With the rise in popularity of electric cars, there’s been a surge of specific terminologies and acronyms, several of which are used to categorize different types of electric vehicles. Terms like BEV, PHEV, E-REV are all similar terms used for different cars.

We’re going to help you understand what every different electric vehicle acronym means. Here are the most common EV abbreviations and what they mean.

Most Common EV Abbreviations

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):

BEVs are electric cars that get their energy exclusively from rechargeable battery packs. They don’t have an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank or a fuel cell.

Combined Charging System (CCS):

A CCS offers both AC and DC charging on the same port, providing up to 350kW of power. Also called a “combo plug,” this is the industry-standard for charging stations and home charging set-ups in Europe and America.

CHArge de MOve (CHAdeMO):

CHAdeMO is a fast (DC) charging technology, stemming from the Japanese sentence, “O cha demo ikaga desuka,” meaning “would you like a cup of tea?” It is a play on how fast it can charge a CHAdeMO vehicle battery.

Charging Point Manager (CPM):

This describes a type of software designed for intelligent charging, which manages the distribution of power to various electric vehicles to ensure each one charges as swiftly as possible. It operates using customizable algorithms to optimize performance.

Charging Point Owner (CPO):

A CPO is the operator who owns and oversees the operation of smart charging points.

Dynamic Load Management (DLM):

This is an EV charging technology that enables the even distribution of electricity among multiple vehicles connected at the same time. Essentially, DLM optimizes charging rates and helps avoid grid congestion.

Electro-mobility Provider (EMP):

An EMP is a company that gives people access to EV charging networks. They usually provide a tracking service, like an app, to help users find available charging points. They also determine the price of EV charging. EMPs are also referred to as Electro-mobility service providers (EMSP).

Electric Vehicle (EV):

EV stands for electric vehicles. Instead of traditional internal combustion engines, EVs utilize a battery-powered motor. Unlike PHEVs and HEVs, EVs don’t have a gasoline tank or output zero tailpipe emissions.

Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV):

This is a much less commonly used acronym. An E-REV is an electric car equipped with an auxiliary engine, which gives it further range. The extended range engine, as the name suggests, is only active for extended range. This enables E-REV cars to emit less CO2 than normal cars, since only the extended range engine produces any. For normal use, only the electric battery engine will be active.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE):

EVSEs are equipment that supplies the electrical energy that charges electric vehicles. It can be residential or commercial.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV):

FCEVs rely on fuel cell batteries as well as their electric motor. The fuel cells run on hydrogen energy, making it more efficient than a typical combustion engine. FCEVs only use the fuel cells in necessary events, like quick acceleration and hard braking.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV):

It’s a term for electric cars that utilize both traditional combustion engines and electric batteries. This gives HEVs the benefit of being low-emission vehicles with the power of a combustion engine vehicle.

Internal Combustion Engine ICE):

ICE cars are the most common on the road. ICE cars are basically gas-fueled cars.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):  

BEVs are electric cars that get their energy exclusively from rechargeable battery packs. They don’t have an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank or a fuel cell.  

Combined Charging System (CCS):  

A CCS offers both AC and DC charging on the same port, providing up to 350kW of power. Also called a “combo plug,” this is the industry-standard for charging stations and home charging set-ups in Europe and America.  

CHArge de MOve (CHAdeMO):  

CHAdeMO is a fast (DC) charging technology, stemming from the Japanese sentence, “O cha demo ikaga desuka,” meaning “would you like a cup of tea?” It is a play on how fast it can charge a CHAdeMO vehicle battery.  

Charging Point Manager (CPM):  

This describes a type of software designed for intelligent charging, which manages the distribution of power to various electric vehicles to ensure each one charges as swiftly as possible. It operates using customizable algorithms to optimize performance. 

Charging Point Owner (CPO):  

A CPO is the operator who owns and oversees the operation of smart charging points.  

Dynamic Load Management (DLM):  

This is an EV charging technology that enables the even distribution of electricity among multiple vehicles connected at the same time. Essentially, DLM optimizes charging rates and helps avoid grid congestion. 

