How do Electric Cars Work?

Now that we have entered the 21st century, technology is rapidly changing. In the last century, we have seen a number of technological changes which were not conducive to the environment, and now, these changes are brutally harming mother nature and resulting in natural calamities and disasters.

So to tackle this situation and to balance an equilibrium between technology and nature we are working on green technology. And the idea of an electric vehicle is born out of that.

We have become slaves of technology, so we need vehicles to move from one place to another. Modern life cannot function without transportation, In the last century, we were using those vehicles which were using fossil fuels to move. Still, this type of conventional combustion engine is gradually aging. Vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel are very polluting,  so nowadays we are moving forward to something that is cost-efficient, environment-friendly, and has a long life. fully electric vehicles are rapidly replacing them.

Fully electric cars (EVs) are significantly better for the environment and produce no exhaust emissions. So one should take a step forward for the goodness of the environment by buying an electric car.

What is an electric car?

A car, powered entirely or in part by electric motors and rechargeable batteries is known as an electric car. In the 1880s, some of the first usable electric cars were built. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, electric cars became common. There has been a decrease in the use of electric vehicles due to innovation and advanced development in internal combustion engines (ICE) and the mass production of less expensive gasoline automobiles.

Fully electric cars (EVs) are so much better for the environment and they do not produce exhaust emissions. So one should take a step forward for the goodness of the environment by buying an electric car.  But before buying, one should know its mechanism and benefits.

Further in this blog we will be thoroughly explaining to you the mechanism and benefits of using an electric car.

Mechanism of electric vehicles

Electric vehicles are vehicles that run on electricity instead of fuel. EVs have a battery in them which gets charged with the help of electricity and this battery stores all the electrical energy and then this stored energy is further used by the engine, engine in the electric vehicles converts this stored electrical energy into mechanical energy and this mechanical energy forces vehicle to move.

This is the simple mechanism of electric vehicles and the basic principle on which an electric vehicle moves. The benefits of using electric vehicles lie in this simple mechanism.

Inner components of an electric car

There are 8 most important and major inner components of an electric car. Here is the list of all the most powerful and essential internal components of an electric car:

1. A battery pack
2. Converter
3. Electric motor
4. Inverter
5. Charging port
6. Onboard charger
7. Controller
8. Auxiliary batteries

To understand the mechanism of an electric or how electric cars work, one has to understand the inner components of an electric car, let's understand the proper working and mechanism by thoroughly going through the function of every component that is present in the electric car.

1. A battery pack

An electric vehicle battery also known as a traction battery pack, provides power to an electric car. The battery pack is like an electrical storage system that stores energy in the form of DC current. The rate of any electric vehicle depends on the storage capacity of the battery packs in the KW unit and the lifetime of a battery pack is estimated to be 200000 miles.

2. Converter

Every component in a vehicle has different battery requirements so a DC-DC converter takes a constant voltage provided by the traction battery packs and further distributes this power according to the requirement of a component. It also supplies voltage to the auxiliary batteries.

3. Electric motor

The motor is the most essential component of an electric vehicle it converts electrical energy into kinetic energy. It gives rotational powers to wheels and this is the main component that makes electric cars different from conventional cars.

4. Inverter

The function of the inverter is to recharge the batteries, it converts DC power into AC power.

5. Charging port

The charging port is the point from where you can connect your electric vehicle to the external supply.

6. Onboard charger

This charger converts the AC supply received from the charging port to the DC supply. It also controls the current flowing inside the battery packs.

7. Controller

The controller in the electric car is widely known as the power electronics controller that determines the working of an electric car. It regulates electric energy from the batteries to the electric motors.

8. Auxiliary batteries

These batteries play a vital role in the mechanics of electric cars as these batteries work in the absence of the main battery or in times of emergency. These also prevent the voltage drop produced at the times when we start the engine.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

It takes to charge an electric car as little as 30 minutes or more than 12 hours. This depends on the battery's size and the charging point's speed. A normal electric car (a 60kWh battery) takes just under 8 hours to charge from empty to full with a charging point of 7kW.

