How an Electric Car Works

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As more and more folks get interested in saving money on fuel, and removing some dependence on foreign oil, electric cars are continuously in the news.  This post will explain just a little in terms of how those things work.

First things first, the electric car needs absolutely no fuel.  It needs no check-ups and it needs no oil change.  As far as maintenance, there’s actually very little that it does need.  In fact, that’s one of the neater features of the Electric Car, or EV.  It is often one those cost-savers that is neglected when pricing an electric car vs. a gasoline vehice.  Maintaining a gasoline motor is not cheap, and is probably more expensive than one would think.

The Electric Vehicle is powered by a battery.  Severaly types of batteries exist, but the Lithium batteries are showing the most popular right now.  They are smaller in size and have pretty decent range.  Replacing these batteries used to take place every three years or so, depending on the number of charges to the battery.  However, technological advances are really growing that number.  Tesla Motors is reporting a 7-year life on their larger packs, under normal driving conditions.

These batteries store power.  They are generally charged up between driving trips (often overnight).  Power is transmitted from the battery thru an object called a controller.  The controller regulates voltage from the batteries and creates a feel to the driver, something equivalent to a regular gas engine.  In other words, not like a 30-year old golf cart.  Power is smoothed to some degree, making the driving experience less “herky-jerky”.

So, bye-bye to tailpipes, fumes, gas tanks, oil leaks and the like.  Hello to smooth-running, low noise, low-cost comfortable driving.  Folks, when it comes to electric cars, we haven’t seen nothing yet.