What is the difference between EV and hybrid cars?

A battery electric vehicle (EV or BEV) runs entirely on electricity and must be plugged in to recharge. A conventional hybrid (HEV) has both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, and it does not need to be plugged in because it recharges its small battery while driving.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sits between the two: it has a gasoline engine plus a larger battery that can be plugged in for electric-only driving. EVs have no tailpipe emissions, while hybrids and PHEVs can produce tailpipe emissions whenever their gasoline engines are running. The best choice depends on your charging access, daily mileage, road-trip needs, budget, and vehicle preferences.