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How-to guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
How Do Electric Cars Work?
An electric car swaps the gasoline engine for a battery and an electric motor. Here is how the parts work together, where the energy goes, and what to expect for range, charging time, battery life and winter driving, from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) and fueleconomy.gov.
77%+of the electrical energy from the grid reaches the wheels in an EV
100+ milesper charge for most EVs; some exceed 200 or 400 miles
3 to 12 hoursfor a full recharge; a fast charge to 80% can take 30 minutes
12 to 15 yearspossible battery life in moderate climates, per a DOE study
The short answer
An electric car stores energy in a large traction battery pack and uses it to power an electric motor that turns the wheels. A controller manages the motor's speed and torque, regenerative braking sends energy back to the battery when you slow down, and you recharge by plugging in to an outlet or charging equipment. There is no gasoline engine or fuel tank, and no tailpipe exhaust.
How an electric car works
All-electric vehicles, also called battery electric vehicles (BEVs), have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. A large traction battery pack powers the motor, and the car must be plugged in to a wall outlet or charging equipment to recharge. Because it runs on electricity, it emits no exhaust from a tailpipe and has no fuel pump, fuel line or fuel tank.
The power electronics controller manages the flow of energy from the traction battery to the motor, controlling the motor's speed and the torque it produces. When you brake, the vehicle's momentum turns an electric motor-generator, and the electricity it produces is stored in the battery for later use (regenerative braking).
From the AFDC's How Do All-Electric Cars Work? page and fueleconomy.gov's Where the Energy Goes: Electric Cars page, read November 10, 2026.
Key parts of an electric car
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Traction battery pack | Stores electricity for use by the electric traction motor. |
| Electric traction motor | Uses power from the traction battery pack to drive the wheels. Some vehicles use motor generators that do both the drive and regeneration jobs. |
| Power electronics controller | Manages the flow of electrical energy from the traction battery, controlling the motor's speed and the torque it produces. |
| Charge port | Connects the vehicle to an external power supply to charge the traction battery pack. |
| Onboard charger | Converts incoming AC electricity from the charge port to DC power for the traction battery, communicates with the charging equipment, and monitors battery voltage, current, temperature and state of charge while charging. |
| DC/DC converter | Converts higher-voltage DC power from the traction battery to the lower-voltage DC power that runs accessories and recharges the auxiliary battery. |
| Auxiliary battery | Provides electricity to power vehicle accessories. |
| Transmission (electric) | Transfers mechanical power from the electric traction motor to drive the wheels. |
| Thermal system (cooling) | Keeps the electric motor, power electronics and other components in their proper operating temperature range. |
From the AFDC's How Do All-Electric Cars Work? page, read November 10, 2026.
Where the energy goes
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Grid energy that reaches the wheels | Over 77% for EVs, compared with about 12% to 30% of the energy in gasoline for conventional vehicles |
| Energy lost in the drive system | 15% to 20% for an EV electric drive system, compared with 64% to 75% for a gasoline engine |
| Energy to the wheels, city driving | 60% to 66% (over 94% if reused regenerative braking energy is counted) |
| Energy to the wheels, highway driving | 71% to 73% (up to 77% if reused regenerative braking energy is counted) |
| Idling | The motor stops when the vehicle stops, so no energy is wasted idling |
Some energy is also lost when charging, converting alternating current (AC) from the grid to direct current (DC) for the battery. Charging losses vary with the vehicle, the charging system, the state of the battery and the weather.
From fueleconomy.gov's All-Electric Vehicles and Where the Energy Goes: Electric Cars pages, read November 10, 2026.
Range, charging time and battery life
Driving range
Most EVs can travel more than 100 miles on a charge, and some can travel more than 200 or 400 miles depending on the model.
Recharge time
Fully recharging the battery pack can take 3 to 12 hours. Even a fast charge to 80% capacity can take 30 minutes.
Battery life
EV batteries are designed for extended life. A DOE study suggests they may last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates and 8 to 12 years in severe climates.
What lowers range
Extreme outside temperatures, rapid acceleration, hauling heavy loads and driving up significant inclines can all reduce range. EVs are more efficient in city driving than on the highway.
From fueleconomy.gov's All-Electric Vehicles page and the AFDC's All-Electric Vehicles page, read November 10, 2026.
Electric cars in cold weather
A gasoline or diesel vehicle uses heat from its engine to help warm the cabin, but in an electric car all of that heat must come from electricity. Fueleconomy.gov says that in very cold conditions, auxiliary electrical losses can account for more than 40% of an EV's energy use in city driving and more than 25% on the highway. The AFDC notes that extreme outside temperatures tend to reduce range because more energy is used to heat or cool the cabin.
From fueleconomy.gov's Where the Energy Goes: Electric Cars page and the AFDC's All-Electric Vehicles page, read November 10, 2026.
Service at Michigan City Ford
Electric cars still ride on tires and use brakes; see our tire care and brake service advice.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Electric car FAQ
How do electric cars work?
An electric car uses a large traction battery pack to power an electric motor that drives the wheels, instead of a gasoline engine. A power electronics controller manages the motor's speed and torque, and you recharge the battery by plugging in to an outlet or charging equipment, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Do electric cars have a transmission?
The AFDC lists an electric transmission among the key parts of an all-electric car. It transfers mechanical power from the electric traction motor to drive the wheels.
How far can an electric car go on one charge?
Fueleconomy.gov says most EVs can travel more than 100 miles on a charge, and some can travel more than 200 or 400 miles depending on the model. The AFDC notes that range varies with driving conditions, including extreme temperatures, highway driving, rapid acceleration, heavy loads and steep inclines.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Fueleconomy.gov says fully recharging an EV battery pack can take 3 to 12 hours, and even a fast charge to 80% capacity can take 30 minutes.
How long do electric car batteries last?
According to fueleconomy.gov, a DOE study suggests EV batteries may last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates and 8 to 12 years in severe climates.
Why do electric cars lose range in winter?
An EV has no engine heat to warm the cabin, so all heat must come from electricity. Fueleconomy.gov says that in very cold conditions, auxiliary electrical losses can account for more than 40% of energy use in city driving.
Are electric cars more efficient than gas cars?
Yes, by fueleconomy.gov's figures: EVs convert over 77% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels, while conventional gasoline vehicles convert only about 12% to 30% of the energy stored in gasoline.
Questions about an electric car?
Talk with the Michigan City Ford team, or see our page on Ford hybrids and EVs.
Sources
How electric cars work, their parts, efficiency, range, charging time, battery life and cold-weather energy use are from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center and fueleconomy.gov (administered for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA), read November 10, 2026. Service links, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: How Do All-Electric Cars Work?, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 10, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: All-Electric Vehicles, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 10, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, All-Electric Vehicles, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 10, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Where the Energy Goes: Electric Cars, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026