You might be wondering if electric cars (EV’s) also have gas tanks or engines. While this question may seem frivolous to some, it is worth asking.
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Especially if you’d consider that hybrids still use gas. If you’re one of those curious drivers, you’ve come to the right spot.
This article answers some frequently asked questions about tanks and engines. Additionally, it provides tips on taking good care of your battery to increase lifespan.
Let’s kick off this topic by answering this crucial question:
Do electric cars have engines and gas tanks too?
An EV is a car that is powered by an electric motor and therefore does not have a gas tank or an engine. Instead, the car will be driven by electricity and this process does not include any gas or combustion process.
That said, EVs come with a battery instead of a gasoline tank.
Some are Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and others are all-electric, which means they are powered by electricity instead of gasoline.
On the other hand, ePHEVs, are usually powered by electricity and gasoline. PHEVs come with a battery, an electric motor, a gasoline tank, and an internal combustion engine.
Because EVs have no engines, they usually don’t spew any smoke that pollutes the air. Although the production of batteries for EVs still causes pollution.
How Does the Battery Work?
EVs either use lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries. Because of their high energy density and material manufacturer use to produce them. These batteries are more pricey than ordinary car batteries.
Generally, you have an option to charge your EV either at home using a standard 120 V outlet or any public charging station.
How long an EV battery holds power depends mainly on its size and quality. Automakers measure the capacity of each battery in kilowatt-hours.
For instance, they may say a 60-kWh battery will typically last up to three hours.
Do hybrid cars have gas tanks and engines?
Yes! Hybrid cars come with gas tanks and combustion engines. So, you still need to fill them up with gas. However, you’ll also get an option to switch to electric when you run out of gas.
Cars like Tesla and Chevrolet Bolt operate exclusively on electricity and only use gasoline once the battery power runs out.
There is also the Jeep Wrangler 4xe that took the onslaught of technology to another level. The 4xe is one of the most versatile SUVs on the market.
With the Wrangler 4 xe, you’ll have the option to use gasoline or your battery. For instance, you won’t get stuck if you run out of gas.
Instead, you’ll be able to switch to electric mode and enjoy a quiet electric ride.
The only drawback of hybrid cars is that they have a relatively lower range than all-electric cars. This makes other drivers even doubt buying hybrid vehicles in the first place.
A hybrid vehicle will have a gasoline engine, almost the same as the one you’ll have in a gas-powered vehicle.
The only difference is that the engine you find in a hybrid car will be pretty smaller than a combustion engine.
Do electric cars have a backup energy source?
Most definitely! Most EVs have a backup power source that allows them to travel miles until they can reach the next charging station.
EVs have two batteries:
- There’s an electric battery responsible for powering the motor
- and a 12-volt lead-acid battery that powers your radio, wipers, and so on.
Interestingly, there are EVs in the market now that have enough battery backup energy sources that can power your home during a power outage.
Take, for instance, the all-new Ford F-150 Lightning.
The F-150 is no ordinary pickup electric truck.
It comes with a Ford Charge Station Pro, a bi-directional home charging station that works with only F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks.
Cool fact, with bi-directional charging you can actually power your house with this electric car!
What is the best way to ensure you don’t run out of battery?
If you’re a driver, you are likely to get stuck on the side of the road. In most cases, this will happen in the middle of nowhere.
Unfortunately, this is what should be expected even with your EV. Hence, we think you must ensure that your EV doesn’t run out of battery.
First, in order to save battery in your electric car, you need to understand how heating and AC work in electric cars.
Use one of the below tips to avoid this problematic situation.
- First, you avoid overcharging your battery. If you recharge it more frequently, the battery of your EV is likely to degrade faster.
- Don’t expose your battery to extreme temperatures. Parking your EV in a spot that exposes your car to direct sun will degrade your battery’s quality.
Besides, when you expose your EV to the sun, the heat will slowly drain your battery.
- Charge the battery of your EV properly. And by this, we mean keeping your battery’s state from zero to 80%. If you charge your battery too low or extremely high, that may reduce the lifespan significantly.
Experts recommend keeping your battery charged between 20% and 80% of the onscreen capacity.
- Don’t overuse your air conditioning. When you overuse the aircon and heater in your EV, it’ll impact the energy efficiency of your car.
- Pay attention to eco-features. Most EVs come with eco-driving features that can increase the driving range up to significantly.
- Use a timer when charging. After charging, allow your battery to cool down. A timer will help you measure the time. Wait at least 30 to 60 minutes before driving your EV.
- Use the recondition mode. Most EVs have a preconditioning mode that allows you to heat or cool the cabin remotely.
You can activate this feature when your EV is still connected to the power grid.
- Park your EV in a garage. This is the best way to protect your battery from extreme cold.
- Use the correct charger. Some drivers choose to use fast chargers. While these chargers may seem convenient, they slowly damage your EV battery. So avoid them.
Once you use them a few times, you will realize that your battery will start running out faster than usual.
A battery that could have lasted ten years may last only seven years because of a fast charger.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations if you’ve recently bought a hybrid car.
Here is some advice as you enjoy driving your hybrid:
- First, you still need to service your vehicle and use the regular log book services.
- Secondly, you should replace the air filter on the electric battery system at least every 40,000 to 50,000 miles.
To ensure that the engine of your hybrid runs smoothly, we highly recommend that you change the engine oil every 5,000 miles.
If your car uses synthetic oil, you should change oil between 7,000 to 10,000 miles.
If you take good care of the engine of your hybrid car, it may last you a lifetime.
For instance, a hybrid such as the Toyota Prius can go for 100,000 miles or more without causing you headaches.
This is confirmed by the eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty that Toyota offers.
Lastly, one of the challenges you should expect from your hybrid is poor handling.
This is because most hybrid cars come with a piece of miscellaneous machinery than gas-powered cars.
And because the engines of these cars tend to be smaller, this reduces the engine’s power.
Electric cars are quickly becoming more popular. As of December 2021, cumulative sales of EVs in the U.S. jumped to 2.32 million.