The New Childrens Encyclopedia

258

Electric cars

Most cars use gasoline, made from oil, which

causes pollution and adds to global warming.

Oil supplies are running out, too. That’s why

car designers are turning to electric engines,

which can use energy from cleaner sources.

HONDA FCX CLARITY

This might look like an ordinary car but it’s powered

in what could be a much cleaner way. In a normal

car, the engine burns gasoline, releases energy, and

makes pollution. But in this car the fuel tank is

replaced by a kind of battery called a hydrogen fuel

cell. This takes hydrogen from a tank and oxygen

from the air, reacts them together, and produces

electricity. The only waste product is steam, so if the

hydrogen comes from a clean source there is no

pollution at all.

 Open the hood of an electric car

and you won’t find a gas engine.

Instead, there’s an electric motor

(shown below in a cutaway).

4

5

2 3

TAKE A LOOK: HOW IT WORKS

The hydrogen tank stores enough fuel to power

the car for 280 miles (450 km).

The fuel cell chemically reacts hydrogen from the

tank with oxygen from the air to make electricity.

The rechargeable battery stores energy released when

the car brakes and helps the fuel cell power the car.

The power drive unit works like a gearbox. It makes

more electricity flow from the battery to the motor.

1

2

3

4

TECHNOLOGY

1

5 The electric motor is light and compact and

turns the front wheels to drive the car along.

Axle drives

Stationary right wheel

part of motor

Drive shaft

turns axles

Copper coils Electric motor

of motor

Axle drives

left wheel

Gears make car

wheels turn at

right speed

Turning part of motor