In short, an electric vehicle uses a battery pack, charged from a charging station, to feed power to a motor that drives the wheels. Plenty of other components work away in the background to make that happen. If you've been wondering how electric cars really work, here's the full picture.
The key components of an electric car
Get your head around a few core parts and the rest falls into place.
The big one is the battery pack. Where a traditional car has an internal combustion engine (ICE), an EV has a battery, and almost every modern EV uses lithium-ion cells inside a traction battery pack. Lithium-ion holds a very high energy density, enough to move a car, and needs little maintenance next to other battery types. That rechargeable pack is what makes an EV an EV. A separate auxiliary battery handles the electricity for the vehicle's accessories.
Then there's the electric motor, which provides the power that actually moves the car. EVs run on alternating current (AC), so when AC electrons reach the motor they create a rotating magnetic field that spins it. An electric traction motor is remarkably efficient because, unlike an ICE, it doesn't shift between gears. That's why an EV takes off so quickly the moment you press the button.
Feeding the motor is the inverter. It converts direct current (DC) into AC, which matters because a lithium-ion battery can only take DC, while the traction motor needs AC to run. The inverter also controls the car's speed by changing the frequency of the AC power it sends to the motor.
All of that together is the electric powertrain, the entire electrical system that makes the car go. In a battery electric vehicle that means the inverter, traction motor, traction battery pack, power electronics controller and reduction drive. The powertrain is usually very light and barely vibrates, which is part of why an EV feels so smooth. Some can even recover displaced energy and store it back in the battery pack, extending range.
Last is the charge port, where you plug the car into an external power source so it can draw from the grid. A charging point is also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). More EVSEs are turning up around cities and towns all the time, and plenty of EV owners install a charging point at home too.
The different types of electric cars
There isn't just one kind of electric car, which is why "how do electric cars work?" doesn't have a single tidy answer. A standard EV has a fully electric motor and battery pack. Alongside those, though, you've got hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
A hybrid (HEV) uses an electric motor to support an internal combustion engine, which lowers emissions and stretches the range. Its battery pack is small with limited range, can't be plugged in, and tops itself up through regenerative braking. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) works much the same way but carries a larger battery you can charge. That lets you travel further on pure electric power, running on the battery until it dies and then switching over to the ICE.
How charging an EV actually works
You can charge an EV a few different ways, but most owners have a charging point installed at home. You can't charge from a regular plug and expect much, so you'll want a proper charging station to fill the battery quickly. Chargers come in a few 'levels':
- 120V wall plugs: A household wall plug will give the car some juice, but it's slow. You could leave it overnight and still be waiting 8+ hours for just 60km of range. A full charge can take over 20 hours.
- 240V: Many drivers install a 240-volt plug for overnight charging. Most put out 10-25kW and bring the battery to full in about 8 hours. These are the ones you'll often find at hotels.
- DC Fast Charging Stations (DCFC): For genuinely fast charging you need a DCFC plug. These can take the battery to about 80% in 30 minutes, which is why they turn up in cities and at service stations.
Out in town you pay to charge, the same as you'd pay to fill a tank. For everyday driving, though, like the commute to work, you'll mostly just charge at home.
The advantages of an EV
EVs have plenty of benefits over a traditional car. Here's why people make the switch.
They're cheaper to run. EVs can cost a lot to buy, but running them is cheap and you're not at the mercy of petrol prices. Add solar panels at home and the savings grow, since the EV charges on energy the panels collect through the day. The batteries last a long time, need little maintenance, and cost less to charge than a tank of fuel.
Maintenance is lighter too. An all-electric car has far fewer parts than a traditional one. No spark plugs, no exhaust system, fewer components wearing out, which means less time and money at the mechanic.
There are also no tailpipe emissions, which makes these cars much friendlier to the planet, though there are legitimate concerns around sourcing and disposing of lithium-ion batteries. And they're quieter. EVs are less rattly than traditional vehicles, so the drive is smoother and more pleasant for everyone in the car.
The disadvantages of an electric car
A lot of the supposed downsides are really just misconceptions about how EVs work. Range anxiety is the classic one, the worry about how far an electric car can go.
Range comes down to the battery's capacity, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). An EV travels roughly 6km per kWh, so a bigger battery pack means a longer range. Modern EVs go a fair way: the Tesla Model S covers over 560km on a single charge thanks to its 95kWh battery.
Then there's the environmental argument, with some pointing out that building a car produces emissions and the raw materials aren't always climate-friendly or ethically sourced. Fair enough, but an EV is still generally a more environmentally friendly option than a petrol car. An electric motor isn't producing emissions the whole time it runs, whereas an ICE is.
How to use your electric car
If you take the plunge and buy one, it pays to know how to use it properly. Here's the rundown for a typical EV.
Charging
Know what kind of battery your car has and where the charging port sits, because not every battery works with every charger. The Tesla Model S, for instance, is fitted with a rapid-charging battery and can use a more powerful charger, whereas some older cars can't. Release the port with the button or lever (it varies by model), plug in the cord, and watch the battery indicator on the display to see when it's full. Close the port when you're done and it should lock on its own.
Driving
EVs use a push-to-start setup, so get in, buckle up, and press 'Start'. If you're in a hybrid, get familiar with all the modes and settings first. Do the same in a fully electric car, since there may be sports modes for more speed or economy modes that conserve the battery.
Ease onto the accelerator. EVs accelerate faster than most road cars, so a heavy foot catches people out. Brake smoothly, too. The regenerative system recovers energy, but not if you slam the brakes or stop abruptly. Slow down gently and that spare power feeds back into the battery, like an onboard charger. And because EVs are so much quieter than petrol cars, watch carefully for pedestrians and cyclists who might not hear you coming.
Getting more range
Around the city, on short and frequent trips, range rarely matters. Charge overnight at home and the car has all the electricity it needs for the day. A longer journey takes more thought. There are plenty of charging stations across Australia now, and car parks increasingly have mid-range or rapid ports, but you'll want to plan the route.
Use a charging station map to work out when and where to stop. Rapid points at service stations usually give you 80% battery in half an hour, enough time to use the bathroom, stretch your legs and grab a snack before you're back on the road.
Bear in mind that every electronic system draws power, the stereo, the SatNav, the A/C. On the A/C, try to avoid extreme temperatures and keep the car in its proper operating range. Cold hits battery life hardest, cutting range by 20-30%, but you also want to avoid extreme heat so the car isn't burning energy on its thermal system to cool itself down.
EVs are genuinely easy to live with, which is a big part of the appeal. Strip it all back and the process is simple: a battery powers an electric motor that turns the wheels. That's far simpler than an ICE, which is why EVs power up faster and run more smoothly, even with all those background components doing their bit. A few good habits on your part protect the moving parts and stretch the battery.
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