EV Glossary
New to electric vehicles? This glossary explains common EV terms in plain language, from charging speeds and connector types to battery chemistry and road-trip planning.
AC Charging
Alternating current charging, usually used for Level 1 and Level 2 charging at homes, workplaces, hotels, and parking garages.
Battery Degradation
The gradual loss of battery capacity over time. Degradation usually means reduced range, not sudden battery failure.
Battery Management System (BMS)
The onboard system that monitors and protects the EV battery pack, including temperature, voltage, charging, and safety behavior.
Battery Preconditioning
Warming or cooling the battery before fast charging so the vehicle can charge faster and more efficiently.
CHAdeMO
An older DC fast charging connector standard, most commonly associated with older Nissan LEAF models in North America.
CCS
Combined Charging System. A common DC fast charging connector used by many non-Tesla EVs, especially before the North American transition toward NACS.
DC Fast Charging
High-power charging used primarily on road trips. It bypasses the onboard charger and sends DC power directly to the battery.
Destination Charging
Charging located where you plan to park for a while, such as hotels, restaurants, parks, resorts, and garages.
Efficiency
How far an EV can travel using a given amount of energy, often shown as miles per kWh or Wh per mile.
EVSE
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. The technical term for charging equipment, often casually called a charger.
J1772
A common AC Level 1 and Level 2 charging connector used by many EVs in North America.
kW
Kilowatt. A measure of power. In EV charging, it describes how fast energy is being delivered.
kWh
Kilowatt-hour. A measure of energy. EV battery size and charging usage are commonly measured in kWh.
LFP Battery
Lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry. Often durable and more tolerant of regular 100% charging, depending on manufacturer guidance.
Level 1 Charging
Charging from a standard household outlet. It is slow, but can work for short commutes or emergency charging.
Level 2 Charging
AC charging from a 240-volt source. Common for home, hotel, workplace, and public destination charging.
NACS
North American Charging Standard. The connector originally developed by Tesla that supports both AC charging and DC fast charging.
NMC Battery
Nickel manganese cobalt battery chemistry. Common in many long-range EVs. Often best kept below 100% for daily use unless extra range is needed.
Plug & Charge
A feature that allows the car and charging station to automatically authenticate and start billing after plugging in.
Range Anxiety
Concern about running out of charge before reaching a destination or charger.
Regenerative Braking
A system that recovers energy while slowing down and sends some of it back into the battery.
SOC
State of Charge. The battery percentage shown by the vehicle, similar to a fuel gauge.
Thermal Management
Systems that heat or cool the battery to improve performance, safety, charging speed, and long-term health.
Vampire Drain
Small amounts of energy used while the vehicle is parked, often from background systems, monitoring, climate protection, or app connectivity.
Wh/mi
Watt-hours per mile. A common EV efficiency measurement. Lower Wh/mi generally means better efficiency.
Tip: The most important terms for road trips are kWh, kW, SOC, DC fast charging, charging curve, NACS, CCS, and battery preconditioning.