e-Glossary - Learn the commonly used terms regarding electric vans

Like most lithium-ion batteries we use every day, such as in our smartphones, the capacity of batteries in electric vehicles will reduce over time through use and charging. This is important to keep in mind when comparing new and used electric vehicles on our website, as the capacity of a used battery will be lower than the capacity of a new battery.

The reduction of battery capacity through use, charging and time is called ‘degradation’.  For battery electric cars, degradation is affected by many variables such as charging speed, driving style, charging volume, temperature etc. As a battery ages the capacity will reduce, which means that the battery may need to be charged more frequently and the range achievable in real life may decrease. Reduction in battery capacity is one of a number of features that may affect resale value.

You should not rely on new car performance figures (including battery capacity and range) in relation to used vehicles with older batteries, as they will not reflect used vehicle performance in the real world. 

All Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles approved used BEV’s will receive a multipoint check and a battery health certificate, this will display the current battery health status, including whether the battery energy capacity is below 70%. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles manufacturer warranty covers battery degradation to 70% over a period of 8 years or up to 100,000 miles (whichever comes first).

To find out more about VWCV's warranty, please visit: 
https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/en/electric-vans/should-you-go-electric/electric-vehicle-servicing/warranty.html 
Terms and conditions apply. 

These are pure electric vehicles powered by rechargeable battery packs, with no secondary source of power. Petrol and diesel are never needed to get a BEV moving.

CO2 is considered to be the main cause of greenhouse gases and a big contributor to global warming. It’s a colourless and odourless gas that’s produced during the combustion process of running a conventional van.

These engines work by burning fuel and using its heat to create power.

Every battery has a lifespan that’s determined by the number of charges it can undergo before it starts to lose its capacity. Volkswagen uses lithium rechargeable batteries which are great at retaining their capacity for charging; even when used daily. They use the highest quality components so that each battery will last as long as possible. We’re so confident in ours that we offer an eight-year warranty/160,000km (whichever comes first) on everyone. We estimate that they can be charged several thousand times during their warranty without deteriorating.

Vans driven by electricity instead of fuel. This term can include any vehicle that uses a battery as its energy supply.

Electric vehicles don’t just get their energy from electricity. Many have the capability to harness energy from other sources, such as the kinetic energy produced when you brake. Your generator can then store the energy for future use.

An electric vehicle that generates energy from hydrogen. The only emission is water vapour, making it a big contender for the future of driving.

An engine that has an electric motor and a combustion engine that can be used at different times, depending on the style of driving. These vans rely on both traditional fuel and electricity, sometimes at the same time.

Electricity that’s been generated from renewable energy sources, such as the wind, sun and sea. This is the kindest type of energy generation for the planet as it doesn’t use our fossil fuels.

A vehicle that has a combination of at least two engines, such as a traditional combustion engine and an electric motor. Each engine is often used for a different style of driving, such as electric for shorter city drives, and combustion for longer, faster drives.

A measurement of electrical power, usually abbreviated as “kW.” When used to express an electric motor’s maximum output, this is roughly equivalent to 1.34 horsepower.  An EV’s battery capacity is expressed in terms of kWh. The more kWh a battery has, the more energy it can store  The number of kilowatts per hour needed to run a vehicle for 100 miles (shortened to “kWh/100 mi”) is used to express an EV’s energy consumption.

A rechargeable battery that’s considered to be one of the best at retaining its charge capacity. One of the main problems with batteries that are used daily is that they stop being able to hold as much charge as time goes on. Dependant on your charging habits, lithium-ion batteries are capable of being charged hundreds of thousands of times without substantial loss to their capacity.

The term used for the capacity that’s lost over time with certain types of rechargeable batteries. It’s thought that batteries begin to learn your average energy demand and only provide that volume of energy instead of the full volume that it can reach.

Electric motors are the most efficient way to drive, however to get the most out of your motor, you need a powertrain that can optimise the energy recovery. We call this powertrain electrification and the ultimate objective is to create one that is a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

A vehicle that combines a combustion engine and an electric motor. The rechargeable battery can be charged from a power socket and the combustion engine kicks in during longer drives. Plug-in hybrids can drive using just their electric motor for around 50km, which makes them great for city dwellers who occasionally take longer trips.

The batteries of the future, these are the successor to today’s hero lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The hope is that they’re the key to unlocking long-distance electric mobility.

Standard charging requires an alternating current using a basic cable or a wall box, however quick-charging uses a direct current (DC) and can only be used at specially designed Combined Charging System (CCS) stations. In 20-30 minutes a battery can be charged to around 80%.

The total distance an electric vehicle can travel on one full charge before the battery needs to be recharged.

A system that helps our vans save on fuel by stopping the engine when we’re stuck in traffic or coasting down a hill. The engine starts up again as soon as we press the accelerator or lift our foot off the brake. This is great for urban areas where vans often waste fuel when stuck in traffic.

A Volkswagen term that applies to diesel engines that have a direct injection and a turbocharger. This results in an engine that’s economical, has low emissions, high power output (torque) and very good power efficiency. It’s often considered to be a trademark of Volkswagen.

A term used to classify a Volkswagen engine that uses a combination of turbocharging and direct fuel injection. The concept includes different charging versions and capacities and the technology allows these engines to be designed smaller, with lower fuel consumption and yet superior power.

This is the total environmental impact of a fuel throughout its life span; all the way from its production to its final use. With crude oil, this starts at the drill hole at the refinery and goes on to include the network of filling stations and vehicle tanks – we call this stage the “well-to-tank” path. The final stage of the fuel being used in a vehicle and the emissions generated as that vehicle burns the fuel is called the “well-to-wheel” path.

This term refers to a vehicle that does not emit harmful exhaust gases when driven. A zero-emissions vehicle must also receive its energy from renewable resources in order for it to fully qualify.