Transportation Deployment Casebook/Plug-in Electric Vehicles

Battery Electric Vehicles
When people speak of "electric cars" today, they often mean to refer to Battery Electric Vehicles. BEVs are fully-electric, highway-capable vehicles with rechargeable on-board batteries. Unlike plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), or "hybrids," they do not have any built in gasoline engine.

History
Battery-powered electric vehicles actually predate the internal combustion engine. In 1899 and 1900 more electric vehicles were sold in the US than gasoline and steam cars combined. Range was adequate for city driving, however trips outside the city were problematic. Electricity was scarce outside of cities, rendering long-distance travel virtually not an option. Gradually, electric vehicles were bested by Henry Ford and his Model T.