How Do Electric Vehicles Work?

In an effort to raise awareness about our upcoming HyperHubs Project in York this article covers the basics of how electric vehicles work, along with a breakdown of the components inside.

What Is An Electric Vehicle?

An electric vehicle is one which uses one or more electric motors to power its movement. The motor is located towards the back of the car and is motorised by a stack or pack of rechargeable batteries, which are placed along the floor of the car.

The batteries can hold power within their cells, which is depleted through long usage periods. In order, to charge the car’s batteries, the car is plugged into either a wall charger or charging point which can be located in public places, homes or places of work.

The absence of carbon emissions from electric cars is making them a popular choice as government’s and global institutions encourage the drive towards net zero.

Key Takeaways:

• EVs are powered by electricity stored in a rechargeable battery, which drives an electric motor, offering a cleaner and more efficient alternative to petrol or diesel engines.

• The main categories include Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), each with varying degrees of electric propulsion and charging needs.

• Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type in modern EVs, offering high energy density and efficiency. These batteries are recharged via home, workplace, or public charging stations.
• EVs recover kinetic energy during braking and convert it into electricity, which is stored back in the battery, extending range and improving performance.
• The availability of workplace, destination, and rapid public charging points plays a key role in making EV ownership convenient and viable for businesses and individuals alike.
• Adopting electric vehicles reduces carbon emissions, lowers air pollution, and aligns with broader sustainability strategies, especially when paired with renewable energy sources like solar.

How Does The Electric Vehicle Work?

Electric vehicles (EVs) function by using a powerful electric motor and a rechargeable battery to replace the traditional internal combustion engine. Their operation is clean, efficient, and surprisingly straightforward. Here’s how they work in a step-by-step process:

1. Charging the Battery: Electricity is supplied to the EV’s lithium-ion battery through a charging station, either at home, a public charger, or a workplace charging point. This battery acts as the primary energy reservoir for the vehicle.
   
2. Power Delivery: Once the driver presses the accelerator, a power controller manages the flow of electricity from the battery to the electric motor, depending on how much power is needed.
   
3. Motion Creation: The electric motor converts the supplied electrical energy into mechanical energy. This drives the wheels directly, providing instant torque and smooth acceleration.
   
4. Regenerative Braking: When slowing down or braking, the motor reverses its function to act as a generator. It captures some of the kinetic energy normally lost as heat and converts it back into electricity to recharge the battery.
   
5. Control Systems: Advanced onboard systems monitor everything from speed and range to battery health and energy distribution. These ensure optimal performance, safety, and energy efficiency at all times.

Because EVs don’t rely on traditional fuel combustion, they generate no tailpipe emissions, require far less maintenance, and offer a quieter and more responsive driving experience. These characteristics make them especially attractive for commercial fleets, logistics companies, and businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint while saving on operational costs.

What Infrastructure Is Needed to Support Electric Vehicles?

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more mainstream, the demand for robust and reliable infrastructure is growing rapidly. Understanding the essential components that support EV use is essential for businesses looking to adopt or promote cleaner transportation solutions.

Key Infrastructure Components:

• EV Charging Stations: Public and workplace charging points are essential. These include slow (AC), fast, and rapid (DC) chargers depending on vehicle type and use-case scenarios.
  
• Grid Capacity and Smart Charging: As the number of EVs increases, ensuring the local grid can handle the additional load is key. Smart charging technologies help balance demand and prevent overload.
  
• On-site Renewable Energy Integration: Businesses can offset EV charging costs by installing solar PV systems and battery storage, enabling self-sufficient and carbon-neutral vehicle charging.
  
• Fleet Management Software: For companies managing multiple EVs, dedicated software enables real-time tracking, route optimisation, and charging schedules to maximise efficiency.

Why It Matters for Businesses?

Investing in the right infrastructure not only facilitates a smooth transition to EVs but also offers long-term savings, emissions reductions, and an improved corporate sustainability profile. Forward-thinking businesses are now installing solar-powered EV charging solutions, reducing reliance on the grid while supporting net-zero goals.

How Long Do Electric Vehicle Batteries Last?

Electric vehicle batteries are designed to last 8–15 years under normal conditions, with most manufacturers offering warranties of 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Factors Influencing Battery Life:

• Usage Patterns: Frequent fast charging and extreme temperatures can accelerate battery degradation.
  
• Battery Chemistry: Modern lithium-ion batteries are highly efficient and increasingly durable.
• Vehicle Type and Manufacturer: Higher-end models may use advanced battery management systems for longevity.

As EV technology evolves, battery lifespan is continually improving, making EV ownership more practical and cost-effective over the long term, particularly for commercial fleets.

Key Components Of An Electric Vehicle?

The insides of an electric vehicle are somewhat similar but at the same time, remarkably different to the internals of a traditional combustion engine vehicle. The vital components include:

• Electric Traction Motor
• Battery Traction Pack
• Charge Port
• On-board Charger
• Power Electronics Controller
• DC/DC Converter
• Thermal Cooling System
• Electric Transmission

The simplicity of the internals for electric vehicle allows it to generate more power whilst weighing very little, which gives them a better weight to power ratio in performance over the heavy combustion engines.

