How do electric cars work?

The wildly successful and talked-about Tesla Model S has shoved electric cars onto the main stage. Automakers across the world are recognizing the new popularity and seeing dollar signs as they push out new models for the growing electric segment. Electric cars are no longer obscure vehicles for people with esoteric tastes.

As they become easier to charge and less expensive to maintain, electric cars are poised to become a major force in the U.S. car market. In addition to saving money on gas and reducing your carbon footprint, electric cars are also eligible for government incentives that help bring down the intial sticker price. If you’ve ever considered purchasing an electric car, or even a hybrid, you might be wondering how they work. This guide will tell you. 

Electric engine fundamentals

The fundamental difference between true electric cars and other motor vehicles is the absence of a combustion engine. Instead, they rely on electric batteries to power the engine and turn the drivetrain.

The way they convert power into physical energy leads to a few differences in engine construction, such as the absence of a transmission to get the engine and road speed in sync. It also means a higher number of electronic systems that need to draw power from the same source, the battery array.

Recharging electric engines

Most importantly, electric cars change how you fuel up your car and gauge the vehicle’s effective range. Electric cars rely on a large, heavy array of batteries to store a charge. Recharging options depend on the make and model of the car. Most have at least two options: plugging into your home’s standard electric outlet and using a make-specific quick recharge station.

The average electric vehicle needs about 10 hours connected to a standard home outlet to recharge, while the quick recharge stations can fill a battery in just a few hours. Many models can achieve a half charge in under an hour. Some vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, offer the third option of upgrading the home charging system to shorten recharge times dramatically. 

Regenerative braking

Electric engines can recoup up to 30 percent of the energy spent to initiate movement through a mechanism called regenerative breaking. Any time the car begins to coast or the driver applies the break the regenerative mechanism converts that kinetic energy to return some charge back to the battery. This extends their range somewhat, although most electric cars still can’t go over 300 miles without a recharge.

Hybrid vs Electric

Many cars that run on electricity are not true electric cars but hybrids. The Prius is the most popular example. Their primary engine is electric, but they have a backup combustion engine. This further extends their effective range in a few ways.

First, most hybrids switch to the gasoline engine above a certain speed. Electric engines are more efficient at accelerating – and obviously also in stop-and-go traffic where the regenerative braking creates so much energy – but are less efficient than conventional combustion at higher speeds. Hybrids tend to outperform for mixed driving that includes time on the highway. Second, when the battery runs out of energy, a hybrid’s gasoline engine kicks in so you can make it to a recharging station.

Popular electric models

As the electric car segment continues to grow, a few models are already leading the charge (get it?). Some of the most popular electric models currently on the market include:

Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt is General Motors' first foray into the electric segment, and with its popularity, probably not the last. While it's technically a hybrid because it has a gas engine, the gas engine does not create power through combustion, but rather it generates electricity to keep the car running in the event its two electric engines run out of charge.

The Volt achieves an EPA-estimated 98 mpg equivalent, and 35 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway when the gas engines kicks on. Despite its advanced electric engineering, the Volt still drives true to classic Chevy models. The Volt starts at about $34,000, which is fairly standard for electric vehicles currently on the market. 

Nissan LEAF

The Nissan LEAF is currently the de facto electric car on the market, with a staggering 129 mpg equivalent on the highway, which is substantially higher than the Volt. Unfortunately, the driving range on a fully charged battery is limited to 75 miles, so you won't even get to that guady mpg number without charging first.

Because of its limited range, it might do best as a city traveler rather than a road tripper or long-commuter, but that will change as more EV charging stations pop up around the country, and advance to offer faster charging. The LEAF is engineered to drive exactly like a gas-only vehicle, and the starting price of $28,800 is cheaper than the Volt. 

Tesla Model S

The California-based Tesla is changing the way cars are being sold, and the Tesla Model S practically built the luxury electric segment on its own, with competing electric models from Cadillac and BMW on their way. The performance, elegance and well-appointed attention to detail are on par with the best luxury cars on the planet, including the Mercedes S-Class, Porsche Panamera and Audi A8. Expect those automakers to push out competing all-electric models very soon.

The Model S can go 208 miles on a single charge with 97 mpg equivalent efficiency, so you can take it on road trips. This ain't no electric razor either; the Model S whips around with 302 horsepower and torque you can feel. The Tesla Model S starts at around $70,000, which is a tremendous price tag. But with all the Model S offers, it's well worth it. 

Get the lowest local quotes on new electric cars and more!

The basics of how electric cars work are not too different from a combustion engine. You just have a different type of power source, a different way of “refueling” and the extra dimension of storing energy when you break for more efficiency.

We’re still a ways off from solar-powered cars, so until then, the differences are just a matter of efficiency and convenience. If you're thinking about upgrading to a new electric car, use Buyerlink to connect with local dealers and find the lowest price quotes on your favorite models.