Busting electric vehicle jargon – from ACC to ZEV

Are you interested in getting an electric car and tariff, but struggling with some of the terminology? Well, look no further, as we’re here to help you understand the basics!

For every new technology that enters the market, it feels like a new dictionary of terms is created, not to mention all the acronyms. And hybrid and electric vehicles are no different. From talk about regenerative braking, battery cycles, and quick charging to acronyms like ICE, BEV, and ZEV- there’s a lot to learn!

This guide shows the most commonly used terms and acronyms around electric, hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Think of it like a dictionary; we’ll provide a definition, explain what it means, and outline why it’s important, getting rid of any stops in your journey to all things electric!

Electric vehicle (EV)

An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that is powered entirely by electricity, no conventional (petrol or diesel) power is needed.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC)

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is like having the best co-pilot in your car whilst you drive! It uses clever sensors to work out how fast the car in front of you is travelling and keeps you a safe distance behind it.
Recently, ACC has become even more sophisticated, including features like:
- Stop-and-Go Function: with this useful feature, your vehicle can come to a complete stop and then smoothly resume driving when traffic starts moving again.
- Integration With Other Systems: through using road sign recognition or GPS navigation, ACC can keep you in the know about what the speed limit is and enforce speed regulations to ensure you don’t zoom off above the speed limit.
- Enhanced Safety Features: these include collision avoidance and lane-assistance, helping to make every trip feel a lot less stressful!

Autopilot

Autopilot refers to a highly nifty system that controls your vehicle’s path without needing constant, manual input from you.
Typically, autopilot can manage most of the acceleration, steering, and braking, but you still need to concentrate on the road ahead and be able to take control at any moment.
Recently, autopilot car systems have become even more advanced. Here’s what this system can now do:
- Lane-centering means your car can constantly remain in the perfect spot on the road without you having to worry!
- Speed adjustments ensure that your car remains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. Finally, a way to get rid of tailgating!
- Automatic lane changes mean changing lanes now only requires a flick of your indicator!

Acoustic vehicle altering system (AVAS)

Acoustic vehicle altering systems (AVAS) are mandatory for electric cars as it emits an artificial noise whilst you’re driving at slow speeds.
You may be wondering why, and the simple answer is to ensure that pedestrians and other road users can hear you coming!

All wheel drive (AWD)

All wheel drive (AWD) is a drivetrain system that powers all the wheels on your car simultaneously.
This advanced system can ensure extra control, whether it’s continuously or just on demand, making all your journey’s much more relaxing!

Battery life

Battery life refers to the lifespan and performance of batteries used in electric cars.
Electric car batteries last for many hundreds or thousands of charge cycles (a charge cycle is the process of charging up the battery, the battery being used, then the battery being charged up again when needed).
Don’t panic, when these batteries reach the end of their lifecycle, they won’t simply fail. They’ll still work, but they just won’t store as much energy, so the car’s electric range will be smaller.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV)

A battery electric vehicle is simply a vehicle that runs solely on electricity from a battery.

Benefits in kind (BIK)

Benefits in kind are benefits provided by your employer to an you and are not included in your salary cheque or wages (think of company cars etc).
As I’ve chosen company cars as an example and this blog is all about EVs, let’s delve a little deeper. If you decide to use your company car for personal use (such as a weekend road trip), there is tax to consider.
HOWEVER… the tax charge will be significantly lower for electric cars due to their lower CO2 emissions and running on alternative fuels, the perfect reason to start your electric journey!

Combined charging system (CCS)

Combined charging systems (CCS) are a total game changer for charging EVs because both alternating currents (AC) and direct currents (DC) can be used through one connector!
Not only does this allow for much faster charging, but it means that your EV is compatible with loads of charging models, making charging your EV much easier!

Charging cable connector type (CHAdeMO)

A charging cable connector type (CHAdeMO) is an extremely fast charger that can charge low-range (120km or 75 mi) electric cars in less than 30 minutes.

Charging

Electric car charging points range from slow, through fast, to rapid.
If you’re in a hurry, rapid charging points are the one for you as they can charge cars to 80% in 20-40 minutes.
If you’ve got a bit more time, fast charging points can charge your car in a few hours, with most homes or workplaces being able to easily install a 7kW type charging point.
Generally, you can access a slow charger anywhere, with 3kW being the maximum unit of power available. However, this charger would take more than a day to recharge the biggest EV batteries.

The electric vehicle chargepoint grant

The electric vehicle chargepoint grant was formed by the UK government and offers incentives (in the form of financial support) to have a charge point installed at your home.

Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)

Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is the umbrella term to describe the equipment that supplies electricity to allow EV charging.
Typically, EVSE's are charging points, charging stations, cables, and connectors.
The primary function of EVSE is to keep you and your electric car safe while charging. It’s all about ensuring you have a smooth and safe charging experience!

