H3
Electric Vehicle
An electric vehicle is driven using a
battery and an electric motor. While
general vehicles use an internal
combustion engine and gasoline as
fuel, electric vehicles use electrical
energy that is charged inside the
high voltage battery. As a result,
electric vehicles are eco-friendly in
that they do not require fuel and do
not emit exhaust gases.
Characteristics of Electric
Vehicles
1. It is driven using the electrical
energy that is charged inside the
high voltage battery. This method
prevents air pollution since fuel,
like gasoline, is not required,
negating the emission of exhaust
gases.
2. A high performance motor is used
in the vehicle as well. Compared
to standard, internal combustion
engine vehicles, engine noise and
vibrations are much more minimal
when driving.
3. When decelerating or driving
downhill, regenerative braking is
utilized to charge the high voltage
battery. This minimizes energy
loss and increases the distance to
empty.
4.When the battery charge is not suf-
ficient, AC charge, DC charge and
trickle charge are available. (Refer
to “Charge Types for Electric
Vehicle” for details.)
Information
What does regenerative braking do?
It uses the electric motor when decel-
erating or braking which transforms
vehicle motion (kinetic energy) to elec-
trical energy to charge the high volt-
age batteries. (Torque is applied in the
opposite direction when decelerating
to generate braking force and electric
energy.)
Battery Information
• The vehicle is composed of a high
voltage battery that drives the
motor and air-conditioner, and an
auxiliary battery (12 V) that drives
the lamps, wipers, and audio sys-
tem.
• The auxiliary battery is automati-
cally charged when the vehicle is in
the ready ( ) mode or the high
voltage battery is being charged.
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