Should you buy a BEV, HEV, PHEV, or FCEV?

 So you're shopping for an alternative fuel car. The options can seem endless, right? We get it - it can be quite overwhelming to find the perfect solution, even if you're only shopping N Charlotte Toyotas. We're here to explain the difference between BEV, HEV, PHEV, and FCEV cars and to steer you in the direction of the one that best suits your drive time needs. 

What are BEV, HEV, PHEV, and FCEV cars? 

Let's talk about what each of these alternative fuel vehicles are and what to take into consideration when you're researching them for your next new Toyota in N Charlotte. 

BEV: A BEV is a battery electric vehicle - it runs solely on electric power and must be charged by plugging it into a special charger. (You can plug it into a normal wall socket to charge, but it'll take days.) This type of car is zero emission and doesn't use gasoline or an internal combustion engine at all. It's a great option for drivers who want to go green on the local level, but if you're worried about being able to find a charging station (also known as EV range anxiety), then a BEV may not be for you. AN example of a BEV is the N Charlotte Toyota bz4X. 

HEV: An HEV is a hybrid electric vehicle. These cars run on both battery power (for short times and at low speeds) and have an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline. They're not zero emissions, but put out fewer emissions than a traditional internal combustion vehicle. They're a great option if you want to cut back on fuel usage and save money on gas but don't want the hassle of having to plug your car in to charge it up. An example of an HEV is the Toyota Prius. 

PHEV: A PHEV is a plug-in hybrid vehicle. These cars operate similarly to hybrid cars in that they have a hybrid system under the hood and take gasoline. However, they're designed to also be charged via a charging cord and can run on full electric power for longer periods of time and at higher speeds. If you're unsure about buying a BEV right off the bat but want to see what it's like, a PHEV is really the best of both worlds and can help you get used to charging your car without having to fully rely on charge as a fuel source. An example of a PHEV is the Toyota RAV4 Prime. 

FCEV: Luckily for you, you can knock FCEV - fuel cell vehicles - right off the list, as they're not really available on the east coast (you can really only find them on the west coast, in California). They use hydrogen fuel cells to power themselves and there's no hydrogen fueling infrastructure over here, so we don't expect to see them anytime soon. An example of a FCEV is the Toyota Mirai. 

Find your next alternative fuel option at Toyota of N Charlotte 

Regardless of which one you want to put in the driveway, Toyota of N Charlotte can help. Call us today! We're open seven days a week at (704) 875-9199.