EV glossary: key terms explained

Plain-language definitions of key EV terms and acronyms: battery, charging, range, and more.

Education guide

Put the advice next to real savings examples

The guide gives you the decision framework. The rolling examples show how much the numbers can move once model and location enter the picture.

EV savings · real examples

EV model

Location

Saves / yr

Model Y LR

Los Angeles, California

$1,847

⚡

EVs have ~20 moving parts vs 2,000+ in a gas engine

vs equivalent gas car · 13,500 mi/yr

live

Understanding the basic energy terms makes every EV conversation easier.

·kWh (kilowatt-hour): battery capacity, like gallons for a gas tank. A 75 kWh battery holds 75 kWh of energy.
·kW (kilowatt): power, the rate energy flows. A 150 kW charger flows 150 kW of power.
·SoC (state of charge): current battery percentage, like a fuel gauge. '80% SoC' = 80% full.
·BMS (battery management system): the onboard computer that monitors each cell, controls charging speed, and manages temperature.
·NMC / LFP: two common battery chemistries. NMC = higher energy density; LFP = longer cycle life.

Charging vocabulary trips up many new EV owners.

·Level 1: standard 120V outlet, ~1.4 kW, ~5 miles/hr
·Level 2: 240V circuit, 7–19 kW, ~25–40 miles/hr
·DC fast charging / DCFC: direct current, bypasses onboard charger, 50–350+ kW
·EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment): official term for a charging station or home charger
·NACS (North American Charging Standard): Tesla-derived connector now adopted by most automakers
·CCS (Combined Charging System): previous mainstream DC fast charge standard
·CHAdeMO: older DC fast charge standard, mainly Nissan Leaf, declining
·Charge curve: how fast a battery charges at different SoC levels

Key numbers on every EV spec sheet.

·EPA range: official range estimate from EPA testing — real-world is typically 5–15% less at highway speeds
·mi/kWh: miles per kilowatt-hour, the EV equivalent of MPG — higher is more efficient
·MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent): how far the EV would travel on energy equivalent to one gallon of gas
·Regen (regenerative braking): recovering kinetic energy as electricity when decelerating
·One-pedal driving: driving using only the accelerator, with regen handling all normal deceleration
·Preconditioning: warming or cooling battery before driving or charging

Incentive vocabulary matters at purchase time.

·§30D credit: federal clean vehicle tax credit, up to $7,500 for new EVs
·§25E credit: federal used clean vehicle tax credit, up to $4,000
·MSRP cap: maximum vehicle price to qualify for federal credits ($55k sedans, $80k SUVs/trucks)
·MAGI: modified adjusted gross income — the income limit threshold for federal credits
·Point-of-sale transfer: claiming the tax credit as a price reduction at the dealer (available since 2024)
·TOU (time-of-use): electricity rate plan with different prices by time of day

Common EV-specific vehicle terminology.

·BEV (battery electric vehicle): runs solely on electricity, no gas engine
·PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle): gas engine + battery, can plug in for electric range
·HEV (hybrid electric vehicle): gas engine + small battery, cannot plug in
·Frunk: front trunk, storage space under the hood where the engine would be in a gas car
·V2G (vehicle-to-grid): bidirectional charging allowing the EV to supply power back to the grid
·V2H (vehicle-to-home): using EV battery to power your home
·OTA (over-the-air): wireless software updates to the vehicle
·ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems): collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, adaptive cruise