Shopping for your first electric vehicle comes with a new vocabulary. Kilowatts, NACS, regen, state of charge: once you know the terms, EV ownership is simple. Use this glossary as your quick reference, whether you're comparing models or getting to know your new electric Mercedes-Benz.
Vehicle Types
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| EV | Electric vehicle. Used broadly for any vehicle that can drive on electric power. |
| BEV | Battery electric vehicle. Runs only on battery power and plugs in to recharge; no gasoline engine. |
| PHEV | Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Pairs a gas engine with a battery you can plug in, so short trips can be all-electric. Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrids often carry a lowercase "e" (for example, GLE 450e). |
| HEV / Mild hybrid | A hybrid that recharges itself while driving. Many Mercedes-Benz gas models use a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to boost efficiency and smooth out stop/start. |
| FCEV | Fuel cell electric vehicle. Generates electricity from hydrogen on board. |
| ZEV | Zero-emission vehicle. Produces no tailpipe emissions. |
| "with EQ Technology" | How Mercedes-Benz now labels many fully electric models, such as the G 580 with EQ Technology, instead of separate EQ names. |
Charging Terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Level 1 charging | Charging from a standard 120-volt outlet. Slow, roughly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. |
| Level 2 charging | Charging from a 240-volt circuit at home or in public. The everyday choice for most EV owners. |
| DC fast charging | High-power public charging that feeds DC power straight to the battery for quick top-ups on road trips. |
| EVSE | Electric vehicle supply equipment, the technical name for a charging station. |
| NACS | North American Charging Standard, the Tesla-designed connector now adopted across the industry. Mercedes-Benz EV drivers can use Tesla Superchargers. |
| CCS1 | Combined Charging System, the connector used by many earlier non-Tesla EVs in North America. Adapters bridge CCS1 and NACS. |
| J1772 | The common Level 2 connector used by many public and home chargers in North America. |
| CHAdeMO | An older DC fast-charging standard used mainly by some Japanese brands; it's becoming rare in the U.S. |
| Plug & Charge | Lets the car and charger handle authentication and payment automatically when you plug in. |
| Onboard charger (OBC) | Converts AC power from Level 1 or 2 chargers into DC power for the battery. Its rating sets your maximum Level 2 charging speed. |
Electrical Terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| kW | Kilowatt, a measure of power. Think of it as how fast energy flows during charging. |
| kWh | Kilowatt-hour, a measure of energy. Battery size is listed in kWh, like the size of a fuel tank. |
| AC / DC | Alternating current comes from the grid and your home; direct current is what the battery stores. |
| Amp | A unit of electrical current. Home chargers are often rated at 32 to 48 amps. |
Battery & Driving Terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| State of charge (SoC) | How full the battery is, shown as a percentage. |
| Range | How far the vehicle can travel on a full charge. Real-world range varies with speed, temperature and climate control use. |
| Regenerative braking | Uses the electric motor to slow the car and send energy back to the battery. Many Mercedes-Benz EVs let you adjust regen strength with the steering wheel paddles. |
| Battery degradation | The gradual loss of battery capacity over years of use. Moderate charging habits help preserve the battery. |
| Heat pump | An efficient way to heat and cool the cabin that helps protect range in hot and cold weather. |
| Preconditioning | Warming or cooling the cabin, and in some models the battery, while plugged in, so you start with more range and faster charging. |
| ICE | Internal combustion engine, a traditional gas or diesel engine. |
Keep Reading
Test Drive an Electric Mercedes-Benz
The best way to understand EV driving is to try it. Visit us at 7055 N Palm Ave or call Sales at (559) 254-4585.
For general information only. Features, charging capability and range vary by model, configuration and conditions.