EV Glossary - Cox Automotive Europe

A

AC Charging

Slower charging using alternating current, typically from home chargers or public “destination” points.

All-Electric Range (AER)

How far an EV can travel on a single charge without petrol or diesel backup.

Autonomy / Autonomous Driving

Self-driving features often included in newer EVs.

B

Battery Capacity (kWh)

The “size” of the battery; more kWh generally means more range.

Battery Degradation

The gradual loss of battery capacity over time.

Battery Warranty

Coverage offered by manufacturers, often 7-8 years or 100,000 miles.

BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)

Runs only on battery power, no petrol or diesel engine.

C

CCS (Combined Charging System)

A common plug type for rapid charging in Europe.

Charging Port

The socket where you plug in your EV to charge.

Charging Speed

How quickly your EV gains range, usually shown in kW.

Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

UK city areas where low-emission vehicles pay reduced/no fees.

D

Destination Charger

Slower chargers found at places like hotels, shopping centres, and workplaces.

DC Fast Charging

High-speed charging using direct current, adding range in minutes rather than hours.

E

Energy Tariffs for EVs

Special electricity tariffs designed for cheaper overnight charging.

EV (Electric Vehicle)

Any vehicle powered fully or partly by an electric motor.

F

Fast Charger

Public chargers; faster than home charging, but slower than rapid chargers.

G

Grants/Incentives

Government schemes that help reduce the cost of buying or running an EV.

H

Home Charger

A wall-mounted charging unit installed at your home for faster, safer charging.

I

ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)

A petrol or diesel-powered engine.

Incentives

Discounts, tax breaks, or benefits for choosing an EV.

K

kWh (Kilowatt-hour)

The unit used to measure battery capacity and energy use.

L

Level 1 / Level 2 Charging

Basic US terms for slow and medium-speed charging; in the UK we usually refer to AC charging.

Lithium-Ion Battery

The most common battery type used in EVs.

M

MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

A vehicle that uses a traditional petrol or diesel engine supplemented by a small electric motor and battery, though it cannot drive on electricity alone.

MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent)

A way to compare EV efficiency to petrol cars.

P

PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

Uses both a petrol/diesel engine and a rechargeable battery.

Plug-in Hybrid Range

The distance a PHEV can travel on battery power before petrol takes over.

Public Charging Network

Charging stations available to anyone, often run by private companies.

R

Range

The maximum distance an EV can travel on a full charge.

Range Anxiety

Worry about running out of charge before finding a charger.

Rapid Charger

Typically 50kW chargers that provide significant range in 30–40 minutes.

Real-World Range

The actual distance drivers achieve, often less than the advertised WLTP figure.

Regenerative Braking

A system that recovers energy when slowing down, topping up the battery.

S

Slow Charging

The lowest-speed charging, often via a standard 3-pin socket.

Smart Charging

Charging that adjusts speed or timing to save money or use greener energy.

T

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla’s high-speed charging network, now open to many non-Tesla EVs.

Top-Up Charging

Charging little and often rather than from empty to full.

U

Ultra-Rapid Charging

150kW+ charging speeds that can add 200+ miles in 20 minutes.

V

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)

Technology allowing EVs to send power back to the grid.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)

Using an EV battery to power your house.

Z

Zero Emissions

Producing no exhaust emissions while driving.