Ireland is slowly but surely transitioning from combustion-powered cars over to electricity we have noticed there is a certain amount of confusion over current hybrid offerings available on the Irish market. Many of us are not ready to make the leap to a full EV but what are the major differences between a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) plug in hybrid (PHEV), mild hybrid (MHEV) and full battery electric vehicle (BEV). In this section we delve a little deeper to try aid you find the vehicle that best suits your needs.

HEVThe Hybrid electric vehicle is the most common type of hybrid and they have been around for many years. The most common example of a vehicle using this powertrain would be the Toyota Prius. HEVs have two power drives, a fuel-based engine and an electric motor with a larger battery. When the car starts, it first rolls under electric power but as the vehicle gathers speed, the combustion engine kicks in. An onboard computer system determines when electricity or fuel should be used. There is also no need to plug in an HEV. Through a process known as "regenerative braking", the car's electric battery gets a little recharge every time the driver touches the brakes or on decent the vehicle can harvest energy.

MHEVMild hybrid electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular but the fuel savings can be minimal. By using a small 48V battery and electric motor to increase the efficiency of their internal combustion engine the electric motor can power non-essential features such as air conditioning or the radio. It has the ability to shut off the engine when coasting or slowing down whilst braking. The vehicle is unable to run on battery power alone and therefore really is the most basic form of hybrid motoring.

PHEVThe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has been with us for a good few years now and probably is the closest thing to going fully electric. PHEVs split the difference between battery electric vehicles and normal combustion power. By having a battery powered electric motor that is recharged via an external plug you can get real world electric mileage. Studies have shown that the average daily commute here in Ireland is below 70 kilometres and most modern PHEV vehicles can do this on battery power alone. The good news is that when combined with the petrol or diesel engine, which all PHEV's have, you get great power from the two motors working in harmony. Just be sure to get into the habit of charging your PHEV at home. Although you have combustion engines it's pointless hauling a heavy battery everywhere that's not fully charged. The regenerative braking can only do so much so plugging in is essential.

BEVThe full battery electric vehicle is powered entirely by electricity, meaning you have no engine as a backup. Instead, it has one or more electric motors powered by a larger onboard battery usually located deep in the floor pan. Charging the battery is done via an external outlet and depending on your battery size and charger type, times vary from 3 hours to 14 hours for a full charge. The battery in a full BEV has to power everything in the vehicle, all the time, so typical BEV capacities range from about 40 kWh to 80 kWh, although some are now emerging with batteries as large as 200 kWh. The highest selling BEVs globally include the Tesla products, Nissan Leaf, VW ID range and the Renault Zoe. Other brands like Kia and Hyundai with their award winning EV's are catching up fast!

Are you on the market for an electric vehicle? Click here to browse the entire range of EVs available on Nevo, including both full battery electric models and plug-in hybrids.