Fifteen Things You Never Knew About Electric Vehicles: Part 1

Chances are, if you are on the road regularly, you have seen electric cars on the road. A lot of these cars emulate gasoline cars in terms of style and amenities, but electric cars are really a new breed in more ways than one. This two-part blog will touch on some commonly asked questions about electric vehicles. Are you charged and ready to read on? Let's begin!

The blog covers,

1. When was the first electric car made?

2. What was the turning point of this technology?

3. Do electric cars use oil?

4. Do electric cars have transmissions?

5. How long does it take to charge an electric car?

6. How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

7. How long would it take to fully charge some of the leading electric cars on the road?

1. When was the first electric car made?

According to Energy.gov, it's almost impossible to know who individually invented/created electric cars first. However, "the first successful electric car made its debut around 1890 thanks to William Morrison."¹ Since then, electric car popularity has fluctuated based on "oil processes and gasoline shortages."² More recently though, the passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment and the 1992 Energy Policy Act have helped create a renewed interest in electric cars. With gas prices averaging over four dollars currently, it is no surprise that individuals are turning to this technology for some kind of financial relief.

2. What was the turning point of this technology?

Although electric vehicles had existed far before the modern age, it was not until Toyota released the Prius in the United States in 2000 that they started garnering serious attention³. Numerous celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, were spotted driving Priuses in Los Angeles soon after they became available.⁴ This obvious show of commitment to the environment resonated with the American target demographic.

3. Do electric cars use oil?

Some of the expense from car ownership comes from car maintenance. When you drive, your engine needs oil to lubricate its moving pieces. Oil changes are typically based on how many miles have been driven-the more miles you drive, the more often your car will need an oil change.⁵

Electric cars do not use oil in this same manner, as their power comes from an electric motor, not an engine. According to a Cars.com article, however, electric vehicles (EVs) may need other lubricants replaced, like brake fluid. You should be checking and replacing your brake fluid as necessary.

4. Do electric cars have transmissions?

Electric cars do not have "multi-speed transmissions"⁶ due to their electric motors. With internal combustion engines, each gear corresponds to a certain power output. When you accelerate by pressing down on the gas pedal, your car, if an automatic transmission, will switch to a higher gear to maximize efficiency. If you have an electric car, however, power will be delivered instantly when you press the pedal-there is no need to build up torque to switch gears.⁷

5. How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Several different factors can affect how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle, including charging source, charging rate, weather, and battery capacity.

• Charging Source

It may take just 15 minutes to add 200 miles of range with a Tesla Supercharger.⁸ Compare that with a domestic outlet, which will take up to four full days to recharge an empty Tesla car battery.⁹

• Charging Rate

Different charging sources will have different charging rates. For example, the Tesla Wall Connector charges 30-44mph off of a 60A breaker.¹⁰ In contrast, the mobile connector charges just 2-3mph.¹¹ Your vehicle's recommended charging rate will affect the time it takes to reach a full charge.

• Weather

Both cold and hot weather affect electric vehicle charging. When the weather spikes one way or the other, the driver is more likely to use the vehicle's HVAC system.¹² Electric vehicles also feature "onboard thermal management system[s]"¹³ that are designed to "draw energy to warm or cool the vehicle's battery as needed, to ensure it operates in moderate temperatures."¹⁴ These two actions during inclement weather will drain a battery sooner than in moderate weather.

• Battery Capacity

An electric vehicle's range depends on the size of its battery.¹⁵ Energy is measured in kilowatt-hours, or rate power is expended over a period of time. Just like the cars themselves, these batteries vary widely not only between different brands but also different models. For example, some "batteries span from 28.9 kWh... to roughly 200 kWh".¹⁶

6. How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Electric vehicles' fuel efficiency is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 miles.¹⁷ To calculate how much each mile costs, you will need to know the cost of electricity as well as how much electricity the car takes to travel 100 miles. According to the U.S. Department of Energy:

If electricity costs 10.7 per kWh and the vehicle consumes 27 kWh to travel 100 miles, the cost per mile is about $0.03. If electricity costs 10.7 per kilowatt-hour, charging an EV with a 200-mile range (assuming a fully depleted 54 kWh battery) will cost about $6 to reach a full charge.

