EV terms in plain language — search
kWh
Battery capacity: 60 kWh ≈ 400 km range. The EV 'tank size'; 15–20 kWh/100 km consumption is typical.
SOH
State of Health — % of remaining battery capacity vs factory. 90% = 10% degradation. The key number when buying a used EV.
CCS / CHAdeMO / Type 2
Fast-charge connector standards: CCS — modern Europe/US, CHAdeMO — Nissan Leaf and Japanese, Type 2 — slow AC charging EU.
Regen
Motor braking that returns energy to the battery — up to 20% savings in the city. 'One-pedal' driving.
BMS
Battery Management System — controller that balances cells, protects from overcharge/overheating. The battery's 'brain'.
AC vs DC charging
AC — alternating current via onboard inverter (slow, 3–22 kW); DC — direct into the battery (fast, 50–350 kW).
Charging curve
Charging speed drops after ~80% — battery protection. Long trips: charge to 80%, not 100%.
WLTP / EPA
Range measurement standards: WLTP — European (optimistic ~15%), EPA — American (more honest). Reality = EPA −10% in winter.
LFP vs NMC
Battery chemistries: LFP — cheaper, longer-lived, worse in frost; NMC — more energy-dense, pricier. LFP can be charged to 100% daily.
Preconditioning
Heating the battery/cabin from the grid before a trip — recovers part of winter range loss.