There are three main kinds of electric vehicles on the road today:
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs)
BEVs — also known as all-electric vehicles — run entirely on electricity and never use gasoline. They’re powered by large rechargeable batteries and need to be plugged in to charge, often overnight at home. Most new BEVs can travel between 200 and 300 miles on a single charge, and that range continues to improve each year.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
HEVs combine a gas engine with a small electric motor. They don’t plug in — instead, their batteries recharge automatically through a mix of engine power and a process called regenerative braking, which captures energy when you slow down. Hybrids are a great step toward efficiency, using less fuel than conventional cars.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)
PHEVs bridge the gap between hybrids and fully electric cars. Like hybrids, they have both a gas engine and an electric motor — but unlike HEVs, their batteries can also be plugged in to charge. Many plug-in hybrids can handle short daily trips on electric power alone, with the gas engine stepping in for longer drives.
Residential transport in Newton accounts for 24% of Green House Gas Emissions.