Electro-mobility Provider (EMP):  

An EMP is a company that gives people access to EV charging networks. They usually provide a tracking service, like an app, to help users find available charging points. They also determine the price of EV charging. EMPs are also referred to as Electro-mobility service providers (EMSP).  

Electric Vehicle (EV):  

EV stands for electric vehicles. Instead of traditional internal combustion engines, EVs utilize a battery-powered motor. Unlike PHEVs and HEVs, EVs don’t have a gasoline tank or output zero tailpipe emissions.  

Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV):  

This is a much less commonly used acronym. An E-REV is an electric car equipped with an auxiliary engine, which gives it further range. The extended range engine, as the name suggests, is only active for extended range. This enables E-REV cars to emit less CO2 than normal cars, since only the extended range engine produces any. For normal use, only the electric battery engine will be active.  

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE):  

EVSEs are equipment that supplies the electrical energy that charges electric vehicles. It can be residential or commercial.  

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV):  

FCEVs rely on fuel cell batteries as well as their electric motor. The fuel cells run on hydrogen energy, making it more efficient than a typical combustion engine. FCEVs only use the fuel cells in necessary events, like quick acceleration and hard braking.  

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV):  

It’s a term for electric cars that utilize both traditional combustion engines and electric batteries. This gives HEVs the benefit of being low-emission vehicles with the power of a combustion engine vehicle.  

Internal Combustion Engine ICE):  

ICE cars are the most common on the road. ICE cars are basically gas-fueled cars.  

Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV):  

MHEVs have electric batteries but they can’t sustain the car. So, they have a main combustion engine assisted by electric batteries.  

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):  

PHEVs utilize both electric batteries and gasoline to power an ICE. You can drive a PHEV until its battery runs out and automatically switch to the ICE.  

Radio-frequency Identification (RFID):  

RFIDs link a card to an account to quickly start a charge with just a tap.  

Transmission System Operator (TSO):  

TSO is a term established by the European Commission to describe an organization responsible for the transportation of energy and the upkeep of the infrastructure needed for this transportation. 

Vehicle-to-Building (V2B):  

This is a technology that reduces a building’s energy consumption by using the idle energy of multiple electric vehicles.  

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G):  

V2G is an advanced smart charging technology that allows the energy stored in electric car batteries to be fed back into the power grid. With the growing dependence on renewable energy sources to power the grid, V2G plays a crucial role in stabilizing the grid during times when the energy generated from solar, or wind sources falls short of demand. 

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H):  

A technology that enables an electric vehicle’s battery to supply power to an entire home (or a similarly sized building). This bi-directional system can convert energy between the AC supply and the vehicle’s battery. 

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X):  

A technology that enables an electric car’s battery to serve as a backup power source during a power outage. 

MHEVs have electric batteries but they can’t sustain the car. So, they have a main combustion engine assisted by electric batteries.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):

PHEVs utilize both electric batteries and gasoline to power an ICE. You can drive a PHEV until its battery runs out and automatically switch to the ICE.

Radio-frequency Identification (RFID):

RFIDs link a card to an account to quickly start a charge with just a tap.

Transmission System Operator (TSO):

TSO is a term established by the European Commission to describe an organization responsible for the transportation of energy and the upkeep of the infrastructure needed for this transportation.

Vehicle-to-Building (V2B):

This is a technology that reduces a building’s energy consumption by using the idle energy of multiple electric vehicles.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G):

V2G is an advanced smart charging technology that allows the energy stored in electric car batteries to be fed back into the power grid. With the growing dependence on renewable energy sources to power the grid, V2G plays a crucial role in stabilizing the grid during times when the energy generated from solar, or wind sources falls short of demand.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H):

A technology that enables an electric vehicle’s battery to supply power to an entire home (or a similarly sized building). This bi-directional system can convert energy between the AC supply and the vehicle’s battery.

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X):

A technology that enables an electric car’s battery to serve as a backup power source during a power outage.