What does it mean? - Car Terminology

Car jargon got you confused? Here are some simple automotive terms explained.

BEV vs PHEV

BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle, which is a vehicle that runs on a 100% electric motor. A PHEV, on the other hand, stands for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A PHEV can produce a full electric experience, whilst having a conventional petrol/diesel engine that kicks in when necessary.

Shock Absorbers

Suspension components that depress the impact energy of the car rising and falling as it travels. Citroën in particular have a unique suspension technology, called Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, that offer extreme comfort even on the toughest terrain.

Torque

Torque is part of the basic specification of an engine: the power output of an engine is expressed as its torque multiplied by its rotational speed of the axis. Internal-combustion engines produce useful torque only over a limited range of rotational speeds (typically from around 1,000–6,000 rpm for a small car). Since electric vehicles offer instant torque, they offer instant acceleration.

BHP

Brake Horsepower – Brake horsepower is the horsepower of an engine measured by the degree of resistance offered by a brake, that represents the useful power that the machine can develop. The Peugeot 508 PSE is our most powerful car thanks to its 360BHP, coupled with 520Nm of torque, offers acceleration and performance.

ABS (antilock braking system)

Short for anti-lock brake system, ABS describes the braking technology that prevents car wheels from locking up when a sudden stop is required.

PSI

Pounds per square inch, a measurement of pressure most often used to ensure that tyres are properly inflated.

Regenerative Braking

An energy recovery system used in most electric vehicles that can help charge the battery while the car is slowing down. Typically the electric motor acts as the generator, so power can flow both ways between it and the battery. This helps extend range, while the process also helps slow the vehicle in a similar way to engine braking in a conventional car. All our Electric Vehicles come with Regenerative braking, assisting in the overall driving range on a single charge.

Traction Control

This safety feature minimises wheel spin and ensures good traction between the tyres and the road when a vehicle accelerates. It activates when there is a mismatch between engine torque and throttle input.

VIN (Chassis number)

A unique number known as the vehicle identification number that sets a vehicle apart as unique. Digits within the number describe various aspects of the vehicle. This is also commonly referred to as the chassis number.

WLTP

WLTP is a way to test new cars to see how much fuel, or energy, they use, how much gas they expel, and how far they can go on one tank/charge.