The Department of Energy also offers a Vehicle Cost Calculator with which you can compare fueling costs between different models and makes of car, including electric.

7. How long would it take to fully charge some of the leading electric cars on the road?

Kelley Blue Book has published a comprehensive list of car brands and their required time to reach a full charge "based on a Level 2 power source and charging capacity" and "according to the manufacturers' websites." Here are just a few examples:

• Chevrolet Bolt EV: 7 hours
  
• Nissan Leaf: 8 hours
  
• Tesla Model S (Long Range): Up to 12 hours using Tesla Wall Connector (according to Inside EVs)
  
• Tesla Model 3 (Long Range): Up to 8 hours using Tesla Wall Connector (according to Inside EVs)

Stay tuned for part two of this blog to learn more about electric vehicles' efficiency and affordability! You'll also learn how to prepare your garage for an electric vehicle. Now a question for you-after reading this blog, would you drive an electric car?

References

¹ "The History of the Electric Car." Energy.gov, September 15, 2014. https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-electric-car.

² "The History of the Electric Car."
³ "The History of the Electric Car."
⁴ "Toyota Sells 1 Millionth Hybrid in U.S." History.com. January 27, 2010. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/toyota-sells-1-millionth-hybrid-in-u-s.
⁵ Cotta, Rick. "Do Electric Vehicles Use Oil?" Cars.com. Cars.com, January 30, 2022. https://www.cars.com/articles/do-electric-vehicles-use-oil-446268/.

⁶ "Do Electric Cars Have Transmissions?" Kia. Accessed May 17, 2022. https://www.kia.com/dm/discover-kia/ask/do-electric-cars-have-transmissions.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20significant%20difference%20between%20conventional,transmission%20regulates%20the%20electric%20motor.%E2%80%9D.
⁷ "Do Electric Cars Have Transmissions?"
⁸ "Supercharger." Tesla. Accessed May 17, 2022. https://www.tesla.com/supercharger.
⁹ Yamauchi, Mia. "Tesla Charging Speed on a 110 Volt Outlet." Plugless Power. Accessed May 17, 2022. https://www.pluglesspower.com/learn/can-tesla-charge-regular-110v-wall-outlet-technically-yes/#:~:text=It%20will%20take%20up%20to,using%20a%20regular%20wall%20outlet.

¹⁰ "Home Charging." Tesla, April 29, 2022. https://www.tesla.com/support/home-charging.

¹¹ "Home Charging.".
¹² Lee, Chanel. "How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?" Kelley Blue Book, April 1, 2022. https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/how-long-does-take-charge-electric-car/.
¹³ Argue, Charlotte. "How Extreme Cold and Heat Affect EV Range." Fleet Forward, June 3, 2020. https://www.fleetforward.com/359666/how-extreme-cold-and-heat-affect-ev-range.
¹⁴ Argue, Charlotte.
¹⁵ Voelcker, John. "EVs Explained: Battery Capacity, Gross versus Net." Car and Driver, November 29, 2021. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a36051980/evs-explained-battery-capacity-gross-versus-net/#:~:text=Factors%20such%20as%20speed%20and,the%20rate%20of%20battery%20use.&text=Today's%20EV%20batteries%20span%20from,a%20range%20of%20350%20miles.
¹⁶ Voelcker, John.
¹⁷ "Charging Electric Vehicles at Home." Alternative Fuels Data Center. U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed May 17, 2022. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_charging_home.html#:~:text=Electricity%20Costs%20for%20Charging&text=If%20electricity%20costs%20%240.13%20per%20kilowatt%2Dhour%2C%20charging%20an%20EV,to%20reach%20a%20full%20charge.

About the Author: Martha Hunsucker

Martha Hunsucker is a content writer for EduMind. She received her BA in English from Stetson University and has experience marketing, copywriting, editing, and blogging. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books by Jon Krakauer (her current favorite author), hiking with her two dogs, and sleeping in on weekends.