These days, it’s impossible to drive to the grocery store or just within the neighborhood without running into an electric vehicle. As they are commonly referred to, EVs have become a popular choice for many environmentally conscious drivers. Unlike gas-powered cars, EVs emit minimal greenhouse gas emissions, which is a bold step in the fight against climate change. Besides the fact that EVs don’t run on gas, people know very little about electric cars. So, here are some mind-blowing facts about electric vehicles.
1. Some Electric Vehicles Have Idle Creep to Make Their Cars Comfier for Drivers
Theoretically, electric cars do not have idle creep because the electric motor has no idle. However, some EV manufacturers have added idle creep to help drivers adapt to this new technology. Therefore, if an EV has idle creep, it is more of an artificial simulation than mechanical.
2. Electric Vehicles are Not a Modern Invention
Contrary to popular belief, electric vehicles weren’t just invented a few years ago. This concept dates back to the 19th century, as the first electric vehicle to be invented was in 1832 by Robert Anderson. He built a horseless carriage that was driven by an electric motor.
In 1900, America hosted the first automobile show at the Madison Square Garden. More than 160 cars were brought for display. Interestingly, a third of these cars were electric. So, this is a concept that has been around for more than a century.
3. One Can Be Trapped Inside an Electric Vehicle When Battery Dies
Though energy efficient, EVs come with some risks. Over the years, electric car owners have complained of being trapped inside their cars when the battery dies. This has, over time, affected various top brands, including Tesla.
However, most people don’t realize that all-electric vehicles come with manual door releases. It’s just that they can be difficult to locate. So, after buying an electric car, the first and most important thing to do is go through the manual.
4. The First Car to Go Past 60 MPH was an Electric Vehicle
In 1899, the La Jamais Contente, an electric vehicle designed by a Belgium Engineer, Camille Jenatzy, was the first to break the 60 MPH barrier. It clocked in at 65.8 MPH.
5. Electric Cars Have Systems to Generate Artificial Engine Noise
Electric cars are quiet because they do not have an internal combustion engine. However, to warn pedestrians of approaching vehicles, EV manufacturers have to create artificial engine noises and equip them at certain speeds. Depending on the country, there are laws requiring EVs to make a sound when the car travels at a specific speed.
6. Tesla Gave Away its Patents to Promote the EV Industry
In 2014, Tesla shocked the world by giving away all its patents for free. According to the company’s management, they did this to promote the electric vehicle industry. Even though this was faced with heavy criticism, it was a move in the right direction.
EV companies struggling with some technologies could look to Tesla’s patents for inspiration. This move was quite beneficial because today, there are tens of EV brands in the market. The same move was repeated by Toyota in 2019.
7. China Has the Most Electric Vehicles in the World
Even though EVs are popular in all parts of the world, China is at the forefront. As of 2024, China registered 13.1 million cars labeled “new energy vehicles”. These comprise hybrid, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. Other countries that have embraced the idea of electric vehicles include Norway and Germany. African countries such as South Africa and Kenya have also embraced the EV technology.
8. Australia Has the Longest Electric Vehicle Highway
In 2022, Australia launched a 5,300 km highway with 42 Kempower Station Chargers. This makes it the longest electric vehicle highway in the world. By the end of this project, it is estimated that the highway will have at least 98 chargers, which won’t be more than 200 km apart.
9. Tesla isn’t the Only EV Car Maker Named after the American Engineer
Everyone is familiar with Elon Musk’s Tesla Company. However, many people are unaware of the Nikola Corporation, an American-based battery-electric vehicle manufacturer. It is named Nikola after the famous engineer and futurist.
10. Electric Vehicles Also Have Wireless Charging
Like all other electric devices, EVs have wireless charging technology. What happens is that the charger has a magnetic coil that sends current to the magnetic coil located beneath the car. For wireless charging to occur, these two magnetic coils have to align perfectly.
11. There are about 40 Million Electric Vehicles in the World
As of 2022, there were 26 million EVs around the world. That number has soared to 40 million units in 2024. Experts project this number to go even higher by 2030.
12. Some Electric Vehicles are Faster than Super Cars
On paper, electric vehicles seem to be inferior to most supercars. However, did you know that some EVs are faster than supercars? Let’s take the Tesla Roadster vs the Bugatti Divo. The latter has a bigger and more powerful engine that delivers 1,500 horsepower. The Bugatti Divo also has a speed of 236 mph, which is more than the Tesla Roadster’s speed of 200 mph. However, the Roadster can reach 0 to 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds, whereas the Bugatti Divo takes 2.4 seconds.
13. The Reason People are Not Buying EVs is the Fear of Insufficient Charging Stations
Today, people are fully aware of the benefits of driving an electric vehicle. However, their biggest fear with these cars is that drivers are unsure if there are sufficient charging stations. Unlike gas stations, which are located everywhere, it’s true that charging stations are minimal. If automakers can make charging stations widely available, that would lead to a surge in EVs.