Types of electric vehicles on the basis of the mechanism

On the basis of mechanism, there are mainly four types of electric vehicles which work differently but are solely called electric because the main mechanism depends upon electricity only.

1. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)
2. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)
3. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV)
4. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

 The way electricity is stored and transferred and used in different procedures makes electric vehicles differ from each other.

1. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)

A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), also known as All-Electric Vehicle (AEV), runs entirely on a battery and an electric drive train.  “Hyundai ioniq” and “Kia soul” these two cars are the best examples of BEVs.

2. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)

Hybrid electric cars are also known as standard hybrid and parallel hybrid. In this type of electric car, the internal combustion engine gets energy from fuels (gasoline and other kinds of fuels), while the motor gets electricity from batteries to move the wheels. “Honda civic hybrid” and “Toyota Prius hybrid” are the best examples of HEVs.

3. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV)

It is also known as a series hybrid. This type of electric car is powered by a conventional fuel (such as gasoline) or an alternative fuel (such as bio-diesel) and by a rechargeable battery pack. This kind of car is made to provide backup to the batteries by some alternate fuels. “Hyundai Sonata” and  “Kia Optima” are the best examples of PHEVs.

4. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

They are also known as zero-emission vehicles. In this type of vehicle, the chemical energy of the fuel is converted directly into electric energy to run the car. “Hyundai Nexo” and “Toyota Mirai” are the best example of FCEVs.

Electric vehicles have all these characteristics. EVs are a blessing in disguise and the best thing ever made by using technology. EV technology is specially made to save, and protect nature from harmful pollutants. Almost everyone is aware of, with working of traditional vehicles run on fuels such as petrol and diesel which we get from fossil fuels and are available in very few places so has to be imported by a particular country having no sources from a country having rich sources of fossil fuels or crude oil.

Electric Vehicles have their own advantages and disadvantages, that we must consider before buying  EVs

Top 7 advantages of using electric vehicles

1. Electric Vehicles Have Low Running Costs.
2. Electric Vehicles Have Low Maintenance Costs.
3. Electric Vehicles Produce Zero Tailpipe Emissions.
4. Electric Vehicles Are Easy to Drive.
5. Electric Vehicles Do Not Make Noise.
6. Electric Vehicles Are Eco-friendly and Do Not Pollute the Environment.
7. Electric Vehicles Perform Better Than Traditional Vehicles.

5 disadvantages of using electric vehicles

1. Electric Cars Cover a Shorter Area of Distance Than Fuel Vehicles.
2. Electric Cars Have Higher Initial Purchase Costs.
3. Finding a Charging Station is Difficult as There is No Such Infrastructure Available.
4. Batteries Have to Be Replaced Within a Fixed Period of Time.
5. Low Manufacturing of Electric Cars Provides No Choice of Selection.

Hence becoming very expensive and increasing the running cost of the vehicle. In this case, electric vehicles are life saviors, as electricity is not as expensive as fossil fuels and there is no need to import electricity, it is available in every country and this ease of availability makes the running cost of electric vehicles low and cost-efficient.

Ways of charging electric vehicles

Some Mild and fully hybrid electric vehicles may recharge their battery packs without an electrical outlet by using power from the engine and/or regenerative braking. However, an additional power source is needed in order to recharge the battery in all-electric and plug-in hybrid automobiles. This can be connected to a standard 13-amp wall outlet at home, a special wall box for the home, a public charging station, or even a powerful, speedy charging station. Today, many organizations also provide areas for employees to charge their vehicles.

Also Read - Batteries and Wireless Charging of Electric Cars

Conclusion

Electric cars and vehicles were once considered a thing of the future, but that time has come. There has never been a better moment to invest because more and more manufacturers are creating all-electric and hybrid vehicles. A battery-powered electric motor is used in all-electric versions to provide power for the entire vehicle, including the drive-train. While hybrid options combine such batteries with a conventional combustion engine, they can help provide more power and increase fuel efficiency.