All electric cars are powered only by electricity. These electric cars go by the names Electric Vehicle (EV), Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), and Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), or LSV, low speed vehicle. There is also the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV), which includes scooters, bikes, and the like.
The PHEV is a Plug-in Electric Vehicle that has a gas motor onboard as well as a bigger battery pack, or packs. The PHEV can be charged by plugging in at a charger, or by its gas motor. Sometimes the PHEV cars are called range-extended EVs.
Standard Prius hybrids have a 1.3 kwH pack. The 2012 Prius will have a total of 5 kWh storage and be rechargeable. Or, You can now buy additional plug in capable packs: 2 kWh kit for $2,000 or a 4 kWh kit for $4,000 USD.
The Chevy Volt is a PHEV. It has a large (16 kWh) battery pack.
Electric vehicles can be powered by hydrogen fuel cells or batteries. EV is the general term for electric cars and includes battery and fuel cell vehicles. There is a third type of EV powered by ultracapacitors.
The abbreviation BEV refers to a battery powered vehicle. This is what most people think of when they think about electric vehicles. The NEV is a niche vehicle designed for low speed (25-35 mph) and shorter ranges up to about 30 miles. Golf carts and GEM maintenance vehicles are typical NEVs.
The LEV includes a wide range of smaller Evs from scooters to electric bikes and electric motorcycles. Since the development of a practical Lithium Ion battery, electric powered light vehicles have become much more practical. Lithium batteries are about a third the weight of their lead acid counterparts. This makes a lot of difference for example on a bicycle where you can replace three 10 pound batteries with one 10 pound battery that will do the same job.
As for light weight power, Ultracapacitors have the potential to provide quick charge and discharge for electric vehicles but are not yet able to hold a charge for an appreciable length of time. However, they have found uses for quick charging City Buses.
