Shocking Electric Car Facts And Your Electric Car Questions Answered

• by Kris Cook
• May 25, 2021
• 16 min read

Looking to impress your friends with interesting/quirky electric car facts?

If your answer was yes, then you’ve come to the right place.

The EV industry as a whole is moving at such a rapid pace; it makes it difficult to keep up at times. Facts and common electric car questions are easily the best way of gaining a basic understanding of electric cars generally.

Besides, you never know when these electric car facts will come in handy.

A wild EV quiz might appear from out of nowhere. Or, a friend might wonder what the fastest electric car in the world is.

Well, with our help, you’ll be answering these questions with complete confidence.

The future is electric; there’s no denying it. So you might as well bone up on your electric car facts while you can before this is common knowledge to everyone.

We’ll begin by looking at some unique electric car facts before breaking down some popular EV questions.

Let’s get moving.

Interesting Electric Car Facts

Electric cars aren’t too different from standard vehicles in a way.

They get you from A to B and mostly look the same, right?

Here’s your first electric car fact: EVs are the next step in the evolution of transport. Advancements in electric vehicle tech has made the market a hot topic and is probably the reason why you’re reading up on electric car facts right now.

Below we’ll be covering everything from the fastest electric car in the world, to green license plates (yep, they’re a thing).

You could call some of these electric car facts shocking (pun intended).

The First Electric Car was Built in 1884

You might believe the electric car market to be a modern phenomenon, but it’s actually been around a lot longer than most might think.

Early models of electric vehicles were manufactured in the early 1830s — looking like futuristic versions of the onion carriage from Cinderella.

One of the first known electric vehicles was created in the 1880s by a British Victorian innovator by the name of Thomas Parker. The man worked on electric tech for quite some time, developing electric tramways and batteries.

His electric car concept had all the potential in the world to be mass-produced and released to the public. However, the rise in gas-powered vehicles at that time brought his work to a halt.

It took over a century later for EVs to make headway once again, which would no doubt put a smile on Parkers face if he was around to see it.

Braking Can Power the Car Battery

Ever heard of regenerative brakes before? Yeah, they’re the hallmark of many electric cars and a way to add more electric miles on the clock.

Think of it like energy recycling.

In short: your electric car generates kinetic energy when it travels and when it slows down. The resulting friction generates enough heat to transfer energy back to the battery to use then and there or store for later.

This is how hybrid EVs charge the battery despite having no plug-in outlet.

Standard petrol cars use similar brake systems. Only the residual energy is mostly wasted — as proven by the power regenerative brakes have on electric cars.

That’s not to say that modern petrol/diesel cars don’t use these systems either. Popular car brands still implement braking systems in modern vehicles, only that energy goes to power ancillary systems within.

Ancillary systems are still just as important, but come on. That’s not the same as directing power straight to the source.

For popular electric cars that feature regenerative brakes, see the following rides:

• Audi e-tron
• Ford Fusion Hybrid
• Nissan Leaf
• Tesla Model 3
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

It’s a lesser-known fact about electric cars because regenerative braking is almost expected at this point, but it’s still worth highlighting.

Norway Is Leading the Charge In Terms of Sales

Call Norway the world’s electric vehicle capital because they lead the number of pure-electric cars sold versus standard petrol types.

In 2020, 54.3% of all new card sold were fully electric. This was a slight increase from 2019 (42.1%). Iceland follows behind in second place at 22.6%.

Norway is ahead of the curve in many ways. For starters, they’re looking to rid roads of fossil-fuel vehicles five years before the UK. Ironic, given how much money the country has made from gas and oil over the years.

China might have a massive foothold over the EV industry. Yet, it’s Norway that’s making real headway from ground level amongst citizens.

They’ll need more charging stations at this rate!

Green License Plates Are a Thing

Identifying zero-emission vehicles when out in the wild can be pretty difficult — unless you’re an avid fan of EV, of course.

What if we told you green license plates were totally a thing?

In countries like Norway, Canada and China, EVs have green license plates to signify a real change when it comes to transportation. Electric cars wear these plates as a badge of honour almost, rallying support amongst fellow EV owners and potential buyers.

The UK followed suit in late 2020. In fact, the first driver to have his plates fitted was the Transport Secretary (Grant Shapps) himself.

Unlike China, the UK plates aren’t all green with a unique gradient. Instead, the plates look nearly identical to regular plates, only there’s a green vertical flash on the left-hand side.

We prefer the very stylised China plates, to be honest.

Which do you prefer?

The Nissan Leaf Has Sold A Ridiculous Number of Units

We can’t have a list of the best electric car facts without mentioning the popularity of the Nissan Leaf.

This all-electric car was released back in 2010 and has sold over 500,000 units worldwide, making it the most successful electric cars there is. The crazy thing is the early iterations of the Leaf continues to be a viable option for buyers despite the competition it now faces.

Tesla will always grab the headlines, but there’s no denying how much of a game-changer this all-electric car was/is. Think about it. The Leaf was released back when electric car hype was in its infancy, and it still came out on top.

