Electric Vehicles (known as E.V.s) — are rising in popularity due to their environmentally-friendly appeal. In 2017 there were around 65,000 EVs sold in the U.S. That number skyrocketed to over 1.4 million EV’s in the U.S. in 2024. That’s a staggering jump in sales. Many people jumped on the bandwagon early, but have since jumped ship back over to Hybrid or Gas-powered vehicles. One question many people still have is, “Do Electric Vehicles Have Engines”?
Do Electric Vehicles Have Engines?
No, EVs do not have internal-combustion engines like their fuel-powered counterparts. Engines are a mechanical requirement to power a fuel-based motor vehicle. But for EVs, they aren’t needed. Instead, they use an electric motor paired with a backup battery pack for storage.
How Far Can Electric Vehicles Travel On One Charge?
According to Tesla, the average travel distance for a single charge on a Tesla Model Y is around 330 miles. That’s comparable but still a little short of the average travel distance for gas-powered vehicles which sits around 380. But, it’s not nearly as efficient as Hybrid vehicles, which can travel over 500 miles on one tank.
What is a Hybrid Vehicle?
Hybrid vehicl motors combine battery packs with an internal-combustion engine, use energy conducted from various mechanical elements including friction from the brakes, then store the energy in a batter pack. However, when the gas pedal is being pressed, it switches back to the fuel exchange to power the vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles often offer the longest travel distances compared to purely electric vehicles and even fully gas-powered vehicles. For that reason, they tend to be a popular choice amongst consumers but still commonly misunderstood.