Electric cars are the future of driving. They produce fewer emissions that harm our environment. If you’re interested in living an eco-friendly life, switching to an electric vehicle is a great idea. But, how do electric cars work? Read on to find out.
How Do Electric Cars Work?
To put it simply, electric cars work similarly to a cell phone, or any other gadget powered by batteries. They have rechargeable batteries that power the engine. The batteries have a certain lifespan and, once your car runs out of battery, you will have to charge it in order to use it again. Nowadays, in developed countries, you can find plenty of places to charge your electric car.
There are plenty of charging stations across the US and Europe, so you never risk running out of batteries mid-trip. However, most homes with electric cars have a home charging unit as well. Hopefully, in the future, as more and more people switch to electric vehicles, public charging stations will be more readily available all over the world.
Types of Electric Cars
Not every electric car is the same. Every model has a different battery size and range. However, each model essentially fits into one of these two categories — pure electric cars and hybrid cars. Additionally, hybrid cars can be divided into those that are primarily electric and those that mostly run on fuel. Let’s take a look at how these three types of electric cars differ from one another:
Plug-in Electric Cars
When you think of electric cars, plug-in vehicles are probably what comes to your mind first. These cars run solely on electricity. That means they don’t use any diesel or petrol to run. Plug-in electric cars are, by far, the most eco-friendly vehicle.
However, you may run into some problems if your area doesn’t have enough charging stations. Once you run out of battery, pure electric vehicles simply stop working. Therefore, you’ll need to be aware of how much battery you have left before going on a trip, in order to avoid running out of battery in the middle of the road.
Plug-in Hybrid Cars
Just like pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids work mostly via batteries. However, they also have a fuel engine that runs on diesel or petrol. These cars are a great option for those looking for a more eco-friendly solution but don’t have enough charging stations in their area.
Plug-in hybrids will use electricity until the battery runs out. Once they can’t run on batteries anymore, they will switch to fuel. Still, these cars do produce emissions while running on fuel, so you should try to use this option as little as possible.
Hybrid-Electric Cars
Although they both use fuel and electricity, plug-in hybrids and hybrid-electric cars are quite different. Hybrid-electric vehicles mainly run on fuel. However, they also have a battery that charges via regenerative braking.
It’s pretty easy to switch from fuel to battery and vice versa. You simply push a button, and your car does all the work. Still, these cars run mostly on fuel, so they do produce a lot of emissions. Additionally, you won’t be able to charge the battery of a hybrid-electric vehicle at a charging station.
How Can You Charge an Electric Car
Now that you know how do electric cars work, you’re probably wondering how much of a hassle it is to charge them. Luckily, nowadays, it’s much more convenient to drive an electric car, especially in developed countries. For example, you can download an app that will let you know where charging stations near you are.
The charging speed depends on the vehicle. Most cars can either charge slow or fast. Slow charging time is great if you’re charging your car overnight, as it takes 8-10 hours. Alternatively, most charging stations offer fast charging, which takes about 3-4 hours. Some newer electric car models have rapid charging capabilities, as well. That means they can charge completely in as little as 30 minutes.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, now you know the answer to the question: How do electric cars work? If you’re interested in getting an electric vehicle yourself, now is the best time to make the switch. Alternatively, try out a hybrid car. Every little change in your life can help our environment tremendously. So, don’t wait any longer and make the switch today.
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