Do Electric Cars Have Gears?

Electric cars do not have gears. In fact, it only has one gear, as that is all it needs to generate the torque required for the whole range of its speed capability. Similar to an automatic, the vehicle provides three options to the driver (Drive, Neutral and Reverse). However, the vehicle will not be forced to change gears to achieve higher speeds; instead it can execute a linear progression of speed.

This is because combustion engines can only reach their optimal performance within the narrow range of 3,000rpm and 4,500rpm, which it dips in an out of during gear transitions. Whereas, electric car motors can spin at rates of around 20,000rpm, which is the reason why electric cars can accelerate much more quickly than combustion engine vehicles.

Anxiety range can be a big concern for many road users looking to pick up an EV. Find out how far you can travel on one charge here.

How Long Does it Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle​ Battery?

There are four main types for EV charging stations in the UK:

• Standard (3kW power with an 8-14 hour average charging time)
• Fast (7-22kW power with 4-6 hour average charging time)
• Rapid (50kW power with 30 minutes average charging time)
• Ultra-Rapid (100-200 kW with 10-20 minutes average charging time)

These timings might vary depending on mileage range and storage capacity (kWh) within the vehicle’s battery. The ‘Standard’ and ‘Fast’ type electric vehicle charging units are usually found installed on domestic properties, in dedicated charging car parks or in businesses where the vehicle would be plugged in for the full working day.

In comparison, the Rapid and Ultra Rapid type chargers are often placed on motorway service stations for users that are only intending to stop for short periods of time. Due to the high-energy demand, these often require their own dedicated transformer and LV switchboard to allow connection to the national grid or business at MV/HV which can be determined from the electrical design and load assessment.

Are Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Free?

While some electric vehicle charging stations are free, particularly those provided by local councils, shopping centres, or businesses as a perk, most public chargers involve a cost.

Charging Cost Factors:

• Free Chargers: Typically slower (3–7 kW), found in locations offering free access as an incentive.
  
• Pay-As-You-Go Chargers: Billed by time or kWh used; rates vary by provider and charger speed.
  
• Subscription-Based Networks: Offer discounted rates to regular users.
  

For businesses, installing on-site charging infrastructure can offer a strategic advantage, reducing costs and generating goodwill by offering employees or visitors free or subsidised charging.

How EvoEnergy Helps?

EvoEnergy supports UK businesses in planning, designing, and installing electric vehicle charging stations tailored to their operational needs. From site surveys and capacity assessments to smart charger installations and solar-integrated systems, we deliver turnkey EV charging solutions that future-proof your site, align with your sustainability goals, and maximise return on investment. Whether you’re electrifying a fleet or offering public access charging, EvoEnergy ensures a smooth, compliant, and scalable setup.

How EvoEnergy Supports Your EV Transition?

Making the switch to electric vehicles is easier with a knowledgeable partner. EvoEnergy offers a complete range of services to help UK businesses future-proof their transport.

Our Services Include:

• EV charging infrastructure design and installation
  
• Integration with solar PV and battery storage
  
• Energy usage monitoring and smart grid compatibility
  
• Consultation and support for grant applications

Whether you’re electrifying your fleet or installing workplace chargers, EvoEnergy delivers bespoke solutions tailored to your energy and sustainability goals.

Start Your EV Journey Today with EvoEnergy’s Expert Support

Need to know more about the benefits of electric car chargers?

If you are unsure which charger type is suitable for your business premises and company EV fleet, we can guide you through the selection process during our initial consultation. Contact us today to discover how we can assist your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an electric vehicle (EV)?

An electric vehicle is a car powered primarily by electricity stored in rechargeable battery packs instead of using a traditional internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline or diesel.

2. How does an electric vehicle generate motion?

EVs use an electric motor powered by electricity from the battery. The motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy that spins the wheels and moves the vehicle.

3. What are the key components of an electric vehicle?

Major components include the traction battery pack (stores electricity), electric motor (drives the wheels), power inverter (converts DC battery power to AC for the motor), and the controller (manages power flow based on driver input).

4. How do electric vehicles get charged?

EVs are charged by plugging into an electrical outlet or dedicated charging station. The electricity charges the battery pack, enabling the vehicle to store energy for driving.

5. What role does the inverter play in an EV?

The inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity stored in the battery into alternating current (AC), which powers the electric motor.

6. What is regenerative braking?

Regenerative braking captures kinetic energy typically lost as heat during braking, converting it back into electricity that recharges the battery, improving overall efficiency.

7. Do electric vehicles have transmissions?

Most EVs have a simplified transmission system, often just a single-speed gearbox, because electric motors can provide a wide range of speeds without needing multiple gears.

8. How does the controller affect the EV’s performance?

The controller interprets the driver’s acceleration input and adjusts the power delivered to the electric motor, controlling speed and torque.

9. Are there fewer moving parts in EVs compared to gasoline vehicles?

Yes, EVs have fewer moving parts because they lack complex components like fuel pumps, exhaust systems, and multi-speed transmissions, which typically reduces maintenance needs.

10. What type of batteries do EVs use?

Most EVs use lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density, rechargeability, and relatively long lifespan.