As we prepare for the ban on manufacturing new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, do you know enough about the different types of Electric Vehicles (EVs)?
Acronyms are easy for those in the know, but let’s unpick what each of them means when it comes to choosing the right type of vehicle for you.
What are the different types of electric vehicles?
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Battery Electric Vehicles run purely on electricity and should be plugged into a dedicated home charger.
An installed EV home charger is the most time and cost-efficient way to charge your car.
Most EVs are also delivered with a standard three-pin plug that can be used in a domestic plug socket. Still, most manufacturers advise that you only use these in emergency situations.
Planning your journey is essential with a BEV, and you will need to ensure you have enough battery life to get to your destination, or schedule a pit stop to recharge.
That being said, according to the UK Government, efficiency and consumer confidence in EVs are consistently improving, with the average range of a new electric car now 236 miles (2 weeks of driving for most people).
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
PHEVs run on both electricity and fuel – either petrol or diesel. The primary source is electricity, which requires a plug-in charging point to refuel the battery. Again, a home charger is recommended for the best charging results.
If the battery becomes empty or the vehicle is travelling at speed, the engine with revert to using petrol or diesel.
You have more flexibility with a PHEV, as you have a backup source of fuel. However, if you want optimum efficiency, then some planning is required to maximise your electricity consumption.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
These vehicles have the ability to run on either electricity or fuel, but mainly run on petrol or diesel. The electric battery is recharged through regenerative braking, not through plugging into a charger.
The choice of energy is down to the driver, with most vehicles allowing the switch between traditional fuel and battery mode at the touch of a button.
Offering the best of both fuel types and you’re in control. This is a favourable transition option, for those wanting to test out an EV, but aren’t yet ready to make the full leap. Both HEVs and PHEVs are allowed to be sold until 2035. However, after that, all new cars sold in the UK need to be zero-emission vehicles.
What are the different types of EV chargers?
Before introducing EVs to your company fleet, it’s important to understand charging options, including Level 1, Level 2, DC Fast Charging, home charging and public charging, each with varying output and charging times.
Having a robust EV infrastructure strategy empowers your business to effectively manage your electric vehicle fleet.
Learn more about each of the different charging types, speeds, costs, and connectors in our blog: The Basics of Electric Car Charging.
Will the UK’s EV charging infrastructure be ready for 2030?
There’s some industry concern around whether the UK charging infrastructure will be ready in time for the 2035 ban. However, the government has committed over £2.3 billion to support the transition to electric vehicles, including a dedicated £200 million budget to expand public charging and a Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund of £381 million for local authorities in England.
As of March 2025, the UK had surpassed 75,000 public charge points, with a new charger being added every 29 minutes.
This landscape continues to change, so keeping up-to-date with the latest developments is vital.
Discover more key dates and information on the UK government’s net zero targets in our blog: The UK’s Journey to a Net-Zero Future.
How to choose the best zero-emission vehicle transition strategy?
When deciding how to transition to zero-emission EVs, consider your company’s specific needs and examine factors such as upfront costs, charging infrastructure, and how the vehicles will perform.
It’s not always financially possible to make the transition to fully electric straight away, and a blended car benefit solution is often the best way to give businesses enough time and flexibility to transition their company car fleets over to EVs.
Blended car benefit solutions can provide your business with bespoke combinations of Employee Car Ownership Schemes (ECOS), Salary Sacrifice Cars and Business Car Leasing solutions.
Discover how integrated car benefit options can support fleet sustainability goals in our blog: The Advantages of a Blended Car Benefit Solution.