- Written ByJohn Goreham
- 5/7/2024
Edited ByJulie Bausch Lent
The term electrified is now widely used when referring to a vehicle. Here is what the term means and how it relates to the terms ‘electric vehicle’ and ‘EV.’
America is now making significant strides in decarbonizing our activities with a major focus on transforming the transportation sector. As we step into 2024, a term that will gain prominence in the discourse on green vehicles is 'electrified vehicle.' This term, while distinct from 'electric vehicle,' carries a widely accepted definition and signifies a crucial shift in our approach to mobility, one that is more environmentally responsible.
What Electrified Vehicle Means - The Definition & Who Uses It
The term electrified vehicle refers to any vehicle with electric motors assisting its propulsion or providing all of its propulsion. This can include a hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV), a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV), a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), or an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). The newest arrival to the party is Honda’s just announced fuel-cell plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (e:FCEV). More will surely be added.
Each type of electrified vehicle has a few important things in common. Here’s a quick punch list:Electric motors are employed to aid or provide propulsion.Energy is recaptured via regenerative braking.The vehicle carries a battery separate from its 12V battery used for propulsion.The vehicle offers meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollutants in comparison to other vehicle options.The manufacturer has designed out most of the troublesome bits of gas engines (if any).
You may have noticed that the list above does not include “has a plug.” That’s because not all electrified vehicles are plug-ins. Some capture energy when braking and then re-use that energy using electric motors to assist in propulsion. The electricity also boosts range and reduces emissions by powering systems such as steering, lighting, HVAC, and cooling pumps.
Some electrified vehicles are also electric vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy, which provides EPA ratings, considers battery-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles ‘electric vehicles.’ Many industry experts consider BEVs, PHEVs, EREVs, HCEVs, and e:FCEVs to be among the vehicles defined by the term ‘electric vehicle.’ Other people involved in the green vehicle space take a different view of what the term electric vehicle means, and they often consider it the same as ‘battery-electric vehicle.’ This is an ongoing debate, but the difference of opinion about how to define ‘EV’ does not change the way the term ‘electrified’ is used.
The Real Secret to Electrified Vehicle Efficiency - Regenerative Braking
One of the most important ways that electrified vehicles enable more energy-efficient travel is by capturing energy that would otherwise be lost when braking. All electrified vehicles have this advantage. Drive motors become generators when your vehicle slows, and the energy can be stored in the vehicle’s high-voltage battery, sometimes called the traction battery or EV battery. This energy is then put to good use when you accelerate. It is also used in other ways, such as by creating heat or running an AC compressor.
In many electrified vehicles, the driver can adjust the regenerative braking force, even while underway. The Chevy Bolt had a nifty lever on the steering wheel that would allow the driver to increase the regenerative braking force in steps. Many electrified vehicles offer one-pedal driving. The motors act as brakes in all but the most sudden of stops.
A Definite Plus of Electrified Vehicles - Torque
One way all electrified vehicles shine is with regard to torque. Vehicles equipped with electric motors offer instant torque, and usually in abundance. In some vehicles, the added torque is helpful and allows for a more efficient engine to be used. In the case of battery-electric vehicles, the outstanding driving experience is mostly due to the very high torque. For some vehicles that are electrified, such as the top-selling Jeep Wrangler 4Xe PHEV, the torque is the primary benefit. The electrified Wrangler 4Xe has the same torque as the V-8-equipped Wrangler, and the torque comes on sooner.
Torque is much more important than power in a daily driver. While enthusiast magazines trained us all to refer to a vehicle’s “horsepower,” the number cited is always the peak horsepower, which almost no driver ever uses on a daily drive. By contrast, we do use, and do feel the torque offered by a good vehicle on any given drive.
Possible Plusses of Electrified Vehicles - Lower Maintenance & Repair Cost
All electrified vehicles offer the potential for reduced maintenance and lower repair costs. Whether you will enjoy these benefits depends a lot on which brand and model you choose. Reliable brands and models are available. The Toyota Prius is one of the highest-rated vehicles in history for reliability. Owners also experience very long brake life.
Image courtesy of J.D. Power & Associates
Some electrified vehicles offer poor reliability. We don’t think it’s necessary to get too specific here. Simply turn to J.D. Power and Associates for rankings, if you wish. The chart above is one we often use when reporting on reliability. In its most recent analysis of what vehicle powertrain types are most and least reliable, Consumer Reports found electric vehicles to be the least reliable. Hybrids were found to be the most reliable type of vehicle.
The potential for lower repair and maintenance costs is due to simplification of the powertrains compared to older conventional internal combustion vehicles. Take Toyota hybrids. There are no pricey timing belts to change. There are no belts, period, under the hood. There are no starter motors. No alternators. Electric motors replace complex gear sets in the transmission, which have no normally-scheduled fluid changes. There is no front-to-back drive shaft in an AWD Toyota hybrid. Instead, an electric motor enables the rear wheels to be driven.
Battery-electric vehicles can be even simpler, though they do not yet offer lower costs as a whole. That should change over time as brands that emphasize reliability and affordability continue to evolve their offerings. Battery-electric vehicles also add meaningful weight to a given vehicle style, and combined with their high torque, tires may wear out a bit faster. This offsets some of the maintenance cost savings for BEVs.
Possible Plusses of Electrified Vehicles - Lower Energy Cost
Without a doubt, electrified vehicles are much more efficient than traditional vehicles. The EPA has adopted a standard comparison metric called MPGe that allows electrified vehicle owners to compare various vehicles at a glance. It’s not perfect, but it is handy. Here is a list of the MPGe ratings for various vehicles, along with the type of powertrain they employ. Note the cost per year of energy is for 15,000 driven miles and uses national averages for gas and electricity costs. Your costs will vary depending on what you pay locally for energy and how many miles you cover.
| Vehicle | Powertrain Type | MPGe | Cost Per Year Energy |
|---|
Why You Will Hear the Term Electrified More As Time Passes
Over the past few years, there has been a bit of push and pull among the government in America and automakers over how rapidly the country will move to all-electric vehicles. In the most recent update on this topic, the federal government modified its timelines and allowable types of vehicles to include more plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. GM and Toyota both support this new path forward. Toyota, Volvo, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, BMW, and many other brands already offer a wide variety of electrified vehicles. The single term ‘EV’ is not the best to describe their offerings. What does work is the term 'electrified.' We hope this overview was helpful in explaining a word we think is about to become very commonly used.
