Types of Electric Vehicles: What Do BEV, HEV and More Mean?

The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation. As the transition from fossil-fueled vehicles to environmentally friendly, sustainable solutions gains momentum, we often come across certain terms: BEV, HEV, PHEV, FCEV. While these abbreviations may sound technical, they actually indicate the energy on which the vehicles run and what kind of advantages they offer us.
If you are thinking of buying or leasing a new generation vehicle, it is important to know these differences in order to contribute to the environment and make the right choice.

BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle

BEVs are vehicles that run solely on electricity and do not have a gasoline engine. They have rechargeable batteries and operate with completely zero emissions.
Highlights:
- Uses electric motor only
- Rechargeable from charging stations or household outlets
- Quiet and vibration-free driving experience
Advantages
- Zero carbon emissions
- Low operating and maintenance costs
- Advanced driving technologies
Disadvantages:
- May be limiting in areas with inadequate charging infrastructure
- Long journeys may require charging planning

BEV Options at RentiCar:

Popular models such as the Tesla Model 3, Renault Zoe and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are available for daily or long-term rental on RentiCar . The filtering system in the application makes it easier for you to list only electric vehicles.

HEV - Hybrid Electric Vehicle

HEVs have both electric and gasoline engines. The electric motor usually works as a low-speed backup and the vehicle is not charged; it recharges itself by recovering energy during braking.
Advantages
- Reduced fuel consumption
- Quiet and comfortable driving with electric assistance
- No external charging required
Disadvantages
- Electric range too short
- Emission rate still close to internal combustion engine vehicles

HEV Options at RentiCar:

Models such as the Toyota Corolla Hybrid are ideal for those who want to be both economical and environmentally friendly. You can reserve it with a few clicks on RentiCar.

PHEV - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

PHEVs are vehicles with both an external rechargeable battery and a gasoline engine. You can cover short distances entirely on electricity and long distances with a gasoline engine.
Advantages
- Zero emissions over short distances
- Eliminates range anxiety by switching to gasoline if electricity runs out
Disadvantages:
- Fuel consumption can increase if you neglect to charge

PHEV Options on RentiCar:

You can easily filter and book models such as BMW 330e through the application.

FCEV - Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle)

Although not yet widespread, FCEVs are one of the technologies of the future. They run on hydrogen and emit only water vapor from the exhaust.
Advantages
- Refueling in a very short time
- Completely emission-free operation
Disadvantages:
- Hydrogen infrastructure is very limited
- High vehicle costs

Is there an FCEV in RentiCar?

Currently, RentiCar does not offer the FCEV (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) model. However, with the continuous development of electric vehicle technologies, this type of vehicles may be among the options in the near future.

Why Rent an Electric Car with RentiCar?

Do you want to experience electric or hybrid vehicles before you buy? Or are you looking for an economical and environmentally friendly alternative for urban transportation?

Here are the advantages offered by RentiCar:

- Large Electric Vehicle Fleet
- Fast and practical booking with User Friendly Mobile App
- Flexible Rental Periods: Daily, weekly or monthly
- Smart Filtering Feature: Easily list options like BEV, HEV, PHEV

Glossary of Basic Terms

Kilowatt Hour (kWh)
Indicates battery capacity in electric vehicles. The amount of energy used or produced in an hour.
Example: A BEV with a 60 kWh battery can travel about 400 km on a full charge.
Gigawatt Hour (GWh)
1 GWh = 1.000.000 kWh
Used in large-scale calculations such as energy production or grid capacity.
Energy Density
It is the amount of energy stored per unit volume. Higher energy density means longer range with smaller volume.
Specific Energy
The amount of energy stored per unit mass (e.g. kilogram). It is a critical measure in battery technologies. The specific energy must be high to produce lightweight but powerful batteries.
CO₂e - Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
A unit of measurement showing the equivalent sum of all greenhouse gases emitted by a vehicle in terms of carbon dioxide. It is used to calculate environmental impacts.
Electric vehicles are the least environmentally damaging means of transportation with low CO₂e emissions.

Why Rent an Electric Car with RentiCar?

You don't need to buy a car to try electric vehicles, experience green transportation and save fuel. RentiCar is here to make this transformation easy for you!
- Large fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles
- User-friendly mobile app
- Quick selection with electric vehicle filter
- Flexible daily, weekly and monthly rental options

Experience the Driving Experience of the Future Today

Whether you want to experience full electric BEVs or feel the difference with hybrid crossover models... With RentiCar, both an environmentally friendly and technological driving experience is now much more accessible.
Download the RentiCar app now and discover the most suitable electric vehicle for you!
Start the future one step ahead.