Electric Vehicles Explained

What’s an Electric Car?

It’s a car that uses an electric motor instead of traditional fuels like gas. Also, it’s fully automatic, which means that it doesn’t have gears.

How Does an Electric Car’s Engine Work?

First, you plug your car into a charge point to recharge your batteries. When fully charged, the batteries then power the electric motor when you press the accelerator. Next, the car’s drive shafts then turn the wheels.

In deceleration mode, the electric motor generates power as an alternator. As such, it transfers this power to the battery.

What’s a Hybrid Car?

It’s a car that’s neither fully electric nor traditional, as it has both. Therefore, you can power it with gas or charge its rechargeable batteries to power the electric motor. A hybrid has some advantages over a traditional car. For instance, it has lower CO2 emissions thanks to lower fuel consumption.

What Are The Different Types of Electric Cars?

• Battery electric vehicles (EV): Such a car uses a battery instead of gas to power the motor. Its driving range can hit 80 to over 300 miles.
• Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV): You power it with gas-only or electric-only. In the latter, the driving range isn’t as impressive as for a battery-only car. As such, it reaches 20 to 55 miles.
• Self-charging hybrid (HEV): You can also call it a full hybrid electric vehicle. It runs on a hybrid battery and a combustion engine. However, it has a lower electric range than a plug-in hybrid. Instead of charge points, it uses regenerative braking to charge the battery.
• Mild hybrid (MHEV): Like a self-charging hybrid, it uses regenerative braking instead of charge points. Plus, it doesn’t offer electric-only driving like a plug-in hybrid.

BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Lower Costs to Run It

The cost goes even lower when using renewable energy like solar power. Also, since these cars are more efficient, you use less power to run them.

Low Maintenance Cost

An electric vehicle is easier to maintain. After all, they don’t need an oil change or the other shenanigans of regular cars.

Zero Tailpipe Emissions

It lowers your carbon footprint significantly. But you can reduce it more by using solar power instead of electricity.

Tax and Financial Benefits

You get government incentives for moving from conventional to electric driving.

Convenience

You can charge it at home if you have a 120-volt house plug. But if you were to refuel your conventional car at home, you’d need storage space for fossil fuels, knowing they’re combustible.

Low Noise Pollution

These cars don’t produce noises like regular cars because they don’t have engines.

Easy to Drive

They have a simple driving system comprising features like an accelerator and brakes.

Saves The Planet

Fossil fuels harm the environment. They have limited reserves, and getting them requires a costly and destructive process.

The Top Five Biggest Problems With Electric Cars

1. The range is limiting, so if your distance estimates are inaccurate, you’ll need to find a charging station.
2. It takes between 15 minutes to about 48 hours to charge.
3. The car’s batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures.
4. These cars lack a universal standard plug.
5. Electricity isn’t 100% carbon-neutral as the power plants emit CO2.
6. Battery fires require more water or a specific fire extinguisher.
7. The cost of owning one might be the first thing that shuts down your dream.

5 Reasons Why Electric Vehicles are So Expensive

1. The high research and design costs increase the price.
2. There aren’t many manufacturers. Hence, the low competition prevents price reduction.
3. Many consider these cars as a status symbol and don’t mind paying more for such luxury cars.
4. Insurance costs are higher because the repairs and parts needed are costly.
5. Lithium-ion batteries are expensive.
6. It takes more time to charge and maintain this car than to fuel a regular one.
7. You won’t enjoy tax credits if your manufacturer hits the limit of the number of sales for such incentives.