EV words, in plain English

New to electric cars? These are the terms you'll run into on this site (and at the dealer). Tap any dotted-underlined word elsewhere on the site for the same explanation.

¢ per kWh: What your utility charges for one kWh of electricity — like the price per gallon at the pump.
Battery size (kWh): How much energy the battery holds — the size of the 'tank.' Bigger usually means more range, and a longer charge.
Efficiency (kWh per 100 miles): How much electricity it uses to go 100 miles. Lower is better — the EV version of higher mpg.
EV: Electric vehicle. On this site it covers fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids, unless we say 'fully electric'.
Fast charger (DC fast charging): Public high-power chargers, mostly along highways. A typical stop takes the battery from about 10% to 80% in 20–45 minutes, but costs several times home electricity.
Frunk / sub-trunk: Extra storage in an EV: a front trunk where a gas engine would be, and often a hidden bin under the rear cargo floor.
Fully electric (BEV): Runs only on a battery you charge by plugging in. No gas engine, no gas tank, no oil changes.
Highway range (70 mph): How far it goes at a steady 70 mph in mild weather. Lower than the EPA number because wind resistance rises with speed.
Hybrid: A gas car with a small battery that helps the engine and recharges itself. It never plugs in (a Prius, or today's Camry).
kWh (kilowatt-hour): The unit your power bill charges for — electricity's version of a gallon. Most EVs go about 3 miles on one.
Level 2 charger: A 240-volt charger (the kind of outlet a clothes dryer uses), installed by an electrician. Refills most EVs overnight.
Off-peak EV rate (time-of-use): A utility rate that charges less for electricity at night and on weekends, in exchange for charging then. Some require a separate EV meter.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV): A battery you plug in for roughly 20–50 electric miles, then a gas engine takes over. Saves money only if you actually plug it in.
Range (EPA): How far an EV goes on a full charge in the government's standard test. Real trips vary with speed, hills, and weather.
Regenerative braking: Lifting off the pedal slows the car by turning the motor into a generator, putting energy back in the battery — so brake pads last much longer.
Regular outlet (Level 1): An ordinary 120-volt household outlet and the cord that comes with the car. Slow — about 40 miles overnight — but it's free and enough for many commutes.
Resale value: What the car is worth when you sell it, as a share of its sticker price. Early EVs lost value fast; nobody knows yet how today's will do, so we show a range.
Sticker price (MSRP): The manufacturer's suggested price. Dealers often sell for less (or more). Destination is the delivery fee added to every new car.
WV EV fee: West Virginia charges fully electric cars an extra yearly registration fee (less for plug-in hybrids) because they pay no gas tax.
WV winter range: Our estimate for a freezing West Virginia day, when heating the cabin and a cold battery cut range by roughly a quarter.

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