BEVs (battery electric vehicles) run entirely on electricity stored in batteries and are recharged by plugging in at home, work or a public location. Full function BEVs are freeway capable with an operating range of 60+ miles, and generally take 6-8 hours to recharge at 220-volt power.
PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) run on a combination of electricity and gasoline, and have the ability to be plugged in for a charge. Their all-electric range varies by model, but generally is about 10-40 miles before the vehicle begins to operate like a regular hybrid. PHEVs are attractive because they are capable of all-electric short distance trips as well as long distance driving in regular hybrid mode.
Both types of vehicles can usually use Level 1 (slower, no charger required) or Level 2 (faster, charger required) charging options.