A plug-in electric vehicle that runs on batteries until nearly depleted and then uses an internal combustion engine to extend the battery range is classified as what?

A plug-in electric vehicle that runs on batteries until nearly depleted and then uses an internal combustion engine to extend the battery range is classified as what?

• A. Ice
• B. Bev
• C. Hev
• D. Phev

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how the vehicle uses electricity and an engine. If it runs on its battery from being plugged in and can be charged from the grid, but also has an internal combustion engine that kicks in to extend the driving range after the battery is nearly depleted, that setup is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It’s not a BEV because there is an internal combustion engine used as a range extender, and it’s not an HEV because the ability to be charged from an external source and the larger battery capacity separate it from non-plug-in hybrids.

The key idea is how the vehicle uses electricity and an engine. If it runs on its battery from being plugged in and can be charged from the grid, but also has an internal combustion engine that kicks in to extend the driving range after the battery is nearly depleted, that setup is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It’s not a BEV because there is an internal combustion engine used as a range extender, and it’s not an HEV because the ability to be charged from an external source and the larger battery capacity separate it from non-plug-in hybrids.