Explore Different Types of Electric Vehicles

The automotive industry has fully embraced electric vehicles, and there are more options available for drivers than ever before. So, how many types of electric vehicles are there? From hybrids to hydrogen fuel cell, get to know the different types of electric vehicles with Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills!

How Many Types of Electric Vehicles Are There?

If you’re thinking about making the switch to electric in the West Bloomfield area, the good news is that you certainly have no shortage of great options available. There are four main types of electric vehicles that you can choose, each offering its own advantages for the Southfield roads ahead. Let’s go over the key differences between models:

• Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Hybrids feature both a gas engine and electric motor. Both components work simultaneously to boost fuel efficiency. The hybrid battery also charges itself automatically.
• Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Hybrid plug-in models also have a gas engine and electric motor, but they feature a much larger battery. Though the battery must be plugged in, it holds enough power to run the entire car. That means a plug-in has a full electric range, while a traditional hybrid does not.
• Battery Electric Vehicles: This is the classic electric model with an electric motor and large battery pack onboard. Because there’s no gas-powered engine, there are no emissions. But, you’ll need to charge the battery regularly at either a public station around Birmingham or your own personal home charging station.
• Hydrogen Electric Vehicles (Fuel Cell): Much less common than the other types of electric vehicle, fuel cell EVs utilize the chemical energy of hydrogen to create electricity on the go. Due to their scarcity, fuel cell models are usually quite expensive.

Electric Vehicle Design Features

The different types of electric vehicles have their own pros and cons, and that’s largely due to their design qualities. If you want to compare key components in each of the different models, take a look at the inner workings of the four types of electric vehicles below:

Hybrid Electric Vehicles:

• Engine
• Electric motor
• Battery pack with controller & inverter
• Fuel tank
• Control module

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

• Electric motor
• Engine
• Inverter
• Battery
• Fuel tank
• Control module
• Battery Charger

Battery Electric Vehicles

• ​​Electric motor
• Inverter
• Battery
• Control Module
• Drive train

Hydrogen Electric Vehicles (Fuel Cell)

• Electric motor
• Fuel-cell stack
• Hydrogen storage tank
• Battery with converter and controller

Shop Hybrids and EVs at Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills

Whether you’re interested in a hybrid or electric, the team at Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills can help you get behind the wheel of your next car in Bloomfield Hills. Feel free to contact us with your questions in the meantime, or just stop by our showroom. We can get the keys in your hand today!