Electric Passenger Vehicles Explained

Get to know your battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from your plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs)
and learn how they work.

How electric vehicles move?

​Electric vehicles are like automatic cars. They have a forward and reverse mode. When you place the vehicle in gear and press on the accelerator pedal these things happen;

• Power is converted from the DC battery to AC for the electric motor.

• The accelerator pedal sends a signal to the controller which adjusts the vehicle’s speed by changing the frequency of the AC power from the inverter to the motor.

• The motor connects and turns the wheels through a cog.

• When the brakes are pressed or the car is decelerating, the motor becomes an alternator and produces power, which is sent back to the battery.

The key components of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) are:

​Electric motor – durable and reliable. Electric motors use AC power.

Inverter – device that converts DC power to the AC Power used in the electric motor.

Battery – used to store electrical energy that is ready to use.

Battery charger – converts the AC power available on the network to the DC power stored in a battery. It controls the voltage level of the battery cells by adjusting the rate of change and monitors the cell temperatures to control the charge.

Controller – the brain of the vehicle, it controls the rate of charge and translates pressure on the accelerator to adjust speed in the motor inverter.

Charging cable – standard charging cables are supplied with and store in electric vehicles which is used for charging at home or at standard public charge points. Fast charge points have their own cables.

Hybrid Passenger Vehicles Explained

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (known as HEV or PHEV) use a combination of electric power and petrol or diesel power to propel the vehicle. They can be ‘plug-in’ or ‘non-plug-in’.

Hybrids (HEV) - The HEV’s have both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The electric battery however, is only charged by the ICE, the motion of the wheels or a combination of both. There is no charging connector.

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) - These are similar to the HEV in that they use an internal combustion engine (ICE and electric motor. You can charge PHEVs from an electricity source, and access cheaper and cleaner electric power. The batter’s energy is recharged by the ICE, wheel motion, or by plugging into a charge point.

Electric Commercial Vehicles

The Volkswagen Commercial range of electric vehicles include the ID.Buzz, ID.Buzz Cargo and the Multivan.

The ID.Buzz - this electric van breathes fresh life into Volkswagen's famous iconic camper van, allowing you to discover new adventures no matter where you are. The ID. Buzz concept is the next generation of the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). It's built on the modular electric drive kit (MEB) architecture and offers plenty of space and comfort for lengthy excursions.

The ID.Buzz Cargo

The ID.Buzz Cargo is clever, agile, enduring: the ID. Buzz Cargo promises to be one of the most advanced light commercial vehicles ever made. This exciting new concept features intelligent storage, an integrated driver’s workstation, augmented reality (AR) head-up display and the ID. Pilot self-driving mode, in addition to the exceptional space and iconic design you have come to expect from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The addition of the Multivan in 2022 sees a multifunctional vehicle that can be customized to fit a variety of mobility concepts. As a result, the exterior and interior have been totally redesigned, while remaining true to the Multivan DNA.

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