Our generation is busy visualising the future and planning how to start implementing more advanced and intelligent technological gadgets to get work done faster and in an effortless manner. However, one vital fact that requires immediate attention is that our natural resources are depleting fast. The traditional automobiles that we see on the roads today not only over utilise our valuable resources like oil and natural gas, they also release a lot of harmful and toxic gases in the atmosphere, thereby polluting it. So more than anything else, we need to upgrade our vehicles to a more environmentally-friendly medium of transportation.

So electric cars are definitely the need of the hour, which would not only save our natural resources, but also keep our environment clean. Let’s read about them in detail to find out why they are beneficial and how they are different from traditional cars.

What are Electric Cars?

An electric car is an automobile which runs on batteries. These vehicles are driven by one or more electric motors which are powered with the help of rechargeable batteries. Unlike traditional cars, an electric vehicle or EV uses the power stored in batteries to run and power its electric motors, instead of any internal combustion mechanism.

Types of Electric Cars

Coming into popularity since the 19th and early 20th century, electric cars can be classified into three main types, which include:

• Conventional Hybrids: These cars require a petrol tank and use an internal combustion engine. However, they also come with an electric motor that is powered by a battery. This battery is charged when the vehicle breaks. A good example of conventional hybrids can be the Toyota Prius.

• Plug-in Hybrids: In these types of electric vehicles, one can use the car in both ways - namely the electric and the traditional. In other words, one would get the option of running the car in both the methods - one with the help of a large battery that comes with the vehicle, and second with the help of fuels like petrol or diesel. You can either charge the battery with the help of an electrical outlet or use the car as the conventional ones by refuelling it with petrol or diesel, in case the battery of your car drains out.

• Battery-Electric Vehicles: These are fully electric vehicles and would run only by battery-operated electric motors. You cannot drive such a car using fuels or any other resources. Once the battery of your battery-electric vehicle or BEV drains out, you need to recharge it at a power station or by plugging it in a wall socket. Since they do not have an internal combustible engine, they don’t come with a tailpipe either since there is no question of waste chemicals or gases being emitted. This feature makes BEVs an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional cars that are propelled by fuels.

There is, however, the third type of EV known as the Fuel Cell car. These cars use hydrogen gas to power up their electric motors. But there are no harmful chemicals released from these vehicles either, since the by-products released from them are water and heat.

How are Electric Cars Beneficial?

Unlike traditional cars which use petroleum or natural gas to run, emits a lot of harmful gases and toxic chemicals. This problem is dealt with in electric cars which don’t use any of these resources, and therefore do not produce any of these harmful substances. Since electric vehicles run on battery-powered electrical energy, one can easily recharge them anytime, thus exempting them from the repetitive process of filling up their tanks with petrol or diesel.

Apart from these factors, there are a number of benefits of electric cars:

• They are cheaper to run as compared to conventional cars since the cost of recharging them is much lesser than refuelling them with costly substances like petrol or diesel.

• Even maintaining these EVs are much cheaper as they come with a much lesser number of movable parts. Thus, the potential risks of these parts getting damaged are much lower.

• They are much better for the environment as they don’t release dangerous chemicals since there is no combustion of fuels involved in the EVs. An electric car generally has zero exhaust emissions.

• You are using a renewable source of energy for charging your battery and hence saving the non-renewable resources of our planet.

• The materials used in EVs are more eco-friendly as car manufacturers are targetting towards making them as harmless as possible to the environment. For example, the Ford Focus Electric is made out of recycled materials and its padding is made of renewable and bio-based elements.

• EVs are friendly for your overall health since there are no toxic emissions exhausted. Better air quality will automatically lead to a better quality of life by lessening the number of health issues associated with the chemicals released by conventional vehicles that use fuel engines to run.

• You would be assured of your safety since the materials used in the electric cars are much improvised and come with a lower centre of gravity, thus preventing them to roll over when you actually want your vehicle to stop. The improved body construction and durability of EVs also make them less prone to fires and explosions, thus ensuring safety during a collision.

How Do I Charge an Electric Car?

Yes, it might seem a bit different to you as you don’t have the habit of charging a car. However, the charging procedure is quite easy, along with very low costs involved. To charge an electric vehicle, one must plug it into a charging station or a wall power outlet for charging it. In short, we can charge our electric cars just the way we do for our mobile phones or other gadgets.

The charging speed of the car would depend upon the type of the vehicle as well the power adapter provided with it. However, the kind of charging point you are connected to would also affect the charging speed.

There are, however, three types of charging speeds, including:

• Slow charging - in this type it can take up to 5 hours for your car to get fully charged.
• Fast charging - with this type you can charge your car within an hour.
• Rapid charging - this type allows you to charge your EV fully just within 20 minutes.

The Future of Electric Car

Electric cars are considered the future of motoring. Extensive research is constantly being made each day so as to bring up technological innovations in electric vehicles, not only for a better driving experience but also to make them more eco-friendly. An upgraded car would also mean an upgrade in your car insurance policy. Machine breakdowns don’t come up with prior notice, so be prepared for any occurrences of misfortune while driving your EV on the roads. So its time to switch to electric cars for a better future and to help our next generations stay healthy and safe. Be a responsible driver and help your planet stay clean so that it keeps serving the generations after.

For further reading:

7 Tips to Keep Car Battery Life Healthy

Disclaimer: This article is issued in general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.