The electric car industry is taking off! More options are available now, prices are coming down, and there are grants to help out. Plus, the batteries in these cars are getting better all the time.
What is an electric car?
An electric car runs on an electric motor instead of a regular petrol or diesel engine. It gets its power from rechargeable batteries that you can charge using standard household electricity.
History of electric cars
In the 1900s, people were already interested in cars, and surprisingly, there were more electric cars on the roads than petrol or diesel ones. However, around the 1920s, the popularity of electric cars started to decline. One reason was electric cars couldn’t go very fast or cover long distances – just a few miles. Then, a breakthrough happened in 1912 when the electric starter motor was invented for petrol cars, making them more convenient.
Henry Ford played a big role in the decline of electric cars. His company, Ford, started mass-producing the Model T, making petrol cars much cheaper than electric ones. This caused most electric car manufacturers to stop making them. Throughout the 20th century, electric vehicles were mainly used for British milk floats because of their limited speed.
Interest in electric cars came back in the 1970s and 80s due to energy crises and concerns about the stability of oil prices. Some big car companies introduced electric models, but they still couldn’t compete with the style and lower prices of petrol cars.
Fast forward to the 2000s, and hybrid vehicles became popular, especially after another fuel crisis. In 2008, Tesla’s Roadster changed the game with its appealing design and longer range, inspiring competitors like Nissan and Chevrolet to create their electric models. By September 2016, there were over a million pure electric cars and vans globally.
Electric cars come in two types:
FULLY ELECTRIC CAR
For a fully electric car, the key components are a rechargeable battery, a controller, and an electric motor. Initially, the battery gets charged up. Next, the controller transforms the current from DC to AC, making it usable for the motor. Then, the motor changes this electrical energy into mechanical energy, propelling the car.
HYBRID CAR
The same technology exists in hybrid cars, alongside a small gasoline engine running a generator. This powers the car at cruising speed, and batteries provide extra power when accelerating. Batteries can recharge themselves when the car is decelerating or standing still. Hybrid technology means that your petrol goes much further, saving you money and reducing environmental impact.