Electric vehicleChina

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of China. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


89. Electric vehicle

An electric vehicle, or EV, is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion and stores electrical energy in a rechargeable battery or another electrical energy-storage system. A fully electric vehicle uses only electrical energy for propulsion, while a plug-in hybrid combines an electric drivetrain with another power source such as a combustion engine.

Electric vehicles can be recharged from an external electricity supply using a suitable charging point or charging station. Their driving-licence, registration, insurance, parking and road-access rules depend on the vehicle category and local regulations rather than simply on the fact that they use electric power.

Electric vehicle
BMW i3 charging from a home power outlet. (Tres Ríos, Costa Rica)
Wikimedia.org • Mariordo • CC BY-SA
What is an electric vehicle?

An electric vehicle uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. Depending on its design, electricity may come from a rechargeable battery, a fuel-cell system or an external supply. Battery-electric vehicles are one type of electric vehicle, not the only type.

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, all-electric vehicle components

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, fuel-cell electric vehicle components

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, hybrid-electric vehicle components

Do all electric vehicles charge at the same speed?

No. The charging rate depends on the vehicle and charging equipment, the available electrical supply and operating conditions. Follow the vehicle and charger specifications; a charger’s advertised maximum does not mean every connected vehicle can receive that rate.

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, all-electric vehicle components

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, fuel-cell electric vehicle components

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, hybrid-electric vehicle components

Is an electric vehicle automatically allowed to park at a charging point?

Not necessarily. Charging spaces can have specific conditions requiring the vehicle to be connected, actively charging, within a time limit or otherwise complying with local parking rules.

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, all-electric vehicle components

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, fuel-cell electric vehicle components

🔗 afdc.energy.gov • US Department of Energy AFDC, hybrid-electric vehicle components

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