EV & Auto Glossary

Plain-English definitions of 40 essential electric vehicle and automotive terms. Bookmark this page when researching your next car.

EV

Electric Vehicle. A car powered entirely by an electric motor and rechargeable battery, with zero tailpipe emissions.

BEV

Battery Electric Vehicle. An EV powered solely by a battery, with no internal combustion engine.

PHEV

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Combines a battery-powered electric motor with a gasoline engine; can be charged from the grid.

HEV

Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Combines a small battery and electric motor with a gasoline engine; cannot be plugged in.

MHEV

Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Uses a small battery to assist a combustion engine but cannot drive on electric power alone.

FCEV

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. An EV powered by hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity onboard.

ICE

Internal Combustion Engine. A traditional engine powered by gasoline or diesel.

kWh

Kilowatt-hour. Unit of energy used to measure EV battery capacity and electricity consumption.

kW

Kilowatt. Unit of power; describes charger output speed and motor power.

DC Fast Charging

Direct Current high-speed charging, typically 50-350 kW, that bypasses the onboard charger to fill an EV battery in 15-45 minutes.

Level 1 Charging

120-volt household outlet charging, typically 1-1.5 kW. Adds about 4-5 miles of range per hour.

Level 2 Charging

240-volt charging, typically 3-19 kW, found at homes and public stations. Adds 15-40 miles per hour.

Level 3 Charging

Industry term for DC fast charging at 50 kW or higher.

CCS

Combined Charging System. Standard DC fast-charging connector used by most non-Tesla EVs in North America and Europe.

NACS

North American Charging Standard. Tesla-developed connector adopted by most automakers for North America starting in 2025.

CHAdeMO

Older Japanese DC fast-charging standard, now declining outside Japan.

Type 2

European AC charging connector standard, also called Mennekes.

J1772

SAE J1772. Standard AC charging connector used by non-Tesla EVs in North America.

Range

Estimated distance an EV can travel on a full charge under standard testing.

EPA Range

Range estimate certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

WLTP

Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure. European range and efficiency test standard.

SOC

State of Charge. Current battery level expressed as a percentage.

SOH

State of Health. Current battery capacity relative to its original capacity.

Battery Degradation

Gradual loss of EV battery capacity over time and use cycles.

Regenerative Braking

System that converts kinetic energy back into stored battery energy when braking or coasting.

One-Pedal Driving

Driving mode where releasing the accelerator triggers strong regenerative braking, often eliminating most brake-pedal use.

Heat Pump

Energy-efficient cabin heating system that significantly improves cold-weather range.

Preconditioning

Warming or cooling the battery before charging or driving for optimal performance.

V2L

Vehicle-to-Load. Ability of an EV to power external devices from its battery.

V2H

Vehicle-to-Home. Ability of an EV to power a house, often during outages.

V2G

Vehicle-to-Grid. Ability of an EV to send energy back to the electrical grid.

OTA

Over-the-Air update. Remote software updates delivered to a vehicle over wireless internet.

ADAS

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Features like adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic emergency braking.

LFP

Lithium Iron Phosphate battery chemistry. Lower energy density but longer cycle life and improved safety.

NMC

Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery chemistry. Higher energy density, common in long-range EVs.

Solid-State Battery

Next-generation battery using a solid electrolyte for higher energy density and faster charging.

MSRP

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price.

TCO

Total Cost of Ownership. Lifetime cost including purchase, fuel/electricity, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation.

CPO

Certified Pre-Owned. Used vehicles inspected and warrantied by the manufacturer.

Tax Credit

Government incentive that reduces the effective purchase price of a qualifying EV.