23 March 2026
EV Jargon Busting
As electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular, so is their associated jargon. For those who can’t tell their PHEV from their SOC, or their kilowatt-hour from WLTP, this article is for you:
Common EV jargon:
Car jargon
EV
Short for ‘electric vehicle’ – it means any vehicle powered fully or partially by electricity.
BEV
Battery Electric Vehicle – a fully electric vehicle powered exclusively by a battery, such as a Tesla Model 3 or Ford Puma Gen E.
PHEV
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle – A hybrid vehicle (one that runs off a combination of electricity and petrol or diesel). PHEVs can travel a short distance on electricity alone, so plugging them in to recharge the battery is essential.
HEV
Hybrid Electric Vehicle – A hybrid vehicle that recharges the battery through regenerative braking or the engine while you drive. These vehicles typically only travel very short distances on electricity alone.
V2L
Vehicle to load – a system that allows you to use your EV battery to power external equipment or appliances. It’s sometimes called ePTO (Electric Power Take Off).
Battery jargon
kWh
Kilowatt Hour – a measurement used to describe the capacity of a battery. The bigger the number, the more charge it can hold!
kW
Kilowatt – a unit of power. The higher the number, the higher the power output. You’ll come across this in charging speeds, and motor output.
MPGe
Miles Per Gallon Equivalent – A measurement that compares power consumption to petrol or diesel miles per gallon
Range
How far your vehicle can travel on one charge, from 100% to 0%. Usually measured in miles or kilometres
Range Anxiety
Worrying that your EV doesn’t have enough range to reach a charger or your destination.
WLTP
Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure – A standardised test that is used to measure fuel consumption or EV range. It’s widely considered to be the most accurate test of EV range.
Real World Range
A realistic range figure for your EV, which is often lower than the official figure. It takes into account factors such as cold weather, use of air conditioning, and uneven road surfaces.
Battery Health
A term used to describe how much of the original capacity your EV battery can hold. Just like a mobile phone, the battery will degrade over time, albeit much slower.
Battery Degradation
The gradual loss of battery health over time through general use. Most new EVs come with warranties that promise a certain percentage of battery health after a number of years or miles.
Regenerative Braking
A system that recovers energy whilst slowing down the car, feeding it back into the battery. Some drivers report that you’ll get an extra 10-20% of range through using regenerative braking.
Solid State Batteries
The next generation of EV batteries, designed to offer longer range, and have faster charging capabilities than current batteries.
Charging jargon
Home Charger
A dedicated EV charger at your home. They’re usually slow (only 7kW), and used to charge cars overnight.
3-Pin plug
The same plug you’ll use to plug in your TV or kettle. They’re the slowest possible EV charging option, and should only be used in emergencies.
Rapid Charger
A public EV charger that produces 50kW or more. They’re used mostly for topping up your car when out and about, such as at the shops or at work.
Ultra-Rapid Charger
Higher power public charge points, producing 100-350kW. These typically will charge your EV from 20-80% in under 30 minutes. You’ll find these most commonly in motorway service stations.
Public Charging Network
Any public EV chargers that are open for use to the public. Mostly you’ll find these in car parks or service stations, and some cities have public chargers next to on-street parking. Public EV chargers are designed for a quick burst of power while you’re going about your daily business.
Financial Car jargon
VED
Vehicle Excise Duty – more commonly known as road tax.
BiK
Benefit-in-Kind – a tax you’ll pay on a non-monetary benefit you receive as part of your job. In terms of cars, it could be in relation to a company car scheme, or salary sacrifice.
