AC:
Alternating current
AWD:
All-wheel drive
BEV:
Battery Electric Vehicle
BMS:
Battery Management System
Center-of-gravity:
The point where the mass of the body (in this case a vehicle) is concentrated
DCFC:
Direct current fast chargers
DCFC Charge Curve:
The rate at which EVs DCFC charge at various battery states of charge. All EVs have software that controls that rate. Generally the charge rate is faster at lower SOC and slows at the SOC increases. Typically, above 80% SOC is quite slow. This "charge curve" is in place to protect the battery from damage.
DOT:
Department of Transportation
EPA:
Environmental Protection Agency – a government agency that, among other things, certifies mileage/range ratings
EV:
Electric Vehicle
EVSE:
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment - The 240V home charger needed for Level 2 charging capability
FWD:
Front-wheel drive
HP:
Horsepower – the power of an engine or motor
ICE vehicle:
A vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine (typically using gasoline)
kW:
Kilowatt (1000 Watts) – Unit of electric power
kWh:
Kilowatt-hour – Unit of stored energy. One kilowatt-hour is the energy consumed by power consumption of 1kW during 1 hour
NACS:
North American Charging Standard. Coined by Tesla, this charging connector is essentially the Tesla proprietary connector soon to be open to all EVs.
Regenerative Braking:
Recovered energy by slowing the vehicle and recharging the battery in the process
1-Pedal Driving:
Allows the accelerator pedal to be used for both moving the vehicle forward as well as slowing the vehicle down (in some cases bringing the vehicle to a complete stop – using the brake pedal only when necessary)
Range (EV):
Distance you can travel in your EV on one charge, starting at 100% SOC
RWD:
Rear-wheel drive
SOC:
State of Charge of the EV battery in terms of a percentage
Superchargers:
Tesla’s name for their DCFC stations
Torque:
The twisting force that causes rotation – also used to describe the power of an engine or motor