Alternating Current (AC)
Reverses its direction of flow at regular intervals-usually 60 times a second--from positive to negative. The most efficient electric motor uses AC.
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV)
Any dedicated or dual-fueled vehicle according to the Energy Policy Act.
- Alternative Fuels Utilization Program (AFUP)
Managed by the Department of Energy it aims to improve national energy security and air quality by developing use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
- Ampere/Amperage (Amp)
The standard unit of measurement for electric current.
- Battery
A container that produces Direct Current (DC) by chemical reaction and storing energy.
- Battery Council International (BCI)
Determines standards such as group sizes that specify external dimensions.
- Cell
The basic unit used to store energy in a battery.
- Charge/Charging
Powering a battery back to full capacity.
- Charging Station
The place or device that connects an EV to a power source for charging.
- Conversion EV
A gas vehicle that was converted to an EV.
- Deep Discharge
Indicates the loss of a significant percentage of the battery's capacity (50% or more).
- Direct Current (DC)
Flows continuously in one direction.
- Discharge Rate
The rate at which the battery discharges power.
- Driveline Efficiency
The amount of energy produced in an engine for propulsion.
- Electric Vehicle (EV)
A vehicle powered by electricity.
- Electrode
The conductor by which electrical current enters or leaves a non-metallic medium.
- Electrolyte
The medium in which the movement of ions determines the current flow.
- Energy Density
The amount of energy a fuel source can contain.
- Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FEV)
Can run on a mix of two fuel types (for example gasoline and alcohol) or a combination of two fuel types (for example gasoline and compressed natural gas).
- Flooded Cell
A lead-acid battery design in which the ordinary liquid solution of acid is the electrolyte.
- Fuel Cell
An electrochemical engine that converts the energy of a fuel and an oxidant, directly to electricity. For example, hydrogen and oxygen.
- Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV)
A vehicle powered by a fuel source through a fuel cell.
- Gel Cell
A type of lead acid battery in which the electrolyte solution comes in gel form instead of liquid.
- Grid Electricity
that comes from a utility and is inexpensive and can come from a renewable resource.
- Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle and payload.
- Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)
Breaks the current flow when a circuit has a leak to ground.
- Group Size
The set of standard external dimensions for batteries set by the BCI.
- Horsepower
The rate at which an engine produces energy.
- Hybrid Vehicle
Has electric components, but uses a non-grid fuel source.
- Hydrometer
Tests the specific gravity of a fluid.
- Hygrometer
Measures air humidity.
- Inductive Charging
A charging system that uses magnetic coupling devices and not metal-to-metal contact plugs.
- Infrastructure
Refers to all the parts of a vehicle that make it an Electric Vehicle, except the vehicle itself.
- Inverter
Converts DC electricity into AC electricity so it can be used by a motor.
- Ion
An electrically charged particle or molecule.
- Kilowatt (kW)
The standard unit by which electric power capacity is measured. One kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts.
- Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)
The standard unit of measurement of large quantities of energy consumed over time.
- Lead-Acid Battery
Consists of several cells put in a series in a polypropylene container and uses lead oxide and spongy lead electrodes with sulfuric acid as an electrolyte. These are normally found in automobiles.
- Lithium Polymer Battery
Uses lithium for an electrochemically active material, and the electrolyte is a polymer or polymer-like material that conducts lithium ions.
- Lithium-Ion Battery
Uses an electrochemically active material and an electrolyte liquid which conducts lithium ions.
- Miles Per Kilowatt-Hour (MPkWh)
The fuel efficiency unit of measurement.
- N Hour Rate
The length of time it takes to discharge a fully charged battery at a constant current.
- Neighborhood EV (nEV)
An EV that is not for highway use because it operates below highway speeds.
- Nickel Metal Hydride Battery
Composed of nickel hydroxide and a multicomponent, engineered hydride alloy consisting of vanadium, titanium, zirconium, nickel, and minor quantities of other metals. It is non-toxic and completely recyclable.
- Nickel-Cadmium Battery
Uses potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte with a nickel and cadmium electrode. Often held in a polypropylene container, these batteries are also often used in automobiles.
- Ohms
The unit of resistance. A constant current of one ampere in a conductor produces one volt between the conductor's ends.
- Parallel Drivetrain
Includes in a parallel vehicle an engine, batteries, and a motor and is called parallel because both the motor and the engine can move the vehicle.
- Parallel Starter/Alternator
The motor can act as a starter and an alternator.
- Photovoltaic
Converts solar energy to electrical energy. They are also called Solar Cells.
- Power
In the case of an electric vehicle, a measure of acceleration or the rate at which energy is released and is measured in kilowatts.
- Power Density
The rated power per unit volume in a battery, measured in watts per liter (w/l).
- Powertrain
Includes the components of a drive train with the addition of an electrical power inverter and/or controller and converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
- Production EV
An EV that was made by an auto manufacturer.
- Propulsion System
Converts stored electrical energy into mechanical energy through the combination of the power train and battery system.
- Range
The distance an EV can travel on a battery.
- Rate of Charge
The amount of energy being added to the battery per a unit of time.
- Regenerative Braking
Recharges the batteries from the friction created by braking.
- Renewable Energy (RE)
Comes from sources that can be renewed, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal, wave, and biomass.
- Sealed Lead-Acid Battery
The battery has a special mat material located between the plates so that no free liquid exists.
- Series Drivetrain
Includes a fuel converter, a generator, batteries and a motor. The motor moves the vehicle and the fuel converter converts mechanical energy into electrical energy through the generator.
- Specific Energy
The rated energy per unit weight of a battery in watt-hours per kilogram.
- Specific Power
The rated power per unit weight of a battery in watts per kilogram.
- Torque
The amount of twisting force that makes the wheel turn.
- Volt
A unit of measurement for electromotive force. Watts divided by volts equals amps.
- Watt
The unit of electrical power.
- Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV)
A vehicle that does not emit pollutants.
- Zinc-Air Battery
Has potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte with a zinc electrode and an air electrode.
