An electric car is a car that is powered by rechargeable electrical batteries rather than gasoline or other fuel. These batteries are recharged by plugging them into a power source, hence the nickname "plug-in electric." Electric cars are operated by electric motors and their controllers as opposed to gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.  Electric cars differ from hybrids in that hybrids are powered by both electricity and gasoline.

 

Electric cars drive differently than their gasoline-powered counterparts. Electric cars run very quietly and can accelerate much quicker from a stop than gas-powered cars do. While they are much cheaper to operate and can be recharged at home nightly, electric cars take longer to recharge and do not go as far on a full charge compared to traditional fueled cars. Electric motors do not possess as much horsepower as some engines do, but they also do not exude tailpipe emissions.

 

Electric cars have been in existence since the late 1800s. Although they established a market niche in the early 1900s, their popularity waned by the 1920s due to their poor fuel economy and sluggish speed. It was not until the late 1990s and early 2000s that hybrid cars were introduced into the market and began enjoying a surge in popularity. This paved the way for all-electric cars to come back into the vogue and enjoy public popularity. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)