Electric car

In essence, an electric car is one that is powered by an electric motor using energy stored in batteries. Hybrid vehicles usually include an electric motor as well as some other form of power plant.

Electric cars are not a new phenomenon. They were actually around before cars powered by the internal combustion engine.

Battery technology generally limits the amount of charge that can be stored by an electric car before the weight of the batteries or the heat they generate becomes excessive. Other downsides include the lengthy time needed to charge up the batteries.

Although the vehicles themselves may not produce carbon emissions the power generation process that generates the electricity used to charge them will, though as we increase the amount of renewable energy in the grid so the emissions generated will decline.

« Back to the green glossary