Nobody buys a petrol car and has to learn a new language first. But electric vehicles come with a vocabulary that can make the whole thing feel more complicated than it needs to be. This guide translates every term you will encounter before you need it.
Energy and range
kWh - kilowatt-hour
kWh is the unit of energy stored in the battery, think of it as the size of your fuel tank. A larger kWh number means more energy stored and more miles between charges.
Miles per kWh
Miles per kWh is your MPG equivalent. A typical used EV achieves 3 to 4 miles per kWh in real-world driving. Higher is more efficient.
WLTP range
WLTP range is the official advertised range measured under lab conditions. Expect 75 to 85% of this figure in real-world driving.
Battery Health
Battery health
Battery Health the figures that matter most when buying use.
SoC - State of Charge
State of Charge is simply the battery percentage. 80% SoC means the battery is 80% full. Exactly like your phone.
SoH - State of Health
State of Health is the most important figure when buying a used EV. It measures how much of the battery's original capacity remains. A new battery is 100%. After years of use it will have dropped. 85% or above is considered good on a used car. Below 80% warrants serious negotiation or walking away.
Charging terms
Type 2
Type 2 is the standard home and public fast charging connector used across the UK and Europe.
CCS
CCS is the standard rapid charging connector on most modern EVs found at motorway services and rapid charging hubs.
CHAdeMO
CHAdeMO is an older rapid charging standard used on early Nissan Leafs and some Mitsubishi models. Becoming less common on public networks.
Battery chemistry
NMC
NMC batteries offer good range but prefer not to be charged to 100% daily
LFP
LFP batteries degrade more slowly and can safely be charged to 100% regularly.
