An electric car has numerous parts that are common to any other vehicle, but also other specific parts that make it a unique and special type of car. We are going to tell you about all of them.
The technology associated with an electric car still has a lot of room for evolution, since it is not for nothing that the automotive industry has not taken it seriously until the last decade.
Little by little, the performance of electric cars improves and matches those of traditional vehicles, with which they share many common parts, but with which they also they differ in vital elements. Do you want to know all the parts of an electric car? We list them all below.
Parts of an electric car
We have divided the parts of an electric car into seven large groups: platform, powertrain, powertrain, steering, suspension, braking system and wheels. Each one of them fulfills a vital function without which the operation of the vehicle would not be feasible, since ultimately we are talking about a synchronized machine perfectly designed to maximize its performance.
Chassis – Platform
The platform of a vehicle, whatever it may be, is the base on which the rest of the components are based and unequivocally marks its potential, since it is developed according to the performance that the manufacturer wants to achieve, as well as the margin of evolution foreseen over time.
Naturally, the platform integrates the bodyworkwhich acts not only as a support for other elements, but also as an energy absorption structure in the event of an accident.
- Chassis
- energy absorbing structure
Power train
The powertrain encompasses everything needed to generate power and move the car. In this case, instead of a combustion engine, we have a power unit, that is, the combination of a electric motor or several, batteries to store the energy charged or generated and energy recovery systems such as regenerative braking.
Also included are systems such as the inverter-converter -which adapts the direct current energy stored in the batteries according to the needs of the electric motor-, the thermal management system to avoid overheating in the batteries or the structure in which they are housed, in addition to other elements.
- Electric motor (one or more)
- auxiliary battery
- Battery
- energy recovery systems
- on board charger
- Plug
- high voltage wiring
- converter-inverter
- Battery Management Systems (BMS)
- Battery Box (structural and non-structural)
- Battery Thermal Management System (BMT)
Powertrain
For its part, the drive train is responsible for transferring the energy generated by the power train to the wheels. This occurs through the transmission, which modulates and manages the power generated by the engine.
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Direction
The steering system, with which we guide the vehicle, consists of five main elements, in this case common to any type of car, whether electric or not. The steering wheel it is the visible one and the one that we manipulate when we drive, but in reality it is nothing more than the end of a chain of gears that ends in the ball joints of the axles of the wheels.
- Steering wheel
- power steering system
- axes
- ball joints
- column and zipper
Suspension
The suspensions are also similar in all vehicles, with each manufacturer choosing the type, geometry or setting that best suits the needs or aspirations of the vehicle. The shock absorbers prevent excessive oscillation, thus maximizing the contact of the wheel with the asphalt for better grip.
Brake system
The brakes are made up of several elements and can be of two types: disc or drum. The former are more efficient, but require more maintenance. The second ones are usually used on the rear axle of medium or small size cars and equally low or intermediate prices.
- Tablets
- Discs
- hoses
- pedals
- Hand brake
- Brake booster
- Drum brakes
Wheels
We end up with the only element that keeps the car in contact with the surface it is driving on: the wheels. These are made up of two or three elements, depending on the type of rim. The tirewhich must always be kept in good condition to maximize its grip, is mounted on the rim.
If it is sheet metal, it will include a hubcap that acts as a trim and protector for it. The alloy wheels do not include hubcaps and allow greater performance, since they are lighter and also more rigid.
- tires
- Tires
- hubcaps
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