Here’s another interesting fact for you: owners of the Nissan Leaf have prevented more than 2.5m tonnes of CO2 tailpipe emissions. It’s also one of the cheapest all-electric options there is (£29,790).

There’s a reason the Leaf is considered the best entry-level ride into the world of EV.

You can actually grab a decent secondhand Nissan Leaf at many reputable car sites if you’re interested. Just remember to read the reviews of each seller in advance.

Electric Cars Have Very Low Maintenance

Fewer moving parts under the hood mean you spend less time in garages and more time on the road.

Look under the hood, and you’ll find no fan belt, no head gaskets, and no spark plugs.

All you’ll find is a chunky battery and a few other parts; nothing to get too worked up on. Electric cars make everything look easy from a performance perspective. For that reason, people believe they’re likely to break down easier — which isn’t the case at all.

You’ll still need to replace lights and tires as normal over time, but the inner workings of each electric car should last for years. Most batteries have a 10 to 20-year life span depending on usage.

Batteries are expensive to replace should something go wrong, too, by the way. Not to convince you against buying an EV. We just thought it was worth mentioning.

It’s the reason why many electric car drivers opt to lease batteries instead of owning them.

Running costs are just as low too. You can charge an electric car fully for as little as £4 — depending on the vehicle. Compare that to how much it costs to fill a car full of petrol, and you’ll see the difference.

Furthermore, you pay no road tax for owning an all-electric vehicle in the UK. However, this rule is subject to change in the coming months, so you might wanna jump on that while you can.

The Fastest Electric Car in the World is a Bullet

You knew this question was coming when you clicked on a feature about electric car facts.

The fastest electric car in the world is the Buckeye Bullet 3, aka, a vehicle you’ll never occupying streets/motorways near you for fear of tearing a hole in the fabric of time and space. And because it was never intended for mass production, of course.

So, how fast is it?

The Buckeye Bullet took to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah back in September of 2016, setting the record for the worlds fastest electric car with a top speed of 342.144mph. It’s the only electric car (if you can call it a car) to break the 300mph speed limit to our knowledge.

The Bullet was made by Ohio State University and electric tech company Venturi. It was built for speed, which is both scary and impressive at the same time.

Speed is on the mind of every electric car brand; they’re all looking to push into pole position.

Right now, the closest street-level car to come close to the Bullet record is the Rimac C-Two. This electric car has 2,300Nm of torque and can travel 258mph, beating the updated Tesla Roadster by a mere 8mph.

Popular Electric Car Questions

Did you find those electric car facts as interesting as we did?

It’s not over yet; we’ve still got to break down your frequently asked electric car questions.

Some of the electric car questions shown below might have pretty obvious answers. Just keep in mind that this will be news to some.

Not everyone is an automatic EV expert; most are playing catch up with the rest of us.

Below we’ll be covering a range of electric car questions in rapid succession; similar to the above section on electric car facts, only the answers are a lot more helpful in the grand scheme of things.

In other words, knowing how fast an electric car can travel doesn’t really serve any real-world benefit, whereas questions on how long it takes to charge an electric car does. The latter could help you make a final decision on a potential EV.

Enjoy.

Are All Electric Cars Automatic?

Right now, every electric car you see is an automatic vehicle. That includes plug-in hybrids, battery EVs and hybrid cars.

Why is that? The answer is simple: they don’t need to be.

Electric cars have streamlined the entire car-making process, making them a joy for you to ride and a joy for manufactures to make, too, from a cost standpoint (for the most part, batteries are still pretty expensive).

You see, EVs have a hell of a lot of torque — or RPM — allowing them to accelerate a lot faster from a stationary position without needing to switch gears.

We meant it when we said electric cars had fewer moving parts.

The less complicated EVs get, the cheaper they’ll be to produce. Meaning car brands could make manual electric cars, but why would they when it’s cheaper not to?

A good 95% of EVs are classed as single gear vehicles. Although some are delving into two-speed gearboxes — like Porsche’s Taycan and the Rimac C-Two (a name we’ve just mentioned in our electric car facts section).

Why Are Electric Cars So Expensive?

A popular question on electric cars.

These vehicles are built for high performance with emphasis on zero emissions. Do you have any idea how much work is required to bring them to life? Research and development could go on for years before some cars even make it to production stages.

Electric car batteries are one of, if not the main reason they’re so expensive, that and the materials needed to craft these futuristic rides.

Metals used in electric car batteries (cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese) are often expensive to get a hold of. This affects everything from how many vehicles are included in production lines to the price of the vehicle itself once it’s ready to release.

Have you ever been inside an electric car before? Or driven one? Honestly, it will change everything you thought you knew about driving; you’ll question why they’re so cheap, to begin with.

Most electric cars sell for around the same price as standard vehicles — especially PHEVs. Prices have dropped significantly in the past few years. Not to mention the growth of the secondhand EV market.

Know that new electric cars will only get cheaper in time once they replace standard petrol/diesel options.

Which Electric Car Has the Longest Range?

Electric range differs from vehicle to vehicle.

Some travel further than others depending on the battery used within. A larger capacity battery does take longer to charge but can travel further distances as a result.

