A list of commonly used abbreviations to do with electric cars in alphabetical order. If you are asking 'what does that stand for?' then this is the place to be:
- AC - Alternating Current: The standard type of electricity in homes and the most effective way of powering an EV. In AC circuit the voltage swings between positive and negative meaning current flows in both directions (hence 'alternating').
- BEMF - Back ElectroMotive Force: A voltage that occurs in electric motors where there is relative motion between the armature of the motor and the external magnetic field. One practical application is to use this phenomenon to indirectly measure motor speed and position. Can be detected using a number of methods. Shunts on each windings power, current sensing transformers, and hall effect sensors.
- BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle- See EV below, An electric vehicle whose electricity is exclusively stored in batteries rather than a fuel cell or generator.
- DC - Direct Current: A form of electricity where current only flows in one direction. This is the form of electricity produced by batteries and the most common system used in EV conversions.
- DOD - Depth of Discharge: A measure of how much energy has been withdrawn from a battery. It is expressed as a percentage of the total battery capacity. For example - if you use 25ah of a 100ah battery, that is running the battery to 25% DOD.
- EV - Electric Vehicle: usually referring to registered passenger vehicles but can refer to any vehicle that is powered exclusively by an electric drive train.
- FCV- Fuel Cell Vehicle: A vehicle powered by a fuel cell, usually hydrogen. This is essentially an electric vehicle but using a liquid to store energy rather than a battery.
- HEV - Hybrid Electric Vehicle: A vehicle which is powered by both electricity and another fuel, usually petrol/gas (eg Toyota Prius). This is usually just a more efficient way of using the standard fuel as there is no external source of electricity.
- ICE - Internal Combustion Engine: the standard way to power a vehicle, this part is removed when converting to an electric car.
- PHEV - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle: A hybrid electric vehicle with a substantial battery pack which is able to be charged by an external source other than its fossil fuel (i.e. plugged into household electricity). These vehicles often have the ability to travel is a 'pure electric mode' without using any conventional fuels.
- PWM - Pulse Width Modulation: a high-efficiency technique for controlling voltage output in a motor controller.
- LiFePO4 - Lithium Iron Phosphate battery chemistry.
- NiCd, NiCad - Nickel Cadmium battery chemistry.
- NiMH - Nickel-Metal Hydride battery chemistry.
- Li-poly, Li-Pol, LiPo - Lithium Polymer battery chemistry.
- LiCoO2 - Lithium Cobalt Oxide battery Chemistry.
- Pb-Acid - Lead-Acid battery chemistry.
- VRLA - Valve Regulated Lead Acid
- More Information Needed...
Glossary of Abbreviations
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