often referred to as a charging station. EVSE is classified by how fast it can deliver power to a vehicle. The three classes of EVSE are:
  • Level 1 (L1): Level 1 charging is the slowest level of charging and is mostly used for household charging. Most L1 chargers run off a standard 120 volt outlet.
  • Level 2 (L2): Level 2 chargers are used at public destinations, workplaces, and homes. They charge faster and require more power than L1 chargers. Home L2 charger installations often require a dedicated 240 volt circuit like those used by heavy-duty appliances.
  • Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC): DC fast chargers are used to rapidly charge vehicles along busy corridors like Interstate highways. They are the fastest level of chargers but are the most expensive and infrastructure intensive to install.
• EV Charging Port: Ports are what supply power to an EV. Each port can only supply power to one vehicle at a time. EVs connect to ports using a connector.

• Connector or Plug: Connectors are the physical plug that is inserted into the vehicle to charge it. There are a few different standards currently in use by electric vehicle manufacturers. In order to charge at a port, the charging port and the EV must have compatible connectors, either directly or through use of an adapter. For vehicle compatibility reasons, a single charging port may have multiple connectors, but only one connector per port can be used at a time. Connectors currently in use in the United States include:
  • J1772: J1772 connectors can be used for Level 1 and Level 2 but not DC fast charging.
  • Combined Charging System (CSS) or J1772 combo: CSS connectors are similar to J1772 connectors but add two additional pins that allow for DC fast charging. CSS connectors are required on projects funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program although NACS connectors can be installed as well.
  • North American Charging Standard (NACS) formerly Tesla: NACS connectors can be used for DCFC and L2 charging. They were originally developed for use with Tesla vehicles, but other automakers have announced they intend to adopt the standard.
  • CHAdeMO: CHAdeMO is another connector standard capable of fast charging. The standard is used by some Japanese automakers, but is not as popular as CSS and NACS in the US