EV glossary
Plain-English EV and Tesla-adjacent terms used on this site and in UK car buying. Independent fan site β not affiliated with Tesla.
A Β· C Β· D Β· F Β· G Β· H Β· I Β· K Β· L Β· M Β· N Β· O Β· P Β· R Β· S Β· T Β· U Β· V Β· W
A
AC charging
Slower charging using alternating current (home wallbox or many lamp-post chargers), typically in kW single- or three-phase. Running costs β
Approved-used
Manufacturer or large-dealer used programme with inspection and warranty β useful for consistent asking-price comparisons. Depreciation data β
APR
Annual Percentage Rate β the yearly cost of finance including interest and some fees, so you can compare deals. Teslas for sale β
Autopark
Assisted parking that can steer into a detected parallel or perpendicular bay while you supervise. Availability depends on software package and local rules β check your car and the Tesla app. Tesla features explained β
Autopilot
Teslaβs basic driver-assistance suite (traffic-aware cruise and lane keeping). The driver must supervise. Tesla features explained β
Autosteer
Lane-keeping assistance that steers within marked lanes while you supervise. Usually used with Traffic-Aware Cruise Control as part of Autopilot. You must keep your hands ready and stay attentive. Tesla features explained β
C
Cabin Camera
Inward-facing camera that can check driver attentiveness for assisted driving and support cabin features. Tesla states cabin video is processed on the car unless you opt in to data sharing β read the current privacy wording in the car and app. Tesla features explained β
Cabin overheat protection
Keeps the cabin from getting dangerously hot when parked β also uses energy.
Camp Mode
Keeps climate and selected cabin systems running while you sleep in the car. Uses energy overnight β plan battery state of charge. Not a substitute for following local overnight-parking rules. Tesla features explained β
CCS
Combined Charging System β the common European DC plug standard on most modern EVs. UK Supercharger map β
D
DC fast charge
Direct-current rapid charging at public hubs β much higher kW than home AC, used for long trips. Running costs β
Depreciation
How much value a car loses over time. Compare same age, market and trim β and donβt cherry-pick one petrol rival. Depreciation data β
Destination charger
Slower AC chargers at hotels, restaurants or attractions β not the same as a Supercharger.
Dog Mode
Keeps climate control running while parked and shows a screen message that a pet is inside. Uses energy; do not leave animals unattended if conditions are unsafe. Summon is disabled while Dog Mode is on. Tesla features explained β
F
FSD (Supervised)
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) β more capable assisted driving that still requires an attentive driver ready to take over. Not the same as a driverless robotaxi. FSD vs driverless β
G
GFV / balloon
Guaranteed Future Value β the optional final payment on a PCP if you keep the car.
H
Heat pump
Efficient cabin/battery heating that usually uses less energy than older resistive heaters in cold weather.
Hire purchase (HP)
Finance that pays off the whole car; after the last payment you own it. Usually higher monthly payments than PCP. PCP, HP, lease or cash β
Home tariff
Your domestic electricity rate (p/kWh). Off-peak / EV tariffs can cut home charging cost a lot versus the average price cap figure. Running costs β
I
Idle fee
Extra charge if you leave a car plugged in at a busy DC hub after charging finishes. UK Supercharger map β
Inventory / new inventory
Cars already built that you can take sooner than a custom order β sometimes discounted. Teslas for sale β
K
kWh
Kilowatt-hour β a unit of energy. Battery size and home electricity bills are both measured in kWh. Running costs β
L
LFP
Lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry β often cheaper, long cycle life, usually less energy-dense than nickel-based packs. EV compare β
List price / expensive car supplement
For UK VED, options fitted by the maker can push a car over the Β£40k/Β£50k thresholds that trigger higher tax for a period β check current GOV.UK rules.
M
Media literacy
Reading past the headline, finding primary sources, and checking whether good news gets the same oxygen as bad news. How to check a news story β
mi/kWh
Miles per kilowatt-hour β efficiency. Higher is better. Roughly the EV version of MPG. Running costs β
N
NMC
Nickel manganese cobalt battery chemistry β common in longer-range EVs; higher energy density than typical LFP. EV compare β
O
Ofgem price cap
UK regulatorβs default tariff cap for many domestic energy customers β a reference average, not every householdβs rate. Running costs β
OTA update
Over-the-air software update β new features or fixes downloaded by the car, sometimes used as a recall remedy. What a recall means β
OTR
On-the-road price β the UK advertised cash price including VAT and first registration costs, before optional extras. Teslas for sale β
P
PCH / lease
Personal Contract Hire β you rent the car for a fixed term and hand it back. You never own it. PCP, HP, lease or cash β
PCP
Personal Contract Purchase β deposit plus monthly payments, then an optional final balloon payment if you keep the car. Mileage limits apply. PCP, HP, lease or cash β
Phantom braking
When a car unexpectedly slows hard with no obvious obstacle β a known complaint with some driver-assistance systems.
Preconditioning
Warming or cooling the battery (and cabin) before DC charging or departure so charging is faster and range estimates are saner. UK Supercharger map β
R
Real-world range
How far you actually get in mixed driving. Usually less than WLTP, especially on motorways in cold weather. EV compare β
Recall
Formal safety defect process. The remedy can be a dealer visit or an OTA software fix β the word alone doesnβt tell you which. What a recall means β
Referral
Owner invite link that can unlock bonuses (for example Supercharging miles) for a new buyer β terms change, check Teslaβs current offer. Teslas for sale β
Regenerative braking
The motor recovers energy when you lift off or brake, feeding the battery and reducing brake wear.
Robotaxi / unsupervised
A service where no one in the car is responsible for driving. Different legal and tech bar from supervised FSD. FSD vs driverless β
S
Sentry Mode
Tesla feature that records around the parked car when it detects a threat β uses some battery while parked. Tesla features explained β
Summon
App-controlled manoeuvre that can move the car slowly into or out of a tight space while you stand nearby and supervise. Disabled in modes such as Dog Mode or Track Mode (if equipped). Tesla features explained β
Supercharger
Teslaβs DC fast-charging network. Many UK stalls are open to other brands with an adapter or native CCS; check the car and the app. UK Supercharger map β
T
Track Mode
Performance-oriented driving mode on equipped Tesla models (typically Performance variants). Changes handling and stability behaviour for circuit use β not for public roads. Summon is disabled while Track Mode is active. Tesla features explained β
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise that holds a set speed and gap to the vehicle ahead. Often paired with Autosteer. The driver remains responsible. Tesla features explained β
Type approval
EU/UK process that clears a vehicle system for sale or activation in that market β why FSD availability differs by country.
U
Usable kWh
The portion of the battery you can actually discharge. Spec sheets sometimes quote a larger βtotalβ figure. EV compare β
V
VED
Vehicle Excise Duty β UK road tax. EVs still pay rules that depend on registration date and list price. Running costs β
W
WLTP
Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure β the official lab test used in the UK/EU for range and efficiency figures on the windscreen sticker. EV compare β