More and more electric vehicles are circulating on the roads. At present, no other mode of propulsion arouses as much enthusiasm as the electric motor.
Low maintenance and fuel costs, tax incentives, and low local pollution work in favor of electric cars. However, their recharge time, used cars and high purchase price are also the subjects of criticism, and their impact on the environment is being debated.
How does an electric car work?
An electric vehicle differs from a conventional combustion engine in that its engine power comes from electricity and not fuel. An electric car works through three main components. The electric motor converts electrical energy into kinetic energy. The most useful will be auto doc uk.
The battery provides power as soon as the machine is turned on. At the interface between the battery and the motor, the controller ensures that the battery provides sufficient electrical power to the motor, according to britainreviews.
How efficient is an electric motor?
Unlike the combustion engine, the electric motor uses energy directly to operate. In the case of the former, the fuel is converted into energy by the evacuation of gases during the combustion of a mixture of oxygen and fuel. This principle is accompanied by significant energy losses, which can reach 2/3 of the initial energy.
Powered by an electric motor, it does not require any prior transformation. Its efficiency is therefore much higher than that of the combustion engine. In addition, 95% of the energy produced by the electric motor reaches the wheels of the vehicle. With the combustion engine, this rate drops to about 30%.
The autonomy of electric cars is variable
The number of kilometers an electric vehicle can travel once its battery is charged depends on several factors. The main one is the size or capacity of the battery, which is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
The autonomy of an electric vehicle is, however, subject to variations. Even if the manufacturers inform about the battery capacity and the corresponding autonomy, the driving mode can greatly influence the autonomy of the vehicle. In addition, other factors are taken into account: travel speed, vehicle construction, route traveled, outside temperature, or power consumption of other devices in the car.
Are electric cars durable?
Electric cars do not emit polluting gases when they drive and therefore contribute to better local air quality. On the other hand, they have an indirect impact on the environment. The latter is related, on the one hand, to the production of motor energy (the current of an electric car); on the other hand, it is due to high energy consumption and CO 2 emissions during the construction of the machine or its components (e.g. batteries).
Quite a few potential customers are afraid that the batteries will break down at some point and that their replacement will be very expensive, up to and including a total economic loss for the electric car. Car manufacturers counteract this with long warranties.
In reality, however, batteries last much longer than the cars in which they are installed. This is demonstrated by the experience of manufacturers who have been on the market for a long time with appropriate models.
