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9 Questions About Electric Vehicles Answered

With governments worldwide talking about the Green New Deal and climate change, there is now a renewed emphasis on electric-powered cars. Classic cars run on gasoline, which is fuel for an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine burns gasoline and emits exhaust fumes composed of carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide accumulates in the upper atmosphere and stops warm air from escaping, causing the surface temperature to rise.

Electric cars, on the other hand, have no exhaust and no emissions, and they are a lot quieter than gasoline-powered cars. All these features mean electric cars are an environmentally friendly form of transportation and a critical component of the Green New Deal and the battle against global warming.

As the electric car industry grows, the number of people looking for information about electric cars grows correspondingly. According to Northwest Collision Center, here are some of the most often asked questions about electric cars.

1. What Is The Main Difference Between Electric Vehicles And Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles?

The principal difference between electric and hybrid vehicles is the power source. Electric vehicles are powered by electricity produced by rechargeable batteries contained within the body of the car. Hybrid electric cars, on the other hand, are powered by more than one power source.

For example, a hybrid electric car may have batteries as its main power source, but the battery is charged by other power sources such as solar, wind, or kinetic energy produced by regenerative brakes or a gasoline motor.

A traditional EV is charged by plugging it into an electrical power source and leaving it for anywhere between 4 to 10 hours. Alternatively, hybrid cars can switch seamlessly between electric energy and other sources of energy and they are not reliant on having to be plugged in and left to charge for an extended time.

An EV will have a battery as its only power source, whereas a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEVs) combines electric and gasoline power sources. A PHEV will have a gasoline tank, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a battery.A great R&D is undergone by people who have mastered any EV Design Course, as they could evaluate the design much technically. 

2. Are Electric Vehicles Better For The Environment?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Electric cars do not emit exhaust fumes, or any other Green House gases. Electric cars do not contribute to global warming, do not cause respiratory illnesses, and do no not pollute the environment. Electric cars are also much quieter than gasoline powered cars, which means they do not contribute to noise pollution.

3. How Far Can An Electric Vehicle Run?

As the number of electric cars being purchased increases, so to do the technological advances. One of the biggest challenges facing the electric car industry is how to increase the range or the distance traveled on one charge.

Up until recently, the average electric car when fully charged had a range of approximately 200 miles. This was then increased to 400 miles with the release of the Tesla Model S. The Tesla also has the advantage of being faster charging and it can charge up to 80% capacity in 30 minutes.

The electric vehicle with the longest range is currently the Mercedes EQS which can travel 485 miles on one charge.

4. Can I Use My Electric Vehicle For A Road Trip?

An electric car can definitely be used for road trips. Electric cars now have extended ranges, especially if they are a hybrid model and the infrastructure such as charging stations now extends beyond urban centers.

Using a hybrid electric vehicle, the distance you can travel in an electric car is substantially increased because the car can switch between fuel sources.

5. Where Can I Charge My Electric Vehicle?

An electric vehicle can be charged from home simply by plugging it into a 240-volt outlet. It can also be charged by plugging it into a 120 Volt outlet but because the voltage is lower this will take longer to charge.

The convenience of an electric car is that you can charge it while engaging in other activities. For example, you can plug it into any socket in the home while you engage in family time or doing your day-to-day chores.

There are also public charging stations available and in the United States there are over 20,000 scattered throughout the country and this number is expected to increase exponentially in the next ten years as the number of electric car purchases increases. The number of filling stations will also increase because they are now linked digitally and electric car drivers can find them and book time using a mobile phone app.

6. How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Vehicle?

The length of time it takes to charge a battery will depend upon a number of separate factors. Factor number 1 is the size of the battery and the general rule of thumb is, the larger the battery, the longer the charging time.

Factor number 2 is the batteries age and its design. Modern batteries are designed to charge faster than older batteries. For example, in the new Tesla the batteries can be 80% charged in 40 minutes whereas in older electric cars complete charging can take as long as 12 hours.

Factor number 3 is the voltage of the power supply. Electric vehicles will charge faster using a 240-volt power supply than a 120-volt power supply. For cars that take a longer time to charge, most drivers will leave the car charging overnight while they are at home.

Hybrid cars will usually take a shorter time to charge because the batteries do not get charge depleted as much as normal plug-in batteries.

7. Is it Safe to Charge an Electric Vehicle in the Rain?

Yes, it is safe to charge your electric vehicle even when it is raining. In fact, electric cars are specifically engineered to withstand rain and water intrusion. During the development stage, all electric cars are charged during simulated adverse weather conditions.

8. What Does It Feel Like To Drive An Electric Vehicle?

Driving an electric car is a different experience from driving a gasoline powered vehicle. It is also easier to drive an electric vehicle. Electric cars do not have clutches, tailpipes, or gearboxes and they run quietly because there is no engine noise.

Electric cars are easier to drive than traditional gasoline powered cars because they do not have any gears as the car is propelled by the motor spinning in a certain direction.   The motor spins in one direction to go forwards, and the other to go backwards.

Because an electric car does have gears there is no power band or slowness in torque delivery. In an electric car, the driver simply presses the accelerator and the power is delivered instantaneously.

One reason an electric car feels different to drive is because of the battery. The battery is heavy but it is placed on the car floor between the axles, which gives the car a lower center of gravity. Combined with the stiffer suspension, the lower center of gravity makes driving an electric car feel like driving a sports car.

9. Are Electric Vehicles Safe To Use?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. An electric car contains fewer moving parts, which makes it less likely to breakdown. Compared to gas-powered cars, the probability of the electric car catching fire is lower because the motor does not burn a flammable fuel source and there is no internal combustion process. Further, the batteries have a cooling feature with good thermal resistance.

Key Takeaway

Going green, fighting climate change through minimizing emissions have become a priority of first world governments, and electric cars are a central part of this. The result is a rapid increase in electric car sales and a corresponding increase in the need for electric car auto body repair shops.

If your traditional gasoline powered car or electric car requires an auto body repair shop, do your research and contact a professional with an established reputation for professionalism and quality auto body repair.

Adrian

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