What Is An EV?

How does it work?

I want to understand the basics of how an electric vehicle differs from a petrol or diesel vehicle.

Let's start with the fundamentals!
Before considering buying an EV (electric vehicle) it would be good to understand how it works.

So, an electric vehicle is a car or van that runs on electricity instead of petrol or diesel. In the UK, EVs are becoming increasingly common as part of the shift toward cleaner, lower-emission transport.

What makes a car an electric vehicle?
Instead of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE), an EV uses:

A battery pack to store electricity
An electric motor to drive the wheels
Power electronics to control how energy flows

How does an electric vehicle work?

At a basic level, it’s much simpler than a petrol car:
- Charging the battery
  You plug the car into a charger (at home, work, or public charging points across the UK). Electricity is stored in a large lithium-ion battery.
- Powering the motor
  When you press the accelerator, the battery sends electricity to the electric motor.
- Turning the wheels
  The motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, spinning the wheels.
- Regenerative braking
  When you slow down, the car recovers some energy and feeds it back into the battery—this improves efficiency.
Key differences from petrol/diesel cars
- No exhaust emissions while driving (important for UK clean air zones)
- Quieter operation
- Fewer moving parts, so often lower maintenance*
- Instant torque, meaning quick acceleration
Types of electric vehicles
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) – fully electric
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) – combine electric motor + petrol engine
- Hybrid vehicles (HEVs) – use electricity but can’t be plugged in + petrol engine
Charging in the UK

You’ll find chargers:
- At home (using a wallbox)
- At supermarkets, car parks, workplaces and motorways
- Through networks like BP Pulse and Instavolt
Charging times vary:
- Slow (overnight at home)
- Fast (1–2 hours)
- Rapid (20–40 minutes to ~80%)
In simple terms, an EV basically has a big, rechargeable battery and an electric motor instead of a fuel tank and engine.
Now we've mastered the basics, let's look at other aspects of EV purchase and ownership.

Click back to the Hub home page and select another option.

*It is still important to have an electric vehicle properly maintained and serviced by a professional at the correct service intervals.

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