The electric car frightens as much as it excites. Many criticize it for a lack of autonomy compared to other fuels. Except that in reality, the annual mileage of the French rarely exceeds 15,000 kilometers per year. But do you know who the electric car is mainly intended for? In this guide, we will see the points to know, the different types of motors and batteries but also reliability. Are you ready to take the plunge and buy an electric car ?
Is an electric car suitable for your travels?
The electric car is particularly interesting for small drivers and specifically for urban dwellers . This is where the savings and constraints are the lowest. Moreover, very short journeys punctuated by frequent acceleration and deceleration phases are not a problem for the electric car. On the other hand, it’s quite the opposite on the highway where the batteries tend to drain much more quickly.
Pay attention to autonomy: what you need to know
The range of electric cars is constantly evolving but it may still prove insufficient for going on vacation. Mobile applications or on-board systems make it possible to break down a long journey into several stopping points. Often, remaining battery life estimates are very reliable and the chances of actually breaking down are very low. Note that in winter, the batteries have less autonomy than in summer. The summer/winter differential rarely exceeds 20%. Likewise, the autonomy announced by manufacturers depends very strongly on the type of journey. For motorway use, the announced figure can be divided by almost two.
Think about recharging!
If going to the gas station is a distant memory, you will need to charge your electric car. If you have a garage with a socket, you will not encounter any difficulty in choosing a specific adapter. Conversely, for a car sleeping on the street, you must have a charging station nearby… Or at your workplace. Before buying an electric car, you must therefore anticipate this aspect. Fortunately, charging points are becoming more and more popular.
The most classic and widespread batteries currently are lithium-ion batteries . They are among the least expensive to produce although their impact on the environment is controversial, as is recycling. They hold the load well, although this inevitably decreases over the years.
So-called LMP batteries are quite rare in electric cars. They require constant feeding otherwise they will wear out quickly. These are batteries intended for vehicles used daily, several times a day, such as for car-sharing companies. The trend is nevertheless moving towards the discontinuation of this type of battery.
Polymer battery (Li-Po)
Finally, polymer batteries are gaining ground, particularly among premium car manufacturers. Light and compact , they are unfortunately expensive to produce. The main advantage lies in excellent resistance to cold. However, these batteries need regular charging and discharging to maintain their full capacity.
Permanent magnet motors
The most widespread technology is that of permanent magnet motors. It offers great driving comfort , with a wide range of use and a simple design which results in very good reliability. Magnets, integrated into the rotor, react and repel each other to provide movement. However, this involves the use of rare metals and the impact on the environment is real since these engines are difficult to recycle.
Wound rotor motors
Conversely, no rare metals in wound rotor motors. The principle is to polarize the rotor coils using a principle of repulsion which generates movement. This technology remains rarer but has the advantage of low production costs. On the other hand, it is also heavier .