Electric cars may be powered in a number of ways: from chemical energy stored in on-board batteries (battery electric vehicle or BEV), from both an on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a fueled propulsion power source ( hybrid vehicle ) generated on-board using a fuel cell ( fuel cell vehicle ).

Vehicles can be powered by hydrogen in one of two ways: combustion or fuel-cell conversion . In combustion, the hydrogen is 'burned' in engines in essentially the same method as traditional petrol cars. In fuel-cell conversion, the hydrogen is turned into electricity through fuel cells which then power electric motors.