| Electric vehicles sound like they are a new idea, | | | | The greater simplicity of an electric vehicle also |
| but they really aren't. You see, the heart of an | | | | makes them much more fuel-efficient. Since you |
| electric vehicle is an electric motor and electric | | | | don't need all the auxiliary components to make |
| motors have been around for a very long time. | | | | an electric motor run, you save a lot of weight. |
| You've probably been around them since you | | | | What consumers don't realize is that most of the |
| were a child. If you've ever played with a | | | | fuel inefficiency comes from having larger vehicles |
| remote-controlled car, then you've been exposed | | | | that weigh a lot. |
| to electric motor. Remote controlled cars are | | | | It's sort of like how if you're overweight. It's |
| pretty much the same basic idea, only on a much | | | | much harder to run than if you're very skinny. |
| smaller scale. | | | | Next time you look at a marathon runner, you'll |
| Electric engines on cars are much simpler than | | | | notice that they are probably very skinny. And |
| internal combustion engines. They are so simple | | | | that helps them run a very long distance very |
| that you don't need a giant engine compartment | | | | efficiently. |
| filled with an engine, transmission, alternator, | | | | The same principle applies to cars. The heavier |
| hoses, battery etc. Instead, you have a simple | | | | the vehicle, the more energy it requires to propel |
| electric motor, a large battery, and a very | | | | itself forward. If you reduce weight, you reduce |
| straightforward transmission system. Electric | | | | energy usage and end up with a more efficient |
| engines can actually be moved in line with the | | | | vehicle. That is why the future of vehicles is most |
| wheels to create a far simpler transmission | | | | certainly going to have an electric motor |
| system. | | | | component. In some form or another. |