Rapid charging occurs only at dedicated locations and employs a 20-50kW current, allowing an 80% charge of a typical electric car in around 20-30 minutes. Some rapid chargers can top up the remaining 20% at a reduced rate in order to preserve the life of the battery. Regular rapid charging is not good for the long-term life of the battery, but does [..]

"Alternating Current" - an electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals. Electric car motors are either AC or DC (see below), with most of the new breed being of AC type.

A unit of electric current.

An electricity storage medium that feeds electric current to the motor. Older EVs used lead acid or NiMH batteries, but modern electric car batteries are of lithium ion construction (see below).

"Brake Horsepower" – the actual power output of an engine or motor before any natural losses in power through components such as a gearbox and other ancilliaries.

A location where electric vehicles can plugged in and charged. These can be at home, at work or in publicly accessible locations.

"Direct Current" - an electric current of constant direction. Electric car motors are either DC or AC, with DC motors generally being less expensive to buy and simpler to use on an electric car.

"Electric Vehicle" - any vehicle that uses electric motors, either in full or in part, as propulsion. This includes pure electrics, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, extended range electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

"Extended Range Electric Vehicle" - a vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion but also has an internal combustion engine onboard to provide power for a generator, which maintains a minimum charge level on the battery – as long as petrol in the tank is topped up, an E-REV has unlimited range. E-REVs can be plugged in and charged [..]