How Do Electric Vehicles Work?

Image courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University

EV basics

An electric vehicle (EV) is fundamentally different from a gasoline-powered car. An EV is fueled by electricity instead of gasoline. It functions with an electric motor, not an internal combustion engine (ICE). Electricity stored in an EV’s battery pack moves the car’s electric motor, which puts the wheels into motion. 

EVs are also more straightforward than ICE cars. They have 20 moving parts compared to more than 2,000 in traditional vehicles. Therefore, EVs generally require less maintenance, like regular fluid changes, emission checks, or fuel filters, compared to gasoline-powered cars. Batteries in electric cars require no maintenance during their lifespan. 

EVs are also more digital than mechanical. Like any digital device, EVs need to be charged with electricity. Some EVs, like Tesla, provide remote diagnostics through an app, digital repair tracking, and software updates for your car. Such digital services are meant to remove the need for in-person customer service since EVs generally require much less maintenance than ICE cars. 

Types of EVs

EVs include three broad car types — battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). 

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)

HEVs, also known as conventional hybrids, are built with a gasoline-powered ICE and a battery-run electric motor. Hybrids generate and store electricity in a vehicle’s battery when a driver uses the brakes. Kinetic energy from braking converts to electrical power in a hybrid’s battery pack. Because electricity in HEV batteries is produced via regenerative braking, they aren’t designed to be plugged into an electrical outlet to refuel. Unlike other EVs, HEVs have an exhaust tailpipe because they are partly powered by ICE. 

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)

PHEVs have a larger battery pack than HEVs; they need to be refueled by plugging into a power outlet. Like HEVs, PHEVs have a gasoline engine as fuel backup when the battery runs low. PHEVs create no tailpipe emissions when they run in an all-electric mode, but they produce emissions when switching to ICE. But the emissions are much lower compared to conventional ICE cars.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs)

BEVs, also known as all-electric vehicles, rely on an electric motor, a battery pack, and power electronics. Unlike HEVs with dual fuel sources (gasoline and electric), BEVs use only electric power derived from their battery packs and have no fuel backup. BEVs must be plugged into an electric outlet to refuel. 

Main components of an all-electric vehicle

• Battery:A battery pack in an EV supplies electricity to power the car. 
  
• Electric traction motor: An EV’s motor moves its wheels by using energy from the battery.
  
• Inverter/Converter: An inverter turns electricity from a direct current (DC) source to an alternating source (AC) to run an EV’s electric traction motor. A converter changes an AC or DC voltage of a power source. An inverter and converter work together in EVs and hybrid cars to regulate their electric drive systems by delivering a current to the battery and sending electricity to the motor to propel a vehicle.
  
• Power electronics controller: The power electronics controller manages and processes the flow of electrical power in EVs and hybrids.
  
• Battery charger: A battery charger takes an electrical current from a power outlet and sends it to an EV’s battery.
  
• Charge port: A charge port in an EV is a connector that electronically attaches to another connector in a public or residential charging station to refuel the battery.
  
• Charging cable: A charging cable, called Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), connects your EV’s charging port to an electrical outlet.

How long do EV batteries last?

Most EV batteries last 15 to 20 years. An average EV battery can last up to 200,000 miles, which is higher than the 133,000-mile lifespan of gasoline-powered cars. An average EV battery degrades at about 2.3% of a car’s annual maximum capacity. With the evolving battery technology, an EV battery lifespan will likely grow. 

How do I charge an EV?

EV charging is like charging any electronic device. You attach one end of an electrical cord to your car and the other to charging equipment. A plug compatible with your EV’s connector can charge your car at any public charging station. 

How far can I travel on an EV charge?

The distance you can travel on an EV charge will depend on the battery capacity of your car. EVs on the market can give you between 250 and 350 miles on a charge. EV manufacturers intend to increase the range and provide faster charging in the future.