A electric vehicle uses an electric motor to drive the wheels and is powered exclusively by on-board batteries (battery electric vehicles, BEVs). EVs use far less energy than traditional combustion engine cars. They have lower emissions and operate more quietly, reducing air pollution and noise.
EVs can be charged at home or at public charging stations. The chargers are commonly called EVSEs, and they come in various forms, from simple 240V outlets to high-powered 350kW stations that can charge an entire fleet of EVs at once.
The biggest challenge to driving EVs is the limited range they offer. The size of a battery’s capacity determines how far an electric vehicle can travel, and there are many different types of batteries used in EVs. Older lead-acid batteries were very heavy, had a poor driving range and only functioned through several hundred deep cycles. Current lithium-ion batteries are lighter, have a greater driving range and can function for about 2,000 deep cycles.
EV batteries also produce waste products when they are recharged, requiring the use of recycling and reclamation methods to minimize environmental impact. To meet global climate change goals, most experts agree that it will be necessary to electrify the entire world’s road transportation fleet.
EVs are not just cars—they’re technologically advanced connected devices with cutting-edge features inside and out. They’re more energy efficient, have a quieter engine and require specialized equipment like an in-home charging station. They also have a more reliable driving experience than conventional cars, and they can be driven for miles without using gasoline or oil.