EV glossary

The amount of electricity that can be stored in a battery, expressed in kilowatt hours, and measured from a state of full charge (100%) to a state of charge corresponding to 0%.

Battery electric vehicle: Also known as an electric vehicle or a fully electric vehicle. 

An electrical energy source that can recharge a single vehicle at a time. Equivalent terms: “charge port,” “EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) port,” “EVSE,” or “charging point.” 

An electric power station intended for recharging the batteries of plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicles. Charging stations can be private or public. Public charging stations are generally located in the parking lot of businesses, gas stations, or rest areas. They may include one or many charging ports. 

A socket combining a “type 2” connector with an additional socket for level 3 fast charging. The CCS-Combo standard is found on most electric vehicles… until most of the newer EVs make the transition to the North American Charging Standard (NACS).

CHAdeMO is another trade name for a rapid charging method for battery electric vehicles. It was proposed as a global standard by a Japanese association of the same name. CHAdeMO is an abbreviation for “chargé de movement,” equivalent to “charge to move.” Nissan is the main user of the CHAdeMO system for its Nissan Leaf. The CHAdeMO standard is currently being phased out and abandoned by all carmakers in North America. 

EV users without access to charging solutions at or near their place of residence or work. 

A device located at the tip of a charging cable, designed to be inserted into the electric vehicle’s charge port to recharge the battery of an electric vehicle. There are a few types of different connectors on the market, including SAE J1772, CHAdeMO, SAE combo (CCS), or NACS (North American Charging Standard), developed by Tesla. 

Direct Current Fast Charging, also known as fast-charging station or (incorrectly) level 3 charging station. 

Charging stations made available to a company or an organization’s vehicle fleet, generally located on the business’ premises. 

The distance a vehicle can cover, solely using electric power, before it becomes necessary to recharge the battery or for the gasoline engine to kick in. 

The average range calculated based on parameters from Natural Resources Canada or the EPA. Thus, if an electric vehicle has an average range rating of 383 kilometers, this is obtained by calculating 55% of that range during urban driving, and 45% during highway driving. 

In the summertime, an electric vehicle can see its range increase by 30% or even 40%, and decrease anywhere between 10% and 50% (depending on the models and the weather) in winter. 

A motorist who travels in an electric vehicle. 

Relating to any means of transportation using electrical energy. 

An intelligent load management system that avoids an excess of energy on an electrical installation and optimizes power demands. It can interrupt charging sessions or limit the power as needed to prevent overload from the electrical equipment. 

Fast charging stations, known under the acronym DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charging), operate at voltage levels of at least 400 volts via a CCS-Combo, a CHAdeMO, or a NACS connector. The high acquisition and installation costs of fast charging stations explain why they are less widespread than 240-volt stations.  

While most of the DCFCs on our roads are 50 kW units, DCFCs capable of 100 kW, 150 kW, 180 kW, 250 kW, 350 kW and more are now appearing, reducing charge times, provided, of course, that the vehicle has the capacity to accept such charging power. 

A vehicle with an entirely electric drivetrain fueled by a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a battery. 

Term designating the expected range of an electric vehicle. These are more or less accurate, depending on the model, similar to the fuel gauge in a gasoline-powered vehicle. 

A vehicle equipped with a gasoline engine and one or more electric motor(s). These vehicles cannot be connected to a charging station. 

A type of charging that occurs without a physical connection (wirelessly). Like for smartphones, induction charging happens when an electric vehicle equipped with a contactless charging device is positioned above a charging pad on the ground. The pad then transfers energy by sending a magnetic field to the car’s charger. 

A power unit, multiple of watt, and equivalent to 1,000 watts.

A kWh corresponds to the consumption of an electric device of one thousand Watts for one hour.

This is the unit of electrical consumption for an electric vehicle over a distance of 100 kilometers. 

This is a standard 120 Volt household outlet. All light-duty plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicles offer a standard 120 Volt charger. While such an outlet can serve as a supplementary charging mode, it is not recommended to use it as a regular charging method, especially if you own a long-range electric vehicle.  

For example, charging a car equipped with a 60-kWh battery on a level 1 outlet can take more than 2 days. Moreover, if you plan to use such an outlet at home, it is recommended to have it verified by an electrician to prevent any damage to your electrical system. 

Level 2 charging is performed using a unit whose electrical voltage is of 208 or 240 volts. You can have a level 2 charger installed outside your house or inside your garage. During a level 2 charge, demand from the vehicle is roughly the same as a 180-litre (40 gallon) water heater. It is recommended to entrust the installation of a residential charger to a master electrician.  

It is also possible to charge your vehicle using public level 2 stations. For longer range electric vehicles (60 kWh to 100 kWh), the charge on a level 2 unit can take anywhere between 6 and 12 hours from 0% to 100%, depending on the charger’s capacity. 

Tesla’s charging standard which has recently been adopted by the vast majority of other car manufacturers in North America. 

Driving modulated by the accelerator pedal which also allows for slowing down or even bringing to a halt the electric vehicle with little to no use of the brake pedal. This happens thanks to the regenerative braking induced by the electric motor. The technology contributes to improving the driving experience while extending the lifespan of a vehicle’s brakes. It is still highly recommended to keep using the brake pedals at least once a day for the mechanical brakes not to rust and/or seize. 

A vehicle equipped with a gas engine, and one or more electric motor(s). These vehicles are equipped with a charging port so that its user can plug the vehicle and drive in full electric mode over a range of 20 to 120 kilometers (depending on the model). 

Charging stations located on public or private grounds, intended for all customers. Consisting of level 2 and DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charging) stations, they allow charging on highways, in communities, and at workplaces. 

An electric vehicle that is also equipped with a gasoline engine, which generally is not used to propel the vehicle, but to supply energy to the battery so that it can power the electric motor. Two examples of this system are the Chevrolet Volt and the BMW i3 REx. 

A process used in hybrid and electric vehicles to recover part of the kinetic energy and recharge their batteries. The principle is to transform the vehicle’s electric motor into a generator during braking phases. The rotation of the wheels then drives this generator and produces electricity, which is stored in the batteries. This type of braking is used on locomotives, as well as hybrid or electric cars. 

A station capable of receiving, sending, and processing data allowing for remote command actions. The smart charging station is generally connected to a network of stations communicating with a centralized management system.  

Thanks to data transmitted and processed by the system, users can, for example, locate the nearest available charging station, know whether it is available or not, and make a payment with a prepaid card or a mobile app. 

A platform that anticipates the energy needs of electric vehicles and automatically manages their charge cycle to ensure their availability. This technology is especially handy for vehicle fleets. It optimizes vehicle charging planning to minimize power demand of the fleet and its consumption during peak periods, and in turn, helps reduce electricity bills as well as the impact on the electrical network. 

The amount of electrical energy that a battery can provide at a given time, expressed as a percentage of its capacity. 

The level of performance of a battery at a given time, compared to its initial performance. The state of health can be calculated, for example, in terms of lifespan (ratio between remaining life and expected life) or capacity (actual capacity compared to its initial theoretical capacity). 

Fast charging stations from Tesla that were until recently reserved for Tesla electric vehicles, but that is begin to gradually welcome other brands. 

Allows for more efficient power transportation, reducing losses. It enables the connection of devices requiring greater power such as Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations or several level 2 charging stations on the same site.