The popularity of electric cars (EVs) is rapidly rising. About 1.8 million electric vehicles were registered in the US as of 2020, which is three times more than in 2016. In 2020, there will be 10.2 million electric vehicles on the planet.
So, why have electric cars become so popular? In this article, we'll cover 10 of the most frequently asked questions about electric cars that you might have in mind.
How do electric cars
work?
Electric automobiles function exactly as they appear to—electronically—unlike traditional cars, which utilize gasoline to power combustion engines.
They possess battery packs that are charged via the power grid. These battery packs are made up of tens of thousands of lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells. The electric motor is powered by a sizable amount of electrical energy. Battery efficiency, life, and safety are all supported by sophisticated cooling systems that control the temperature around the battery.
Unexpectedly, electric motors are far more straightforward than traditional combustion engines. Alternating current (AC) induction motors and direct current (DC) permanent magnet motors are the two primary categories of electric motors. At maximum current, permanent magnet DC motors are more compact, lighter, and more efficient.
Additionally, most electric automobiles feature a single-speed gearbox, allowing them to accelerate more quickly than most internal combustion engines.
How far can electric cars travel?
The "range" of an electric vehicle refers to how far it can go. The range and energy storage capacity increase with the size of the battery pack. Miles per kilowatt-hour are used to measure range (kWh).
The range of many modern electric vehicles is little around 200 miles per charge. Some have a 300+ mile range, like the Tesla Model S.
How long will the electric car battery last?
A battery for an electric vehicle should last between 100,000 and 200,000 kilometres. This is equivalent to 10 to 20 years. In the first 50,000 miles, the Model S battery will lose around 5% of its capacity, according to Tesla. The battery life will then start to decline much more gradually.
The majority of electric vehicle producers provide battery warranties of 5, 8, or 100,000 miles. The battery will typically be replaced if it has a capacity of 60 to 70% by this point.
You can take a few steps to ensure that the battery in your electric vehicle lasts longer:
Make sure the thermostat on your electric vehicle is rated highly.
As frequent fast charging would shorten battery life, try to avoid it.
A 80% charge setting for the charger is recommended. The battery may suffer from overcharging.
Never allow the battery to go completely flat.
The ideal battery capacity range is between 50 and 80%.
Are electric cars greener than conventional cars?
Electric vehicles are more effective than gasoline-powered vehicles and emit no harmful exhaust pollutants. Despite using certain coal-fired power plants for energy production, electric vehicles typically have lesser emissions. For instance, the Toyota Camry with a gasoline engine produces 385 grams of CO2 each mile, compared to 189 grams for the electric Chevrolet Bolt.
However, the quality of the electrical infrastructure used to charge its batteries affects how polluting it is. For instance, an electric automobile may release more emissions than a gasoline-powered car if the power grid exclusively uses coal plants to generate energy.
Additionally, lithium and cobalt, two rare earth elements that are extremely toxic to mine for and refine, are needed for electric vehicles. Concerns over human rights are also strongly tied to cobalt, and the production of lithium uses a significant amount of water.
Therefore, despite the fact that in general electric vehicles are more ecologically friendly than conventional vehicles, there are still numerous issues that need to be resolved before they can be considered truly green.