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) combines a conventional engine (usually petrol) with batteries and an electric motor.
Hybrids usually have smaller and more efficient engines, relying on the electric motor for a bit of extra kick when needed.
The motor is also used to recover energy and recharge the battery during braking or coasting, ensuring the same performance, or better, results from less fuel.

There are two main types of hybrid electric vehicles:

Mild Hybrid- the motor only helps the engine and recovers energy.
Full hybrid- the vehicle can run on its conventional engine, or the electric motor, or both working together.

Internal combustion engine (ICE)

An internal combustion engine (ICE) is any engine that burns fuel to generate power.
These are often referred to as petrol or diesel engines.

Kilowatt hour (kWh)

A kilowatt hour (kWh) is a measure of how much energy a battery stores.

Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe)

Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) measures how far you can travel on the energy that you use. In other words, it shows the average distance in miles that you travel for each unit of energy consumed.
It's used to compare the performance of traditional gasoline engines with battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a vehicle that has a traditional gasoline engine but also an electric motor that runs on electricity from a battery, hence 'hybrid'.
The difference from other hybrids is that electricity is generated into the battery by being plugged in, not through regenerative braking.

Range anxiety

Rang anxiety is the worry about you EV battery running out of power before you reach your intended destination.

Range assurance technology

This new technology gives you real-time updates on where EV charging stations are located and how much range you’ve got left, helping to prevent range anxiety!
Through taking into account your driving conditions, you can start any journey with confidence as you can work out exactly where you can stop to charge your EV.

Regenerative braking

Regenerative braking is a technology used in electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) that captures and converts energy that is usually lost during braking into electrical energy that can be used.

Here's the four step guide to how it works:

When the vehicle slows down or stops, the electric motor generates electricity instead of consuming power.
The electricity generated is directed back to the vehicle’s battery to help with recharging.
By recapturing this the overall vehicle efficiency can be improved.
This provides a smoother deceleration and enhances driving comfort.

Smart charging

Smart charging optimizes when and how your EV charges by observing real-time energy demands, energy pricing, and grid conditions.
This means that you can charge your EV more efficiently when the grid is greenest, allowing you to save cash at the same time!

Solid state batteries

These new batteries promise faster charging speeds, higher energy density, and enhanced safety in comparison to original (lithium-ion) EV batteries.

Ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV)

An ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV) is any electric or hybrid vehicle that emits less then 75g of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre travelled.
These vehicles can go at least 10 miles without releasing any CO2 emissions!

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

An Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an area, usually within cities, that places restrictions and/or charges on vehicles entering the area to improve air quality, noise, and traffic congestion.

Vehicle to grid (V2G)

Vehicle to grid (V2G) technology allows EV batteries to store energy and discharge it back to the electric grid when it is needed most.
For example, V2G may be used at peak times of the day when usage across the UK is at its highest.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), otherwise known as road tax, is an annual fee that you must pay if you want to use (or park) your vehicle on public roads in the UK.
VED is a way to help keep our roads in good shape as well as manage traffic!

Wireless charging

Wireless charging allows EVs to be charged without using any cables/ connectors.
It uses electromagnetic fields to charge your EV’s battery, making the charging process much more convenient for you!

Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a government funded initiative that encourages EV charging points to be installed in workplaces.
This scheme offers financial support the help cover the up-front costs of buying and installing EV charging points.
So, if your place of work is wanting to switch to electric, this government scheme will make it much easier and way more affordable!

Well-to-Wheel

Well-to-wheel describes the total environmental impact of different fuels from where they originate to how they’re used.
Energy doesn't appear by magic! Fossil fuels must be pumped out of the ground, refined, and transported to the fuel pump, while electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) must get their electricity from somewhere.

Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)

The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) is a lab test that measures fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from cars, as well as their pollutant emissions. WLTP takes into account realistic driving behaviour:

A greater range of driving situations (think urban, suburban, main roads, motorways)
Longer test distances
More realistic ambient temperatures that are closer to the European average
Higher average and maximum speeds/ drive power
More dynamic and representative accelerations and decelerations
Shorter stops
Optional features include CO2 values and fuel consumption based on how individual vehicles are built
Stricter testing conditions
It helps show the best and worst-case values on consumer information, reflecting the options available for similar car models

Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)

Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) are vehicles that produce no exhaust emissions during operation.
They are considered key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, helping to generate cleaner air and combat climate change.
ZEVs include EVs. So, if you are wanting to join the road to net zero, ZEVs are definitely worth considering!

Your journey to all things electric

Electric cars are the future: the new generation of travel. And as the UK’s leader in low-carbon energy, we’re here to get you on the road to net zero!

We’ve got everything you need to go electric, from EV leasing deals and home charging points to zero carbon electricity EV tariffs! Through easy access to everything electric alongside your newfound knowledge of all things EV, joining the road to net zero has never been easier, so what are you waiting for? Join EDF today and help Britain achieve net zero by 2050!