What is an EV (electric vehicle)?
An electric vehicle (EV) is any vehicle – usually a car or van – that drives its wheels using an electric motor. This is different from engine-driven fuel-powered vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which blend both electric and fuel power. Almost all EVs use a large on-board battery pack to store electricity mounted under the car's floor – usually enabling a range of between 200 and 300 miles for a full charge. Most EVs can be fully recharged overnight from a typical 7kW home charger, or recover around 80% of their battery capacity from a public fast charger in an hour or less. All EVs are automatic only, with excellent low-speed torque and responsiveness, making urban driving especially easy.
This guide lays out the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars, so you can decide whether an EV will suit you based on your actual life and driving habits.
