How Do Electric Vehicles Work?

How Do Electric Vehicles Work?

Understanding how electric vehicles work doesn’t have to be overcomplicated. Here we go through a breakdown of the important parts of an electric car and how they work together.

An electric vehicle (EV) operates completely differently from the internal combustion engine (ICE) we’re all used to seeing in our cars. Along with new terms and phrases that often accompany electric cars. Which is why it’s sometimes hard to picture. However, the process is more similar to your petrol or diesel vehicle than you might think...

Battery Pack

Firstly, the battery pack is like the fuel tank of the car. Rather than holding petrol or diesel, it holds electricity. Like your phone, these batteries are usually made from lithium-ion. But to power a car, these ones are much bigger.

Electric Motor

Now we have the ‘engine’ of the car. Instead of burning fuel, the electric motor converts the electricity from the battery packs. This electricity is converted into motion within the battery pack, which is what accelerates the EV. This conversion is achieved much quicker than burning fuel in an ICE. So it results in electric cars having their notorious instant acceleration.

Regenerative Braking

This is a feature unlike anything in your ICE car. Regenerative braking is where the electric motor can work in reverse to generate extra electricity. It would be the equivalent of tipping a little extra petrol or diesel in your tank every time you braked.

Power Controller

Much like the engine control unit (ECU) in an ICE vehicle, the power controller manages the expended energy. It controls how fast the EV goes and how much power the electric motor should use. So, when you press your foot on the accelerator, the power controller is what allows more electricity to flow to speed up the car.

Charger

Instead of powering fuel into the tank, an EV plugs in to refuel. The charger converts the power from the outlet into the right type of electricity for your car. There are a variety of chargers available. From normal three pin adapters you’d find all over your house, to fast chargers. These are useful for nippy charging but can be harmful to your battery’s lifespan if overused.

New, but familiar

When going through the electric vehicle’s process, you can see that it’s similar to an internal combustion engine, to an extent. Enough to get a clearer picture in your mind at least.

For more information on jargon busters, charging maps and the choice between electric or hybrid, check out our Electric Hub.

Feel free to pop into your local Bristol Street Motors dealership to see our electric and hybrid cars in person. Put any questions you might have to our knowledgeable staff, we’re always happy to help.

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