Electric Vehicles Getting Started | Meanings of BEV, PHEV

Electric vehicles cover a spectrum – from those that are mainly mechanically driven to those that are exclusively electrically driven:

Mild Hybrid (mHEV)

Mild Hybrids are powered by a combustion engine, enhanced by an compact electric motor (<20kW) as additional booster, e.g. 48 Volt recuperating system. It supports the combustion engine to lower fuel consumption and providing improved low-end torque. Mild Hybrids do not have a 100% electric mode.

Full / Strong Hybrid (sHEV)

A vehicle with a combustion engine and a battery-powered engine. It is powered by the combustion engine, but at slow speeds (up to 50kph) and short distances (around 3km), also pure electric propulsion is possible. The electricity needed to operate the electric engine is produced by the combustion engine.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Like a Full Hybrid, but PHEVs can drive higher speeds (up to 130kph) and longer distances (up to around 60km) on electric power only. The combustion engine recharges the battery, if power is insufficient. The battery can be charged by an external power supply.

Range Extender Vehicle (E-REV)

A battery electric vehicle that includes a small auxiliary combustion engine solely for the purpose of recharging the battery. In contrast to the Plug-in Hybrid, the range extender is not able to run the vehicle mechanically.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Runs exclusively on an electric engine powered by a battery, no fossil fuel is therefore needed. The battery is charged by external power supplies. Locally 100% free of emissions.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV)

The FCEV runs solely on an electric engine, too, but in contrast to the BEV the electricity is generated by hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen. Like the BEV, the FCEV is locally 100% free of emissions.

In New Zealand, Opel will have two battery electric vehicles (bev), (Mokka-e, and Corsa-e) and two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (phev), (Astra hybrid and Grandland Hybrid)

Opel, Simply Electric, Electric Vehicles, Corsa-e

Battery electric vehicles have:

An electric motor and battery
Battery charged with a cable at a charging station (private or public)
During operation the battery is also charged by energy recuperated: braking energy is converted back into electricity, whenever you take your foot off the accelerator or hit the brakes
Average driving range depends strongly on vehicle model, driving behaviour, ambient conditions and battery capacity. Some vehicles, such as the Opel Corsa-e, can drive well over 300km on a single chargee (WLTP)
Local zero-emission driving

Discover Corsa-e Discover Mokka-e

Opel, Simply Electric, Electric Vehicles, Grandland X Hybrid4

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have:

One or two electric motors (depending on the model) and battery plus an internal combustion engine
Battery charged with a cable at a charging station (private or public) or via internal combustion engine
During operation the battery is also charged by energy recuperated: braking energy is converted back into electricity, whenever you take your foot off the accelerator or hit the brakes
Average driving range in full electric mode depends strongly on model, driving behaviour, ambient conditions and battery capacity. Some models can even drive up to 59 km (WLTP)
Local zero-emission driving in full electric mode.

Discover Astra hybrid

Discover Grandland Hybrid

Back to overview

¹ Range data has been determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). Everyday use may differ and is dependent on various factors. In particular: personal driving style, route characteristics, exterior temperature, heating/air conditioning, pre-conditioning.

² Fuel consumption combined 1,4l/km; CO₂ emission combined 32g/km. Fuel consumption and CO₂-emission data have been determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology, and the relevant values are translated back into NEDC to allow the comparability with other vehicles, according to regulations R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1153 and R (EU) No. 2017/1151.