Most people aren't interested in learning all the jargon that industry and enthusiasts come up with. If they do learn it to get past a purchase etc. they'll soon forget it.

Here is a proposed abbreviation system that one might be able to figure out oneself even long after industry's buzz-words have been forgotten.



Drive Train Description abbr. plug-ins
Gasoline Engine to Wheels gw
Electric Motor to Wheels ew p(ew)
Gasoline Engine AND Electric Motor to Wheels gw+ew p(gw+ew)
Gasoline Engine OR Electric Motor to Wheels gw-ew p(gw-ew)
Gasoline Engine to Electric Motor to Wheels gew p(gew)

Huh? I don't get it. You've turned abbreviations into a math problem. Five out of four Americans aren't good at math.:D

Seems like it's working itself out. These seem to be more and more common:

BEV Battery Electric Vehicle (Nothing but a battery and a Motor, the plug is implied)
EREV Extended Range Electric Vehicle (Series Hybrid, or and electric car with an engine to extend the range when the battery gets low)
HEV Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Parallel Hybrid that is a ICE powered car with an electric motor for assist)
PHEV Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Parallel Hybrid but with a plug to get greater efficiency with more electricity and less fuel)
FCEV Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (Like the BEV, but with a fuel cell instead of a battery)

I suppose that if ESSTOR ever becomes a reality, we may also have a CEV, Capacitor Electric Vehicle.

Five out of four Americans aren't good at math.:D

And de udder 10% kant eavn speal :p

gw?

G as in "gasoline?" What if the car's other energy source is natural gas? Or LNG? Or propane? Or alcohol?