Having trouble with all of the new terms use by the car techs and dealers when buying a new Electric Car or Hybrid. Let me try to define some EV jargon out there.

DEFINITIONS:

EV – Electric Vehicle – An automobile solely powered by an electric drive motor and battery. (e.g. Nissan - Leaf or the Tesla)

Hybrid – A general term used to describe an automobile that it’s gas engine is tied to the drive wheels but an electric motor assists it to improve MPG.

NEV – Neighborhood Electric Vehicle – An automobile legal to drive on public roads but only under 25 MPH in most states. And not allowed to be on highways. Most have speed limiters built in and required by the manufacture to be allowed to sale. (e.g. Miles )

EREV or REEV – Extended Range Electric Vehicle – An automobile that uses a electric motor directly connected to the drive wheels and uses a gas engine to recharge the batteries just to maintain a state of charge to return the vehicle back to a plugged in charge, to get the highest possible MPGs out of the trip. All so known as, “Voltec” in the Chevy Volt.

PEV - Plug-In Electric Vehicle – A hybrid or EV that uses a charger to replenish the battery supply from an outside source connected using a extension cord to 110 or 220 volts. (e.g. Chevy Volt )