AER - All Electric Range
Distance measurement used for hybrid car's ability to rely on electric drive.
AT-PZEV
Short for Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicles. Vehicles that meet California Air Resources Board's requirements for SULEV exhaust emissions, zero fuel evaporative emissions, 150,000-mile emissions durability and an extended emission systems warranty, are referred to as AT-PZEVs.
Hybrid Car Glossary - B
BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle
A battery-electric vehicles use an electric motor for power source. The electricity powering the motor is stored in a battery pack that must be recharged from an electric power source.
By-Wire Technology
Similarly to "Fly-by-Wire" technology found in fighter planes, hybrid car "Drive-by-Wire" technology replaces mechanical connections with electrical connections to reduce weight and provide more sophisticated and reliable responsiveness.
Hybrid Car Glossary - C
CaFCP - California Fuel Cell Partnership
The California Fuel Cell Partnership is a unique collaborative of auto manufacturers, energy companies, fuel cell technology companies, and government agencies to promote moving towards a sustainable energy future, increasing energy efficiency and reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
CBG - Cleaner Burning Gasoline
Cleaner-burning gasoline is fuel that meets requirements established by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). All gasoline sold in California for use in motor vehicles must meet these requirements, which have been in effect since Spring 1996.
Hybrid Car Glossary - E
EV - Electric Vehicle
An electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses electric motors for power source. Examples of EVs are metros, most trams, and for some trains.
Electric-only mode
Also known as Stealth Mode. In full hybrid cars, electric-only mode allows the vehicle to drive at low speeds without the engine turning on.
Hybrid Car Glossary - F
FCEV - Fuel Cell Vehicle
A fuel cell vehicle is an electric vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel instead of a battery to produce electricity. There are no moving parts, as the fuel cell utilizes a catalyst to perform a chemical process that combines oxygen from the air with hydrogen fuel to produce electricity.
Hybrid Car Glossary - H
HFEDS - Highway Fuel Economy Driving Schedule
One of the two EPA fuel economy tests, which consists driving routines, or schedules, performed in the laboratory.
HEV-20
Hybrid car with a 20 miles All Electric Range.
Hybrid Car
A hybrid car refers to a vehicle that has two sources of power: gasoline and electricity. Today's hybrids combine a gasoline engine with one or more electric motors (and a traction battery pack).
Hybrid Car battery
There are two batteries on hybrid vehicles, the traction battery and the auxiliary 12-volt battery, which powers accessories and the car's computer.
Hybrid Car Engine
In hybrid cars, engine refers to the gasoline combustion engine, not the electric motor.
Hybrid Synergy Drive
Toyota's next generation hybrid powertrain, improving upon the Toyota Hybrid System in the original Prius.
Hybrid Car Glossary - L
Low-Emission Level Standards
There are several measurement standards for low-emission cars, including California Air Resources Board standards known as LEV II, Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) and Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards. There is also a Federal standard called Tier 2-Bin 3.
Hybrid Car Glossary - N
NEV
Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. EVs that operate below highway speeds. Are not meant for highway use.
Hybrid Car Glossary - R
Regenerative braking
Regenerative braking is a feature in hybrid cars that allows the motor to act as a generator when braking. The process converts kinetic energy of the car's motion into electric energy that recharges the battery.
Hybrid Car Glossary - T
Type I (Low Voltage/Low Power) Hybrid Car
Type I hybrids are a definition by the California Air Resources Board, and the term was actually originally conceived as an industry-standard improvement to the 12-volt systems in all conventional cars (to 42-volt systems). Type I vehicles can only be called hybrids if they provide traction power to the wheels, offer regenerative braking and have an idle-stop feature that turns engine off at a stop.
Type II (High Voltage/Low Power) Hybrid Car
Also known as an "assist" or "mild" hybrid. Type II hybrid car is a definition by the California Air Resources Board for hybrids that typically have a smaller traction battery and motor, and provide peak power for the engine during acceleration. However, Type II hybrids currently in production do not allow electric-only driving.
Type III (High Voltage/High Power) Hybrid Car
Also known as "full" hybrids. Type III hybrids are a definition by the California Air Resources Board for hybrid cars that can operate in electric-only mode during low-power driving.
