What is an EV?
Motor vs engine, in plain language.
An EV runs on a motor, not an engine
A petrol vehicle burns fuel in an engine to make the wheels turn. An electric vehicle stores electricity in a battery and uses an electric motor instead. That one swap changes almost everything about how it drives, what it costs, and how you refuel. Tap between the two:
Quick checkWhat gives an EV instant pulling power with no gears?
The battery is your fuel tank
Instead of litres of petrol, an EV carries energy in a battery, measured in kWh (kilowatt-hours). A bigger kWh number means a bigger tank — and usually more range. You refill it by plugging in, most often at home overnight.
Quick checkWhat does kWh measure on an EV?
What that means for you, day to day
Three practical differences you'll feel: you "fill up" at home for a fraction of petrol cost; there's far less to service (no oil changes, no gearbox, fewer moving parts); and it's silent and smooth. The trade-offs — planning longer trips around charging, and range that's lower than the brochure claim — are what the rest of this handbook prepares you for.
Quick checkWhat does an EV use instead of a petrol engine and fuel?
You learned
- An EV replaces the engine + fuel with a motor + battery.
- Electric motors give instant torque, with no gears.
- Battery size is measured in kWh — your fuel tank.
- EVs are cheaper to run, lower-maintenance, and refuel at home.