About electric vehicles
There are many types of electric vehicles on the market today. Get to know your battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from your plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) and learn how they work.
Battery Charger
The battery charger converts the AC power from our electricity network to DC power stored in a battery. It controls the voltage level of the battery cells, monitors the cell temperatures and controls the charge to help keep the battery healthy.
Battery
An electric vehicle uses a battery to store electrical energy that is ready to use. A battery pack is made up of a number of cells that are grouped into modules. Once the battery has sufficient energy stored, the vehicle is ready to use.
Brakes
Regenerative braking uses the motor to slow the vehicle down, while putting energy back into the battery. This minimises the amount of friction braking required, reducing wear and tear on brake pads and disks.
Electric Motor
You will find electric motors in everything from juicers and toothbrushes, washing machines and dryers, to robots. They are familiar, reliable and very durable. Electric vehicle motors use AC power.
Transmission
Nearly every electric car has a single-speed transmission. The automatic transmission means that the rate of change of speed is almost linear and you have almost instant access to power, with no loss.
Controller
The controller is like the brain of a vehicle, managing all of its parameters. It controls the rate of charge using information from the battery. It also translates pressure on the accelerator pedal to adjust speed in the motor inverter.
Inverter
An inverter converts DC power to the AC power used in an electric vehicle motor. The inverter can change the speed at which the motor rotates and increase or decrease the power or torque of the motor.
Charging Cable
A charging cable for standard charging is supplied with and stored in the vehicle. It's used for charging at home or at standard public charge points. A fast charge point will have its own cable.
Charging your electric vehicle
Whether you've made the switch or are considering an EV, learn about charging your car and the supports available.
Learn about chargingBuying an electric vehicle
Ready to make the switch? Buy an EV that suits your needs and explore grants to help you on the way.
Start your EV journey