Electric vehicle (EV) is an abbreviated term for battery electric vehicle, which is a vehicle that uses energy from a battery to operate an electric motor that rotates the wheels. Throughout the twentieth century, a wide array of electric cars, trucks, buses, bikes, and scooters have been developed. However, except for the golf cart and special delivery vehicles, none has experienced any sustained commercial success.

The Basics

EVs use a variety of electric motors, dc, ac, and three-phase ac induction being the most common. No one electric motor is optimal for all vehicles. Motor selection criteria include power needs, variable speed needs, operating voltage, and physical space limitations. Researchers at the turn of the twenty-first century are looking into directly attaching electric motors to the wheels to eliminate the drive shaft and differential. This will improve efficiency by reducing weight and by minimizing the mechanical losses...