How do Electric Cars Work?
Electric cars have a large traction battery pack that must be charged by plugging into a charge point. The rechargeable batteries store power that enables the electric motors to turn the wheels.
Electric vehicles are faster than fuel pumped engines because they are lighter; their speed is largely due to their acceleration. The cars do not emit exhaust emissions or have any noise pollution.
Components of an electric vehicle
Breaking down the components of these vehicles will help us know how they work. Attention to detail is important when dealing with electric vehicles, and we pride ourselves on extensive knowledge of the vehicles.
The component of electric vehicles are as follows:
- Charge port – Where you plug in the charger at the station.
- Inverter – Converts the direct current from the port to alternating current, which powers the traction motor.
- Electric Traction Motor – Receives power from the inverter and generates power on the rotating magnetic field, which causes movement.
- Electric Power Train – The electrical system that allows the vehicle to move. It consists of the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
- Traction Battery Pack – Stores energy during charging, and most vehicles use lithium-ion batteries because of their higher energy densities.
Types of Electric cars
Our company has different electric vehicles; some run purely on electricity while others have fuel engines. The ones with fuel engines are called hybrid electric vehicles.
Battery Electric Vehicles
They are also known as plug-in electric vehicles, and they solely rely on a battery pack. These types of vehicles do not use internal combustion engines or gas to move to make them environmentally friendly because of no emissions.
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
These vehicles run on electricity, but they have an internal combustion engine pump which can be used when the battery runs out of charge. They produce emissions when running on fuel; hence not entirely environmentally friendly.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
These vehicles use a small battery pack to assist the internal combustion engine. The battery pack is recharged through regenerative braking by a generator attached to the fuel pump, but the vehicle mainly runs on fuel. The majority of their power comes from fuel, and they cannot be plugged in to charge. These vehicles cannot solely rely on electric power because the gas engine has a higher efficiency but lower power. You can turn on the electric power by just pressing a button.
How to charge electric vehicles
Charging an electric vehicle requires a charging port, and you can charge them at home or a commercial station.
There are three types of chargers which are:
- Three-pin plugs.
- Socketed.
- Tethered.
There are also three charging speeds, namely
- Slow charging – Also known as level 1 charging, provides a 120-volt outlet, convenient for charging overnight.
- Fast charging – Requires special equipment for charging, which is mostly stored in car parks and restaurants. The charging time is usually three to four hours.
- Rapid charging is only compatible with certain electric cars and can charge between 15 to 45 minutes.
Final Thoughts
At J&J motors, you will get the best electric cars in the market, and all you need to do is contact the nearest office in the UK, and they will guide you on the best vehicle according to your budget. See our stocklist for the electric cars available and purchase from a range of models available at the garage.