Given the European Union’s growing pressure on car manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions in all types of vehicles, the electric vehicles are currently one of the way to meet these requirements. As there is currently a comprehensive regulatory policy for fuel manufacturers aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transport as well as increasing the share of renewable energy in transport, one option is to market alternative fuels, including electricity. For this reason, SAPPO member companies also offer the option for charging electric vehicles at their petrol stations as another alternative for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

Types of electric vehicles

Electric vehicles have an electric motor that draws energy exclusively from rechargeable batteries, mostly lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, or have a hybrid drive that provides an internal combustion engine and electric motor.

  • Hybrid uses both electric and petrol or diesel propulsion at the same time. The battery is charged by the internal combustion engine or is gained directly while driving.
  • The plug-in hybrid uses also petrol and electric propulsion. Its battery gains energy similar to a hybrid by recuperation or, unlike a hybrid, can be recharged at a charging station.
  • A battery electric vehicle (BEV) has exclusively an electric motor that drives energy from a battery, which is also partially charged by recuperation, while the battery must be recharged on an external energy source, i. j. at the charging station.