Alectra, discover the possibilities

A Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) is powered only by electricity, replacing gasoline or diesel fuel. It is purely electric, using an electric motor to propel itself and produces no carbon dioxide or other emissions during operation. With no fossil fuels on board, there are fewer parts to break and more space for a larger battery, meaning a greater electric range.

The main components of a BEV include a zero-emission electric motor, a series of batteries, transmission that transfers power to the wheels.

Battery EVs are very efficient, and most newer models have enough range to run for multiple days without fully recharging. To fuel your EV, the car can be plugged into a standard wall outlet like a toaster at home. However, you may wish to purchase a higher-powered EV charger that runs off a 240V circuit, similar to your oven or clothes dryer. If you intend to charge your EV at home, it is recommended that you buy a dedicated EV charger. 

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) can operate on electric power but can also run on gasoline when more range or additional power is required.  PHEVs have a battery as well as an internal combustion engine and are emissions-free only when operating in electric mode. They typically have smaller batteries and less electric range, because the gasoline engine can provide power when the battery is drained. Plug-in hybrids are perfect for drivers who commute short distances and can benefit from operating on electricity for most of their travel time but can still get additional range from the gasoline engine when needed.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) get their name from their ability to use a battery to supplement the fossil fuel that powers the vehicle. They have two complementary drive systems that run simultaneously: a gas-powered engine with fuel tank, along with an electric motor and a battery. HEVs are not plug-ins, as they can't be recharged from the power grid.

HEVs energy comes from gasoline, and it can generate electricity from regenerative braking and from an electricity generator powered by the internal combustion motor. The battery is used to operate the vehicle at low speeds or when the vehicle is idling, leading to better fuel consumption and less pollution.

A Fuel-cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) uses hydrogen fuel-cell technology to generate the electricity required to run the vehicle. A fuel-cell is a device in which an electrochemical reaction takes place between hydrogen and oxygen.

The working principle of a FCEV is different compared to that of a ‘plug-in’ EV. This is because the FCEV generates the electricity required to run this vehicle in the vehicle itself. In these vehicles, the chemical energy of the fuel is converted directly into electric energy. The fuel used is hydrogen, which is available in a very few number of distribution locations. For this reason, fuel-cell technology is likely to be used mainly in larger vehicles operating from large fleet sites, like trains and heavy duty vehicles.