BEV: battery electric vehicle.

CCS: “Combined Charging System”, also known as “SAE Combo”, or just “Combo”. One of two widely used standards for DC fast charger connectors. See also CHAdeMO.

CHAdeMO: one of the two widely used standards for DC fast charger connectors. See also CCS.

Compliance car: an electric car built to help a manufacturer comply with US fleet mileage standard; usually not widely available.

DC fast charger: an electric car charger that can charge at level 3.

Destination charger: a level 2 charger located at a place where people are likely to spend a large block of time and thus can afford the time required to charge fully at a slow rate.

EV: an electric vehicle.

GOM: Short for “Guess-O-Meter”.

Guess-O-Meter. The nickname given to the gauge showing remaining range. .

ICE – an internal combustion engine. Also, a car driven by an internal combustion engine.

Iced – blocked from using a charger by a gasoline-powered car parked in the charger’s parking space.

J1772: The standard connector for electric car chargers at level 1 and level 2.

Level 1: charging at 110-120 volts.

Level 2: charging at 220-240 volts.

Level 3: charging at 400 volts or higher.

PHEV: plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Range: the distance an electric car can travel on the remaining charge in the battery. Strongly affected by terrain, weather, driving style, etc. See also Guess-O-Meter.

Regen: regeneration. Putting electricity back into the battery from forward motion of the vehicle while slowing for stop signs or descending steep hills.

Regen braking: slowing a car by transforming forward motion into electricity, which is then stored in the battery.

SAE Combo: see CCS. “SAE” stands for “Society of Automotive Engineers”, the body that sets standards relating to automotive design in America.

Supercharger: A proprietary level 3 charger used only by Teslas.