The longest range electric car is the upcoming Long Range Tesla Model S.

So, how far can it travel per charge before needing to stop for some juice? The Model S Long Range can travel 412 miles total (estimated). Another fantastic option for electric range would be the Mustang Mach E (379 miles per charge). Both are rather expensive, then again, what did you expect?

Electric range is another hot topic in terms of popular electric car questions. However, the average electric range of most vehicles should be more than enough to get you where you need to go.

Range is like speed in that it is entirely situational. If you only travel 30 miles or so to get to work every day, and rarely stray far, then why would you pay more for an EV with better range?

How Long Does it Take to Charge?

Using a rapid charger, you can add 100 miles of range to an EV in around 35 minutes.

If you’re lucky enough to own the Tesla Model S, you can charge your car fully in under an hour by using a 150kW charger.

Rapid chargers are great for when you need some juice quickly. However, not every car is built to handle this type of charger. Meaning you could damage the battery indefinitely if you use it to charge your vehicle constantly.

Having a fast charger installed at home is a much safer bet.

All you need do is plug your car in overnight to wake up with an EV that’s good to go. You’ll find two types of fast chargers out there — a 7kW version and a much stronger 22kW alternative. The latter tends to be reserved for public charging points, but it is possible to find home kits — as long as you meet the outlined requirements.

Slow chargers (3kW), on the other hand, take a lot longer than all the rest. Some take up to 24 hours. Even the Nissan Leaf, a car known for quick charging, will take 12 hours to top up.

Here’s an interesting electric car fact for you: car chargers will slow down after the 80% mark to prevent the battery from overheating.

Furthermore, studies have shown electric car batteries take longer to charge in cold temperatures.

Be sure to keep that in mind as we head into colder seasons.

What’s the Difference Between Hybrid and All-Electric Cars?

All-electric cars run on a lithium-ion battery and nothing else to run. Hybrids tend to bend that rule slightly, in that they’re only part electric.

In other words, you’ll still need to make trips to a petrol station regularly.

Hybrids are just as advanced as all-electric vehicles. The only downside is they still release carbon emissions via the tailpipe, whereas all-electric vehicles emit zero emissions at all.

Which you choose will come down to personal preferences. After all, all-electric range is still a cause for concern to some buyers. It’s why so many have opted to buy a plug-in hybrid; to feel like they’re part of the electric revolution whilst guaranteeing range.

Most electric cars can go the distance, but we can understand buying on the side of caution.

Are Electric Cars Noisy?

Electric cars are virtually noiseless, which has led to criticism and praise across the board.

You see, combustion engine vehicles are loud, like really loud. Whereas the only sounds you’ll hear in an electric car are from the tyres moving or wind resistance running off the edges of the vehicle, if you’re lucky.

Open-minded drivers love it, and classic car fans hate it. The debate is ongoing, but it has led to some interesting points. Such as, is a noiseless car safe?

Think about it.

What’s stopping pedestrians from walking out into roads blindly because they thought it was safe to cross?

Granted, you’d always look left and right (at least, we do), but we’re speaking hypothetically here to raise an interesting point.

Electric cars are so quiet, the EU implemented a law that says all EVs need to make a sound at speeds of up to 12.4mph. This makes it a lot easier for fellow drivers to know when a car is speeding up and slowing down.

It probably helps new owners of these EVs too. After all, adjusting to an electric ride can take time.

Final Question: Can you drive an electric car in the rain?

No, the car will shrink.

We’re joking.

Of course, you can drive an electric car in wet weather; they’d be pretty useless if they couldn’t.

Electric cars can drive through puddles, too, if you’re wondering, just like standard petrol/diesel vehicles. The amount of water an electric car can drive through is generally mentioned in your vehicle handbook in the ‘Wading Depth’ section.

We’d advise against driving an electric car through flooded roads, but you didn’t need us to tell you that. And that’s a universal rule, really, one that applies to any vehicle on the road — emissions-free or otherwise.

In Short: Shocking Electric Car Facts and Your Electric Car Questions Answered

We hope you found our shocking electric car facts insightful and the answers to popular electric car questions helpful.

We’re at a point now where we know enough about EV to assume it’s here for the long run. This isn’t just some fancy tech trend — *cough* Segways *cough*. No, electric cars are the future of transport, as we’ve said.

Expect new electric car-related questions to present themselves as the tech develops.

“Do flying electric cars exist today?” Is a popular question on Google already, so you can imagine the types of questions we’ll see at a later date.

So, who will you be sharing these shocking electric car facts with first, then?

Did we miss your question? Feel free to ask us anything electric-car related on social media.

Kris Cook

Hey, I’m Kris, a Junior Content Strategist at E4TP. At the moment I live in the world of EVs, keeping up on current trends in the space, and delivering quality content. I’m a creative type both inside and outside of work, in that I write poetry in my spare time, design independent zines, and paint. When I’m not knee deep in any of that, I collect vinyl (my collection has around 150 LPs in it), and enjoy spending time with pals outdoors, mostly on a bike — or in another country.

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