Electric cars in Indonesia have gained public attention in recent years since the Formula E event and the arrival of Elon Musk. This is because the way electric cars work is considered simple and environmentally friendly.

Electric cars in Indonesia have already been used by several government agencies as operational vehicles. And it is highly likely that they will be marketed massively in Indonesia in the next three to five years. Below, the working mechanism of electric cars will be explained in detail. Here is the complete working mechanism. 

How Electric Cars Work 

The working mechanism of electric cars is said to be simpler than gasoline-powered cars. Electric cars use electricity as their main fuel, and this electricity is stored in batteries. When you turn on the car and press the accelerator pedal, the controller module automatically regulates and draws electricity from the battery and inverter.

In the inverter section, DC current is converted into AC current. This power is then channeled to the traction motor according to how deeply you press the accelerator pedal. 

This electrical power is then converted by the traction motor into mechanical energy or rotational energy. This mechanical energy will later drive the transmission so that the car's wheels can rotate and the car can move forward. 

Read Also: How to Drive an Electric Car Safely, Beginners Must Know!

Types of Electric Cars

After you understand the general overview of how electric cars work, you also need to know that electric cars are divided into several types as follows.

1. BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)

Called BEV because this type of electric car operates entirely using electricity from batteries. So, BEV electric cars do not use gasoline to move the vehicle.

Inside BEV electric cars, there is a battery pack that functions to store electricity when you are charging. Additionally, BEV electric cars can also convert braking friction into electrical energy that will later be stored in the battery.

2. HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

As the name suggests, HEV cars do not solely rely on electricity as a power source. They also use gasoline as a power source. To drive the car's transmission, HEV cars will use both gasoline and electricity as power sources.

Although HEV cars have batteries, these batteries cannot be recharged like BEV car batteries. Therefore, HEV car batteries only charge when the car is braking.

3. PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

PHEV cars are a combination of BEV and HEV cars. In PHEV cars, the power source comes from both gasoline and electricity. PHEV cars also have batteries equipped with a charging port. So, when the electric energy source weakens, you can recharge it like a BEV car.

4. FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)

The last type of electric car is the FCEV. This electric car does not directly use electricity from batteries. Instead, it uses hydrogen, which is then channeled to the Fuel Cell system. In this section, the chemical energy from hydrogen is converted into electrical energy so that the car can move. 

Read Also: How Long to Charge an Electric Car? Also Learn How to Charge It

Thus, these are the types of electric cars you need to know. Owning an electric car is quite advantageous because electric cars do not cause air pollution or are environmentally friendly. Additionally, electric cars do not produce loud noises, and their maintenance costs are relatively low. Daihatsu has also created its best electric car, the Ayla EV. This car has also been showcased at automotive exhibitions like GIIAS and is planned to be marketed massively in Indonesia.