
A
battery electric vehicle (
BEV) is an
electric vehicle storing chemical energy in rechargeable battery packs to power one or more
electrical motors.
BEVs were among the earliest automobiles, and are more energy efficient than common internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. In urban traffic, due to their beneficial effect on environment, electric vehicles are an important factor for improvement of traffic and more particularly for a healthier living environment. They produce no pollution while being driven, and almost none at all if charged from most forms of renewable energy.
Many are capable of acceleration performance exceeding that of conventional gasoline powered vehicles. New models can travel hundreds of miles on a charge, even after 100,000 miles of battery use.
BEVs reduce dependence on oil, mitigate global warming, are quieter than internal combustion vehicles, and do not produce noxious fumes. While limited travel distance between battery recharging, charging time, and battery lifetime have been drawbacks, new battery and charging technologies have substantially improved in these areas.
Some models are still in limited production, but the most popular
BEVs have been withdrawn and most of those have been destroyed by their manufacturers. A handful of future production models have been announced, although many more have been prototyped.