BEV stands for battery electric vehicle, and they—not their hybrid or plug-in hybrid cohorts—seem to be on track to dominate the new vehicle market.
BEVs are pure electric vehicles, meaning they require drivers to plug in and charge them before they’re capable of being driven. No juice, no go.
Unlike hybrids, BEVs don’t rely on a back-up fuel source when their electric range is used up, but compromise by having much larger batteries and more all-electric range than hybrids.
Automakers bet big on BEVs
To be clear, “electrification” is a blanket term for converting internal-combustion-powered vehicle lineups into BEVs, HEVs or PHEVs. When an automaker claims they are “electrifying” its entire fleet by some future date, it doesn’t necessarily mean pure-electric BEVs all around.
Several automotive companies have banked on hybrids as a transitional step to a full pure-electric lineup.
Which automakers are bringing the BEVs?
Will BEVs replace gas engine cars?
What remains to be seen, however, is how manufacturers will fare in the midst of a still-ongoing pandemic and the supply chain issues it causes—as well as the fierce battle for precious resources needed to build the massive batteries that power these things.
Will my insurance go up if I buy a BEV?
EVs are notoriously expensive to insure (for now) compared with gas-powered cars, as electric powertrains typically offer more instantaneous torque off the line. They’re also pretty advanced, with fewer mechanics qualified to fix them.