Electricity

Electric cars may be powered in a number of ways:

• from chemical energy stored in on-board batteries (battery electric vehicle or BEV)
• from both an on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a fueled propulsion power source (hybrid vehicle)
• generated on-board using a fuel cell (fuel cell vehicle)

Battery electric vehicles are usually charged overnight, although most will recharge fully in about an hour or less. The distance the car can travel on a single charge will depend on the number and type of batteries used, and the weight and type of vehicle. However, in general, lead-acid batteries have a range of 20 to 80 miles per charge, NiMH batteries have higher energy density and may deliver up to 120 miles, while new lithium-ion batteries can provide 250-300 miles of range per charge.

Electric vehicles are generally much quieter than internal combustion vehicles, alleviating noise pollution. They also produce zero-emissions at the vehicle tailpipe. However, it must be remembered that recharging a battery takes energy from the electricity grid, which often relies on nuclear-powered and fossil-fuelled power plants.