An electric vehicle (EV), is a vehicle which uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. Unlike an internal combustion engine (ICE), An electric motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor’s magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding to generate force in the form of rotation of a shaft, whereas internal combustion engine (ICE) requires more parts to direct force, typically to pistons, turbine blades, rotor or a nozzle. As a result, the energy conversion from electricity is a much more efficient process than from gasoline. Electric motors can have efficiencies of more than 90%, compared to that of an ICE vehicle, which ranges from 25-50%, depending on the drive train.

Invention of first electric car

In 1828, Ányos Jedlik, a Hungarian engineer, invented an electric motor for a small model car. And as early as 1834 across the globe, a Vermont blacksmith, named Thomas Davenport developed and patented the first DC electric motor in the U.S.Also, around the same time, Robert Anderson, a Scotsman invented an electric car.

Later on, in 1859, rechargeable batteries became a viable source to store electricity on a vehicle with lead–acid chemistry, and was designed and implemented by French physicist Gaston Planté.

Working of Electric Engine:

Electric cars function by plugging into a charge point and taking electricity from the grid/ Supply. They store the electricity in rechargeable batteries that power an electric motor, which turns the wheels. Electric cars accelerate faster than vehicles with traditional fuel engines  so they feel lighter to drive.

How does charging work?

You can charge an electric vehicle by plugging it into a public charging station or into a home charging unit. But to get the best deal for home charging, it’s important to get the right EV electricity tariff  so you can spend less money charging and save more on your bill.

What’s their range like?

How far you can travel on a full charge depends on the vehicle. Each model has a different range, battery size and efficiency. The perfect electric car for you will be the one you can use for your normal journeys without having to stop and charge up halfway through.

Inner parts of an EV:

EVs have 90% less moving parts that an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car. Here’s a breakdown of the parts that keep an EV moving:

1. 1. Electric Engine/Motor- Provides power to rotate the wheels. It can be DC/AC type, however, AC motors are more common.
   2. Inverter – Converts the electric current in the form of Direct Current (DC) into Alternating Current (AC)
   3. Drivetrain – EVs have a single-speed transmission which sends power from the motor to the wheels.
   4. Batteries – Store the electricity required to run an EV. The higher the kW of the battery, the higher the range.
   5. Charging – Plug into an outlet or EV charging point to charge your battery.

EV batteries – capacity and kWh explained

Kilowatts (kW) is a unit of power (how much energy a device needs to work). A kilowatt-hour(kWh) is a unit of energy (it shows how much energy has been used), e.g. a 100 watt lightbulb uses 0.1 kilowatts each hour An average home consumes 3,100 kWh of energy a year. An electric car consumes an average of 2,000 kWh of energy a year.

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