Electric Car Guide
Electric Car Guide
Under current government plans the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030. There are some exceptions to the ban, with some plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and some full hybrids still able to be sold up until 2035. This step is being introduced to support the UK’s plans to be net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is no getting away from the fact that going electric is the future of motoring.
Here at Trio Leasing, we want to provide you with the information you need to help you make an informed decision regarding making the transition from traditional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.
Do you know your BEV from your PHEV, or your HEV from your MHEV? Fear not we explain all below.
BEV = “Battery Electric Vehicle” A 100% fully electric vehicle, also known as a pure electric vehicle. There is no petrol or diesel engine, this is pure electric power with zero emissions. You will require vehicle charging access via a dedicated charging point either at home, work or a public charger. This is the greenest form of vehicle widely available.
Examples of some popular BEVs : Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Peugeot e-208, Mini Electric, Nissan Leaf, Jaguar I-Pace, Kia E-Niro, Hyundai Kona Electric, Renault Zoe
PHEV = “Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle” As the name suggests this is a hybrid vehicle that utilises either a petrol or diesel engine, in addition to a battery, which requires charging. The advantage of a PHEV is that they can usually travel between 20-40 miles under pure electric power. Once the electric range is used, the vehicle reverts to driving under traditional petrol/or diesel power. PHEVs come with a charging socket which means they can be plugged into a home, work or public charger to replenish the battery.
Examples of some popular PHEVs : Mercedes C300de, BMW 330e, VW Passat GTE, VW Golf GTE, Mitsubishi Outlander, BMW I3 Rex, Kia Niro PHEV, Volvo XC90 T8, Range Rover P400e, Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
HEV = “Hybrid Electric Vehicle” Also known as “self-charging hybrid”. HEV combines an electric motor with a traditional petrol/diesel engine. These self-charging hybrids, switch seamlessly between conventional petrol/diesel power and electric power as you drive, automatically selecting the correct mode to power the vehicle efficiently. The battery is constantly being charged by the engine, it also recovers energy from regenerative braking. As a result, there is no charging sockets on a HEV, as you don’t need to charge them at all. Providing you have petrol or diesel fuel in the vehicle, it will run just like traditional petrol or diesel vehicles, switching between petrol/diesel and the electric mode.
Examples of some popular HEVs : Ford Mondeo Hybrid, Lexus RX450h, Toyota Yaris Hybrid, Toyota Corolla Hybrid
MHEV = “Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle” MHEV is basically an ICE car (Internal combustion engine – ie traditional petrol/diesel power) with the addition of a smaller battery than you’d find in a HEV. The key difference between HEV and MHEV is that the electric motor in a MHEV is not powerful enough to power the vehicle on its own. As a result, it can only assist the engine. For example, the battery in a MHEV can help make the stop/start function on the vehicle work more efficiently. MHEVs are more polluting than HEVs.
Examples of some popular MHEVs : Ford Kuga EcoBlue MHEV, Kia Sportage MHEV, Kia Stonic MHEV, Kia Rio MHEV, Ford Puma MHEV, Ford Fiesta MHEV, Jaguar F-Pace MHEV , Jaguar I-Pace MHEV, Jaguar XF/XE MHEV