Glossary
Does confusing car terminology have your head in a spin? Our glossary is here to simplify the jargon and make buying and financing your next car easier.
Browse glossary terms by category
- BEV/EV - (battery) electric vehicle
- CHAdeMO charging
- DC charging
- FCEV - fuel-cell electric vehicle
- HEV - hybrid electric vehicle
- J1772 charging
- kw - kilowatt
- kWh - kilowatt hour
- Lithium-ion battery
- MHEV - mild hybrid electric vehicle
- PHEV - plug-in hybrid vehicle
- Range anxiety
- RxEV - range extender electric vehicle
- Self charging hybrid
- Type 2 (Mennekes) charger
- ULEV - ultra low emissions vehicle
- V2G - vehicle to grid
View full alternative fuels glossary.
- AC - air conditioning
- Alloy wheels
- AV - autonomous vehicle
- Carbon fibre
- Centre console
- Electric power steering
- GPS - global positioning system
- Head-up display
- Keyless entry
- Keyless go
- OBD2 - on-board diagnostics
- OLED - organic light emitting diode
- Panoramic sunroof
- Sat nav
- Space saver (spare wheel)
- Spoiler
- Switchgear
- Xenon headlights
- Agreement
- Agreement term
- Amount of credit
- Annual mileage
- APR - annual percentage rate
- Arrears
- Balloon payment
- Battery lease
- Broker
- CAIS - credit amount information sharing
- Capital
- Car leasing
- Car loan
- Cooling-off period
- Credit score
- Deposit
- Excess mileage charge
- GFV - guaranteed future value
- HP - hire purchase
- Negative equity
- Option to purchase fee
- Optional final payment
- PCH - personal contract hire
- PCP - personal contract purchase
- ABS - antilock braking system
- AEB - autonomous emergency braking
- Airbag
- Blind spot warning
- Crumple zone
- DRL - daytime running lights
- DSC - dynamic stability control
- eCall
- ESC - electronic stability control
- Electronic traction control
- Forward collision warning
- Immobiliser
- Isofix
- NCAP - New Car Assessment Programme
- Pedestrian detection
- Safety cell
- Side-impact protection system
- TCS - traction control system