When talking about the advancements of the automotive industry, how can you possibly forget about electric cars? Saying that they’re one of the biggest wonders of the automotive world would be an understatement.
Electric cars have emerged as the top alternative to gasoline-fuelled vehicles. They work by storing an energy batter that provides them with the energy they require to function appropriately.
They truly provide you with a safe and clean mode of transportation. No wonder they’re an environmentally friendly alternative to vehicles that are powered by a combustion engine.
Apart from being nature-friendly, electric cars have a faster acceleration as compared to traditional vehicles. Oh, and did I say how they don’t produce much exhaust? It’s another plus point, of course.
An Introductory Guide
All electric cars are highly dependent on batteries. How? They’re propelled by a motor that is run by electricity. They come with a battery that you need to charge regularly to make your car function smoothly.
With such a vehicle, the battery provides power for a controller, which then turns the given power into energy that ignites the motor. In order to charge the vehicle, drivers would need to use a standard electrical outlet or visit a nearby charging station.
Different Kinds of Electric Motors
Electric cars bring along a number of unique motors. Each one of them comes with its own distinctive features and characteristics. It’s precisely how they offer the drivers several exclusive benefits.
When it comes to the motors of electric cars, there are two basic kinds that you’ll get to see, AC and DC motors. The first kind, AC motors, is commonly used by all EV and hybrid vehicles.
They’re advantageous for adventure junkies, mainly people looking to drive up and down the hills. In AC motors, the starting power is relatively slower, but it helps the vehicle run at high RPMs without really getting overheated.
Another thing that you need to know about them is that there’s no need for a transmission. Also, AC motor cars can conveniently move heavier vehicles.
The other type of motor typically found in electric cars is the DC motor. While many people are often comparing the two, AC and DC motors, most automotive enthusiasts prefer having a DC motor.
The reason being, DC motors are significantly less expensive than AC motors. DC powered cars are also better when it comes to control and stability.
Automotive junkies also prefer vehicles with more initial torque and higher peak power. It is primarily the reason electric cars powered by DC motors are popular among race drivers, given their affordable nature and impressive performance.
Types of Electric Car Batteries
In order to power an electric car, it’s mandatory to have a battery. Let’s just say that batteries are one of the vital parts of electric cars that run on proliferation.
Needless to say, electric cars require a lot of battery power to function smoothly. They must be installed in an array and stored into a battery back to operate. These batteries are pretty heavy. They can weigh up to 1000 pounds and take up a lot of space.
Most of these batteries are made in China and exported around the world. Each battery must be powered on a regular basis to keep the car running properly.
There are three different kinds of batteries; each comes with its own unique features. They’re mostly lead-acid batteries, and sometimes lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries too.
The lead-acid batteries are the oldest when it comes to electric car batteries. These batteries are among the cheapest ones made these days and are compatible with a number of electronic devices.
Nevertheless, these batteries can be messy, toxic, and are prone to explode when damaged.
If you’re looking for an excellent electric car battery, I’d say lithium-ion batteries would be more suitable since they have high energy to mass ratio.
The best thing about them is that they retain their energy when they are not used. However, they often lose their capacity as they age, yet they’re considered to have the most potential for being available to the mass market.
The only thing that can deter them from being widely available is that they are costly. Another thing to keep in mind is that they can be toxic; therefore, they need special handling to be recycled.
Nickel metal hydride batteries are the third most common type of electric car batteries. They bring along good energy to mass ratio and energy density. They are non-toxic, which makes them the easiest to recycle.
One disadvantage of this battery type is that they do not maintain their charge very well when they are not in use.
Charging Stations for Electric Cars
Like gasoline-fueled vehicles with a fuel cell, electric cars also need energy in order to run. If you have an electric, you may need to go to a charging station every now and then.
It is where you put an electrical device into the car and wait for it to charge. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about overcharging your electric car like hoverboards or other high capacity battery-powered devices where there is a risk of explosion due to cheaply constructed batteries.
Nonetheless, experts recommend not to charge the battery again and again as it will eventually take away its ability to hold less power over time. Henceforth, it would help if you only charge it when it’s out of power.
Electric car charging stations are more or less similar to gas stations. The slight difference between the two is that these charging stations are solely made with a purpose to power electric vehicles.
The Takeaway
Make no mistake; electric cars have emerged as the potential replacement for gasoline-fueled vehicles. They are likely to be used more often due to their performance and environmentally friendly features.
In a nutshell, electric cars are operated by two types of motors and come with three different battery types. It isn’t much to grasp, or is it? It’s one invention that’s a must-try if you’re looking to switch to efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives.