How does an Electric Vehicle Work?
Some of the earliest automobiles were powered by electric motors driven by batteries, but rapid advances to internal combustion engines quickly drove the heavier, range-limited EVs from the market. The pressing need to reduce air pollution together with new advanced batteries and motors have allowed EVs to reappear as a clean alternative to internal combustion vehicles. Electric drive systems are virtually non-polluting and extremely energy efficient. Whereas only about 20% of the chemical energy in gasoline gets converted into useful work at the wheels of an internal combustion vehicle, 75% or more of the energy from a battery reaches the wheels.
Another advantage of electric motors is their ability to provide power at almost any engine speed. While internal combustion engines must be revved up to high rpm to achieve maximum power, electric motors provide nearly peak power even at low speeds. This gives electric vehicles strong acceleration performance from a stop.