What is an electric vehicle?
Electric vehicles, EV’s, are motor vehicles like today’s
cars, trucks, and SUV’s that are fueled by rechargeable
batteries instead of combustible fuels like diesel or gasoline.
In electric vehicles, the internal combustion engine (ICE) and
the transmission are replaced by electric motors, which help
to power and drive the car much more efficiently. Electric vehicles
look like typical ICE vehicles and in most cases the interior
of the vehicle is exactly the same as both cars have the same
accessories and arrangement.
Electric vehicles are in fact much simpler then ICE vehicles. Energy
is stored in the EV’s rechargeable battery supply. The battery
supplies power to the motor controller, which is a device that controls
how much power gets to the motors according to the acceleration
pedal. The electric motor uses the electrical power to generate
an electromotive force which turns a shaft which in turn turns the
wheels. When the car brakes, the motor turns into a generator and
some energy is returned back to the car. The pioneering of electric
cars is a result of a need for cleaner and more efficient travel.
As technology improves, prices drop, and electric vehicles begin
to perform like regular combustion vehicles, EV’s might turn
into the car of the future. Read on to learn about the advantages
and disadvantages of electric cars, their market availability, and
the technology behind them.
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