Ecological and economical, electric cars have become very popular. From the outside, they're just like any other vehicle. If you take a look under the hood and under the floorboard you will see big differences.

The mechanics of electric vehicles

Under the hood, the heat-powered internal combustion engine is replaced by a propulsion engine powered by electricity and battery.

Electric cars have simpler mechanisms compared to diesel or gasoline vehicles. Let's take a look at their particularities.

The motors

● The electric motor: the electric propulsion motor includes the rotor and the stator. Their combination allows the operation of the electric motor. The electronic power controller includes all the electronic elements responsible for powering the motor and recharging the battery. The unit forms the gearbox that will regulate the speed of rotation transmitted by the motor to the wheels.

● The transmission: an electric car does not have a gearbox. The electric motor is able to run without problem up to several tens of thousands of revolutions per minute. It provides rotation directly and does not need motor oil. It has no timing belt. Hence the fact, that it requires much less maintenance.

● Regenerative braking: This is one of the advantages of electric vehicles. When the motor is running in a vacuum without power, it makes power. Every time you take your foot off the accelerator pedal to brake, the recovered energy is fed directly into the battery. Most recent electric vehicles offer this regenerative braking mode. When set to the maximum, it brakes the vehicle strongly without straining the discs and pads while saving miles of range. The dashboard includes a meter indicating the regenerative braking power.

Despite this braking load, it is not enough to drive for a long time. Electric vehicles need a certain level of charging.

Advantages and disadvantages of electric vehicles

Since they are powered by batteries, range is a consideration.

● Range: This can vary from one model to another. On average, the autonomy is about 100 to 500 kilometers. This is more than enough for daily errands. For a longer trip, you need to think about the location of charging stations. In Canada, there are more than 2000 charging stations. However, range is still a drawback when choosing an electric vehicle. The recharging time is also quite long depending on the charging station, especially if you are traveling.

● Breakdown: An advantage, technical breakdown is very rare in electric vehicles. However, the energy failure can occur if the driver lacks vigilance. Anyway, the vehicle alerts in advance the low battery level, usually between 5 to 10% remaining. Messages are displayed on the dashboard or central screen to warn the driver. Some vehicle models can drive dozens of extra miles before reaching the charging points. On the other hand, the vehicle enters "turtle" mode until it runs out of charge.  Consider having good mechanical protection to cover you in any case.

● Maintenance: Another fairly substantial advantage, electrics require less maintenance than diesel or gasoline vehicles. With no gearbox or timing belt, goodbye to complexities and oil gunk. No need to worry about oil or water levels. There are fewer moving parts, which means fewer parts to change. Pads and discs do not wear out quickly, they even contribute to recharging the vehicle with electricity, thanks to regenerative braking. On conventional vehicles, these are accessories that need to be changed periodically. Electric vehicles are clean and quiet.

Now you know what electric vehicles are made of. You have the choice between a thermal or electric vehicle. Why not a hybrid? Both at the same time!