Electric car
device · 1881 · Electric age
A car driven by an electric motor powered by an on-board battery. Trouvé’s three-wheeled electric vehicle (1881) is older than Benz’s combustion car; modern mass-market models use lithium-ion batteries.
What it is made of
- Electric motor — has part. One or more electric motors turn the wheels.
- Traction battery — has part. Energy is stored in the traction battery.
- Reduction gear — has part. A single-speed reduction gear usually replaces the gearbox.
- Car brake — has part. Besides regeneration, ordinary friction brakes are needed.
- Suspension — has part. The suspension is the same as in an ordinary car.
- Pneumatic tyre — has part. An electric car’s wheels have pneumatic tyres.
- Inverter — has part. An inverter powers the traction motor.
- Induction motor — has part. The Tesla Model S had an induction motor.
- Neodymium magnet — has part. Synchronous traction motors use neodymium magnets.
Principles and materials it uses
- Regenerative braking — uses. When braking, the motor works as a generator and returns energy to the battery.
- Charging station — uses. It charges at charging stations.
History: what it evolved from and what it influenced
- Self-driving car — evolved into. Most self-driving cars are built on electric platforms.
What it is a kind of
- Car — is a kind of. An electric car is a car with electric traction.
- Hydrogen car — includes. A hydrogen-powered electric car.