Electric cars differ from each other by their combustion engines as well as the type of battery they carry. These aspects depend mainly on the manufacturing process and vehicle model.
Electric cars are becoming more and more popular nowadays. For this reason, the technology behind the battery that powers electric vehicles is also becoming increasingly important. All owners want to quickly charge their car and go on long trips. This, in turn, has led multinational companies like Tesla to try to make the battery for electric cars as advanced and powerful as possible.
Before you reserve an EV for yourself, you need to understand the key differences between electric and gas motors, how the battery works, and lastly, what the future holds for EV batteries. Let's take a look at electric car battery technology in detail.
Differences - Electric Vs Combustion Engines
If you take a look at the hood, you can see what powers the car. It is a proven fact that batteries for electric vehicles are relatively more efficient than internal combustion-based engines.
Conventional cars are characterized by having engines that work based on the combustion process. Here, energy is produced when a spark plug ignites a compressed mixture of fuel. This energy, in turn, stimulates the movement of the piston in the combustion chamber, and this movement is transmitted through a connecting rod to the crankshaft which causes the car's wheels to move in a circular motion. This makes the car go forward.
When it comes to electric vehicles, the process is completely different. These vehicles do not depend on the movement of gears for their ignition and movement. So how does electric car battery technology work? Well, the battery under the hood of the electric car supplies power to the inboard motor through the console. This process creates a magnetic force that turns the wheels. This system requires fewer parts and therefore produces more torque than conventional petrol vehicles. The energy generated by the battery is transmitted directly to the car's wheels, so the cars go from 0 to 60 mph in a very short period.
Variants Of Electric Vehicle Batteries
Lithium Ion Batteries – This is the traditional type of battery found in electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are also found in cell phones and other portable items. Since these batteries are lightweight, it makes them very energy efficient. Also, these work very well in places with high temperatures.
Lead-acid batteries: they are safer and cheaper. However, lead-acid batteries offer short life and poor performance in areas with lower temperatures. These are used to store secondary energy in most electric vehicles.
Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries: These batteries rely on the vehicle's fuel for recharging. It has a relatively better service life and requires little maintenance. However, they are expensive and heat up quickly when in high temperature areas.
Improving Your EV Battery's Life
There are quite a few steps you can take to ensure your EV's battery lasts longer. If you live in a temperate climate, your EV battery can last 13-15 years.
You can conserve your car's battery by driving it at lower speeds whenever you can. By doing so, you can save energy and reduce vehicle charging time.
Another thing you can do is park your electric car in the shade. Just as higher speeds drain the battery faster, higher temperatures force batteries to work more aggressively. When you park the car in direct sunlight, it uses the thermal management function to keep the car cool. This function consumes power from the car battery.
What Does The Future Hold For EV Battery Technology?
In the future, we will surely witness the invention of the latest and greatest technologies that will have a huge impact on the electric vehicle market. To capture the attention of consumers, major companies like Tesla and Nissan are working every day to make the best possible electric vehicle batteries, offering greater levels of range and better storage space. Smaller companies like Nikola Motors are also part of the competition. They are currently developing a battery that will double the life of an electric vehicle and halve the charging time.
EV adoption has already started growing due to fluctuating fuel prices and wider options in the market. Also, electric vehicles require less maintenance and the latest cars even offer improved driving ranges.
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