We know conventional internal combustion vehicles are more efficient on highways and open roads than congested roads in cities. However, electric vehicles are quite opposite of that as they offer a better range in city conditions.
The peak efficiency of an internal combustion vehicle is achieved when the engine is running at a particular range of rpm while covering maximum distance at that particular engine speed. This is usually achieved on highways or open roads.
Also, varying loads and continuously shifting through gears will further reduce the efficiency of an internal combustion engine. As a result, vehicles with internal combustion engines are very efficient on highways and open roads.
In comparison, most electric vehicles do not have a gearbox. This is because electric motors are capable of generating peak torque from the get-go. As a result, an electric vehicle does not need to travel at a certain speed to attain its peak efficiency.
However, most electric cars sport a feature called regenerative braking. This feature charges the battery pack of the electric car while the car is slowing down or when the brake pedal is pressed.
Since the usage of brakes are relatively higher in city conditions due to traffic, electric vehicles are able to recover some energy through regenerative braking. Also, EVs consume negligible power while idling. This gives electric vehicles a better range in city conditions compared to conventional vehicles.
In addition to that, doing highway speeds in an electric vehicle also exposes it to wind resistance, which further affects the overall range. All of these factors give an EV a better range in city conditions.
Electric vehicles are quite different to conventional internal combustion vehicles in numerous ways. Moreover, the above listed qualities of electric vehicles make it very ideal for running in city conditions.
