Electric cars, also known as Electric vehicles (EVs), have been around for some time. You might have seen some of them on TV, in person, or you may already have one. One of the biggest EV manufacturers and cars, in general, is Tesla. And with Tesla’s CEO being Elon Musk, it’s safe to say electric vehicles are quite popular. With the number of news articles on the subject available already, you might feel like you know everything about EVs. However, you will be surprised how much isn’t talked about on the news. To help expand your knowledge, we’ll be going over 5 things you probably don’t know about electric cars, so keep reading as you won’t regret it.
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Electric Cars
There are so many things you likely don’t know about electric cars that we’ll probably have to write another article on the topic. But in the meantime, while we wait, here are 5 of them:
- Electric cars aren’t new
- They cost more than internal combustion cars
- There is significant carbon emission with production
- Cheaper to maintain than conventional cars
- EVs are heavier but produce less noise
- Electric cars aren’t new
With the recent popularity of electric cars, you will be forgiven for believing they were invented a few years ago. However, the first electric car was made in 1884 by English electrical engineer Thomas Parker. During his time in charge of London’s overhead tramways electrification, Thomas built many electric car prototypes. While none of these cars could go into full circulation, they still show that the idea of a car powered by electricity is not recent. High-capacity rechargeable batteries powered Thomas’ EV, and all four wheels had hydraulic brakes. It was truly remarkable what he could accomplish with the limited technology of that time.
- They cost more than internal combustion cars
Even though electric cars run on batteries, they still cost more than most cars with internal combustion engines. The reason for this lies in the battery itself. The battery being the electric car’s power source needs to be of high capacity while, at the same time, lightweight. After all, if it’s too heavy, it could affect the car’s balance. So, researchers are looking at ways to improve battery lifespan, efficiency, and capacity. When they progress, they share their findings through their papers. That said, many students find themselves in need of factual information about electric cars but struggle to find trustworthy data. If this is the case with you, or you simply want someone’s assistance with your research or paper writing, there are research papers service options you can try. This website will connect you with a writer that’s educated and experienced in your field, all for an affordable rate.
- There is significant carbon emission with production
While electric vehicles don’t emit carbon, the production process is not carbon-neutral. Electric cars need batteries to recharge. The manufacturing process behind these high-capacity batteries is the main reason EV carbon emissions exceed that of conventional cars. EV batteries go bad after years of use and need replacement.
- Cheaper to maintain than conventional cars
Although most EVs cost more than normal internal combustion cars, they are far cheaper to maintain. Proper education about electric cars will teach you that EVs have far fewer parts than conventional parts, meaning there are fewer parts to maintain. Also, they are powered by electricity, which is much cheaper than gasoline. And even though their batteries are expensive and don’t last forever, they still have a decent lifespan, so you won’t have to replace them that many times.
- EVs are heavier but produce less noise
The weight of an EV is directly related to the size of the battery. Most electric cars try their best to pack the highest capacity batteries to extend the driving time, but this also means they are much heavier. To counter the battery weight and give the car balance, manufacturers have had to spread the entire battery weight across the car body. This is not necessarily bad because even though the car is heavier, it produces little to no noise, so you won’t have to deal with a loud engine.
Final Thoughts
Electric cars seem to be the future of transportation. They are fast, well-balanced, and reliable. In addition, battery technology has improved since 1884. These and other facts explored in this article may drive you to consider buying an electric car and testing its features for yourself.
Author’s Bio
Diane Sherron is a freelance writer and researcher. Diane enjoys sharing helpful content such as this one as it allows her to reach more people that could do with a useful tip or two. Diane dreams of educating people and providing them with easy-to-read and reliable content.