Feel the burn: why EVs are more efficient than any fuel-burning car

With Britain wanting to achieve net zero by 2050, electric vehicles (EVs) have started to dominate roads! Their low running costs, minimal CO2 emissions, and ever-improving performance are just a few reasons that more and more people are becoming attracted to the electric world! 

Let’s delve deeper into why they can enhance your driving experience while being kind to the planet and your wallet!

Motoring on…

Let’s start with EV motor efficiency! 

EVs convert electricity straight into movement! This makes them more efficient than conventional cars which have to burn fuel, generating heat, and then convert that heat into motion. 

Did you know that EVs can be more than 70% efficient from the moment they’re turned on, with some models even reaching 90%! This allows EVs to operate effectively across a range of speeds as they adapt to driving conditions without losing masses of energy. 

Even the best diesel engine, fully warmed, struggles to get to 40% efficiency. In other words, a conventional car wastes well over half the energy in its fuel, pretty bad right? 

Brake brake!

Let’s have a look at how the braking system varies between an EV and a conventional car… 

Conventional car: 

• Regenerative braking- the energy from braking simply turns into heat and gets wasted, massively reducing efficiency! 
• Torque- conventional petrol cars have less torque at low speeds as their engine has to rev higher to produce more power. 
• Heat buildup- they generate a LOT of heat from friction, causing brake fade which MASSIVELY reduces effectiveness. 
• Braking control- they use hydraulic brakes which can reduce control during braking. This makes it more difficult to maintain stability and traction
• Maintenance- they experience more wear on their brakes because they rely on friction braking, leading to larger maintenance bills!

EVs:

• Regenerative braking- EVs use regenerative braking to capture energy that would otherwise be lost while braking, and turn it back into electricity. This saved energy can then be stored in the battery to be used later!
• Torque- they provide instant torque, allowing for smoother and more responsive braking.
• Heat buildup- they rely less on friction brakes, meaning less heat buildup and longer lasting brakes! 
• Braking control- they use advanced electronics to optimise braking force, improving stability and control. This helps maintain traction and handling… a helpful feature in the rainy UK!
• Maintenance- since regenerative braking helps prevents wear and tear on traditional brakes, EVs generally need less frequent brake maintenance.

Overall, an EV can be two to three times more efficient than a conventional car when braking!

Charging Up… 

No matter how you decide to charge your EV, it’ll always produce fewer harmful emissions than a conventional car… use low-carbon electricity and there simply isn’t a contest!

Relying on electric charging points will leave a smaller dent in your wallet in the long run! Find out more about the exact costs and savings of owning and running an EV.

If you want to be even more environmentally friendly, charge up your EV by generating your own renewable, zero emission electricity! This way, you can really minimise the environmental impact of using a car. Discover how you can generate energy at home. 

Your journey to all things electric 

As the UK’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we’re here to get you on the road to net zero! 

We’ve got everything you need to go electric, from EV leasing deals and home charging points to zero carbon electricity EV tariffs! Through understanding why EVs are more efficient than any fuel-burning car, joining the road to net zero has never been easier. So, what are you waiting for? Join EDF today and help Britain achieve net zero by 2050!