More Information For:
What is Electric Drive?
In an Electric Drive vehicle, the torque is supplied to the wheels by an electric motor that is powered either solely by a battery, or an internal combustion engine using hydrogen, gasoline or diesel, or, by a fuel cell.
Types of Electric Drive:
Battery
Uses
batteries to power an electric motor which
propels the vehicle. In "extended range"
electric vehicles, batteries are charged from
the grid and by a small gas engine that powers
a generator which powers the batteries (the
engine doesn't propel the vehicle, it recharges
the batteries.)
Plug-in hybrid
Uses
electricity and gas to move vehicle's
wheels. Some, or all, of that electricity comes
from the grid -- from "plugging in."
Hybrid
Uses
both an electric motor and an internal
combustion engine to propel the vehicle.
Fuel Cell
Combines
hydrogen fuel and oxygen to produce electricity
used the power an electric motor that moves the
vehicle.