How Does an Electric Car Work?

Written by Nationwide Cars on 10 Dec 2020, 3:54 p.m.

Electric cars and hybrid cars are fast becoming the car of choice for new buyers. As every country looks to cut down the amount of emissions it produces, with the UK looking to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030, the sales of EVs will skyrocket in the next decade or so. So how does an electric car work? How does an electric motor work when compared to a petrol or diesel model? Read on to find out more.

How does an electric engine work?

Electric cars work by plugging the vehicle into a charge point where it takes electricity from the National Grid. The car stores the electricity in rechargeable batteries that power the electric motor which turns the wheels. The acceleration from electric cars is faster than cars with fuel engines, giving you that lighter feeling while driving.

How does electric car charging work?

An electric car can be plugged into any public charging station or into a home charging unit. You can find charging stations across the country so you can stay fully charged wherever you go. For a better deal, you want to stick to home charging but ensure you have an EV tariff, which gives you a great deal on your charging so you don’t have exorbitant bills.

The range of electric vehicles

The distance you can travel on a full charge of an electric vehicle (EV) will depend on the car you are driving. Each model has a different battery size, meaning its range and efficiency will differ from other models. When choosing an electric car or van, you must ensure you can use it for normal journeys without having to stop and charge it halfway through.

Types of electric cars

There are different types of EVs on the market today. Some are pure electric vehicles that run only on electric motors. Others can run on petrol or diesel, known as hybrid vehicles.

Plug-in electric vehicles - This is a vehicle that runs just on electricity and gets all their power when plugged into charge. They don’t need petrol or diesel to run so don’t produce any emissions. Popular Plug-In Electric Cars: Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV and BMW i3.
Plug-in hybrid - These cars run on electricity but also have a traditional fuel engine for petrol or diesel with it. When you run out of charge, the vehicle uses the fuel engine. The car can be plugged into an electricity source to recharge the battery. Popular Plug-in Hybrid Cars: Volvo V90 Recharge, Skoda Superb iV, Mercedes Benz E300de.
Hybrid-electric - These run mainly on fuel but have an electric battery as well, which is recharged through regenerative braking. You can then switch between both power sources at the touch of a button. You cannot plug this car into an electricity source as the motor gets its energy from petrol or diesel. Popular Hybrid-Electric Cars: Toyota Prius, VW Passat GTE Estate, Toyota Corolla 1.8 VTT-i Hybrid.

Related: 5 Reasons to Buy a Hybrid

Electric vehicle batteries explained

Kilowatts (kW) is the unit of power showing you how much energy a device needs to run. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy to show how much energy has actually been used. The average home uses 3,100 kWh of energy every year. Electric cars meanwhile consume 2,000 kWh of energy each year.

Using the brake in traditional fuel cars produces kinetic energy that is typically wasted by vehicles. In an electric car it doesn’t because that energy is converted and also stores thermal energy from brake pads and heat friction from tyres to be reused to power the car. Regenerative braking systems are a smart system and are here to stay.

Charging your electric car

There are two key things you need to know when charging your vehicle: how to do it and how long it takes.

How to charge an EV

You can charge an electric vehicle either by plugging it into a socket or by plugging into a charging unit. There are plenty of charging stations around the UK to stay fully charged while you're out and about. There are three types of chargers:

Three pin plug - a standard three-pin plug which you connect to a 13 amp socket.
Socketed - a charge point for connecting a Type 1 or Type 2 cable.
Tethered - a charging position with a cable attached with either a Type 1 or Type 2 connector.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

There are three charging speeds when powering up your vehicle.

Slow - Usually rated up to 3kW and takes between 8-10 hours. Most used for overnight charges or while at work.
Fast - Rated at 7kW or 22kW. Usually installed in car parks, supermarkets and homes with off-street parking. Takes between 3-4 hours to charge.
Rapid - Usually rated from 43 kW and only compatible with cars that have rapid charge capabilities.

Nationwide Cars can source the best electric car for the best price so you can be a greener driver. Browse our entire range of new cars online to find deals you won’t find at your traditional car dealer. For more information, call us on 0844 332 0141.