How an Electric Car Works in 3D: Battery, Motors and Exploded View
An electric car has no petrol engine at all. A big battery under the floor powers electric motors that turn the wheels. In the 3D Machine Anatomy simulator you can spin the car around, open the cutaway to see what is inside and blow it apart to see every part.
Explore in 3DThree ways to see the electric car
Whole machine
Exploded viewElectric Car quick facts
| Power source | A large rechargeable battery |
|---|---|
| Battery position | Flat under the floor |
| Moves with | Electric motors |
| Gears | Usually a single gear |
| Exhaust | None |
Inside the electric car
Open the cutaway and you find a flat battery pack filling the floor between the wheels, made of thousands of small cells. Electric motors near the wheels turn the car, a power unit controls how much electricity they get, and a charging port lets you fill the battery from a plug.
Main parts of the electric car
The main parts you can see in the cutaway and exploded views:
- Battery pack
- A large flat battery under the floor stores the electricity that powers the car.
- Electric motors
- Spin using magnets and electricity instead of burning fuel.
- Power electronics
- Control how much power flows from the battery to the motors.
- Charging port
- Where you plug in to fill the battery with electricity.
Interesting facts about the electric car
- An electric car has far fewer moving parts than a petrol car.
- Its motors spin using magnets and electricity, with no explosions inside.
- When it slows down, the motors can work in reverse and put energy back into the battery. This is called regenerative braking.
- Most electric cars use a single gear, so there is no gear changing.
- The heavy battery sits low under the floor, which helps the car feel steady on corners.
More machines coming soon
Car, Motorbike, Bicycle, Jet Plane, Helicopter, Drone, Steam Locomotive, Submarine, Rocket, Rocket Engine, Wind Turbine, Camera, Mechanical Clock, Toilet, Door Lock.
Electric Car anatomy questions
How does an electric car work?
A large battery sends electricity to one or more electric motors, which turn the wheels. You recharge the battery by plugging the car in.
Where is the battery in an electric car?
Usually in a flat pack under the floor, between the front and back wheels.
What is regenerative braking?
When the car slows down, the motors act like generators and send energy back into the battery.
Do electric cars have gears?
Most have a single gear, because electric motors can spin efficiently over a wide range of speeds.
Compare: Engine vs Motor: What Is the Difference?
The 3D Machine Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.