BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) – Pure Electric Vehicle (EV in the narrow sense)
It is solely powered by batteries without an internal combustion engine. It supports household and public fast charging, qualifies for green license plates and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Its drawbacks include long charging time during long-distance trips and roughly 30% reduction in driving range in cold winter. Representative models: Xiaomi SU7, Tesla Model 3.
PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
Equipped with both a battery and an internal combustion engine. It can be charged via external power sources and delivers a pure-electric driving range of 50 to 200 kilometers. When the battery runs out, the gasoline engine takes over, eliminating range anxiety. It is eligible for green license plates. Representative models: BYD DM-i series.
HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
It cannot be plugged into external power supplies; its battery is only recharged through kinetic energy recovery during braking and coasting. It cannot get green license plates or new energy subsidies, yet it can cut fuel consumption by about 30%. Representative model: Toyota Dual Engine series.
EREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle)
The wheels are driven entirely by electric motors. The internal combustion engine only acts as a generator rather than driving the vehicle directly. Its comprehensive driving range can exceed 1,000 kilometers, offering the smooth driving experience of a pure electric car. Representative models: Li Auto series.
FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)
It generates electricity through chemical reactions of hydrogen, with water as the only emission. Refueling takes only 3 to 5 minutes and brings a driving range of over 600 kilometers. Its main disadvantages are scarce hydrogen refueling stations and high operation costs, so it is mostly used for commercial vehicles.