kiloWatt-hour (kWh)

Keywords

What is meant by kWh in an electric car?

KiloWatts per hour (kWh) is the measurement of energy that an electric vehicle can store in its batteries. As a guide, the Nissan Leaf – the most popular electric car in the UK – has a 40kWh battery, and users report getting anywhere between 5 to 8 kilometres per kWh charge.

Related Jargon

What is a battery electric vehicle?

A battery electric vehicle (BEV) uses the electrical energy from rechargeable batteries to power an electric motor (or motors).

What is a plug-in hybrid car?

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a vehicle that has a slightly larger battery than a regular hybrid, so it travels further just using electricity.

How does an electric vehicle work?

An electric car, also known as a battery electric vehicle or EV, uses one or more electric motors to move the vehicle.

How do lithium ion batteries work in cars?

A lithium-ion battery is the most common types of battery used in electric vehicles (EVs). It is well suited to EVs because it holds a lot of energy, compared to its weight, and is very efficient at charging and discharging.

What exactly is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car is one that combines a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. They tend to consume less fuel and emit less CO2 than a car with just a petrol or diesel engine.

What are a car's CO2 emissions?

When petrol or diesel burns in an engine, carbon dioxide gas – also known as CO2 – is the result.