Electric Car and EV Basics

An electric car swaps the engine, fuel tank and gearbox for a battery, a motor and a controller. Knowing the chain lets you explain every cost and limit later.

• Energy flows battery to controller to motor to wheels; braking sends some energy back to the battery.
• A motor gives full pull from a standstill, so the car feels quick and quiet with one gear.
• A small battery runs lights, screens and cooling; the traction battery drives the wheels.
• Fewer moving parts means fewer routine services, but tyres, brakes and suspension still wear.

Activity. Draw the energy chain for one named EV type and mark the loss at each step.

Standard to meet. Complete the chain in order, show losses as percentages, and explain regenerative braking in one sentence.

The battery is the costliest and most sensitive part. A buyer must read its size, health and warranty.

• Capacity is in kWh; usable capacity is lower than the headline number.
• Heat, deep discharge and constant fast charging age the battery faster.
• Warranty usually states years or kilometres and a minimum health level.
• Cold weather cuts range temporarily; hot weather speeds ageing.

Activity. Read a sample warranty and list capacity, health level, years and kilometre limit.

Standard to meet. Extract all four facts correctly and write one question for the seller.

Time to charge depends on power. Home, work and route charging suit different users.

• Time in hours = energy needed / charging power, with about 10 per cent loss.
• Slow home points give 2 to 7 kW; fast route chargers give 50 kW and more.
• Cars limit their own intake as the battery fills, so the last 20 per cent is slow.
• Match the charging place to where the car sits longest.

Activity. Calculate charging time for one user at home and at a route charger.

Standard to meet. Show both times with the formula and the 10 per cent loss; choose the right place and give a reason.

Compare fairly: energy, servicing, insurance, tax and the price difference.

• Cost per km = price per unit of energy x energy per km.
• Add servicing, insurance, tax and parking for both cars.
• Include purchase price difference and how many years the user will keep the car.
• State clearly what is a measured number and what is an assumption.

Activity. Build a five-year cost table for one EV and one petrol car.

Standard to meet. Add up the totals, list the assumptions, and state the break-even year.

Label range is measured in set conditions. Real range moves with speed, load, weather and use of air conditioning.

• Highway speed and cold weather cut range most.
• Heavy loads and hills use more energy; downhill braking gives some back.
• Plan with a margin: use about 80 per cent of label range.
• Check route chargers before long trips.

Activity. Plan one trip and decide if a stop is needed.

Standard to meet. Apply the margin, consider the weather, and name in the stop plan where and how long.

High voltage needs respect, from driver to emergency crew.

• Orange cables usually mark high voltage; only trained people work on them.
• Cars have isolation systems that disconnect the battery in a crash.
• Never charge with damaged cables or in standing water.
• Fire services need clear information on the car type and battery position.

Activity. Write a ten-line safety card for a new owner.

Standard to meet. Cover charging, damage, flooding and what to tell responders on the card, in plain words.

A battery is still valuable when it can no longer power a car.

• Below about 70 to 80 per cent health a car battery may serve as home or shop storage.
• Recycling recovers metals; collect through approved centres only.
• Ask the maker or seller about take-back.
• Never dismantle at home.

Activity. Write a three-step plan for a battery at the end of its car life.

Standard to meet. Plan names reuse, recycling route and who is responsible.

Bring the work together as one honest sheet for a named user.

• Start with the user: distance, budget, parking, charging access.
• Show the cost table, range plan and charging plan.
• State one risk and one limit in plain words.
• End with a clear recommendation and what would change it.

Activity. Produce the full one-page advice sheet.

Standard to meet. Include all parts, keep numbers consistent, and check that a reader can act on it without help.

L1: learner can name EV parts. Focus module: How an electric vehicle works (Understand, 3 h). An electric car swaps the engine, fuel tank and gearbox for a battery, a motor and a controller. Knowing the chain lets you explain every cost and limit later. Key points: Energy flows battery to controller to motor to wheels; braking sends some energy back to the battery. A motor gives full pull from a standstill, so the car feels quick and quiet with one gear. A small battery runs lights, screens and cooling; the traction battery drives the wheels. Fewer moving parts means fewer routine services, but tyres, brakes and suspension still wear.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A 60 kWh car uses about 15 kWh per 100 km. The motor turns about 90 per cent of battery energy into motion; a petrol engine turns about 30 per cent of fuel energy into motion. Then set the activity: Draw the energy chain for one named EV type and mark the loss at each step. Mark against the standard: Complete the chain in order, show losses as percentages, and explain regenerative braking in one sentence. Check at this level: What does regen braking do? Model answer: Returns some energy to the battery.

L2: learner knows safety basics. Focus module: Batteries (Understand, 3 h). The battery is the costliest and most sensitive part. A buyer must read its size, health and warranty. Key points: Capacity is in kWh; usable capacity is lower than the headline number. Heat, deep discharge and constant fast charging age the battery faster. Warranty usually states years or kilometres and a minimum health level. Cold weather cuts range temporarily; hot weather speeds ageing.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A battery with 60 kWh capacity and 90 per cent health holds 54 kWh. A warranty to 70 per cent health after 8 years is a better promise than a warranty with no health level. Then set the activity: Read a sample warranty and list capacity, health level, years and kilometre limit. Mark against the standard: Extract all four facts correctly and write one question for the seller. Check at this level: Name a battery ageing factor. Model answer: Heat or frequent fast charging.

L3: learner can calculate charge times. Focus module: Charging levels and time (Apply, 4 h). Time to charge depends on power. Home, work and route charging suit different users. Key points: Time in hours = energy needed / charging power, with about 10 per cent loss. Slow home points give 2 to 7 kW; fast route chargers give 50 kW and more. Cars limit their own intake as the battery fills, so the last 20 per cent is slow. Match the charging place to where the car sits longest.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Adding 30 kWh at 7 kW takes 30 / 7 x 1.1 = 4.7 hours, so overnight home charging fits. At 50 kW the same energy takes about 40 minutes. Then set the activity: Calculate charging time for one user at home and at a route charger. Mark against the standard: Show both times with the formula and the 10 per cent loss; choose the right place and give a reason. Check at this level: Charging time formula? Model answer: Energy / power plus losses.

L4: learner can compare costs. Focus module: Running cost comparison (Analyse, 4 h). Compare fairly: energy, servicing, insurance, tax and the price difference. Key points: Cost per km = price per unit of energy x energy per km. Add servicing, insurance, tax and parking for both cars. Include purchase price difference and how many years the user will keep the car. State clearly what is a measured number and what is an assumption.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A user drives 12,000 km a year. Electric: 15 kWh per 100 km at 8 per kWh costs 1.2 per km, 14,400 a year. Petrol: 6 litres per 100 km at 100 per litre costs 6 per km, 72,000 a year. The saving is 57,600 a year. Then set the activity: Build a five-year cost table for one EV and one petrol car. Mark against the standard: Add up the totals, list the assumptions, and state the break-even year. Check at this level: EV running cost steps? Model answer: kWh per 100 km x price per kWh.

L5: learner can plan trips. Focus module: Real-world range (Evaluate, 3 h). Label range is measured in set conditions. Real range moves with speed, load, weather and use of air conditioning. Key points: Highway speed and cold weather cut range most. Heavy loads and hills use more energy; downhill braking gives some back. Plan with a margin: use about 80 per cent of label range. Check route chargers before long trips.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A car with 400 km label range gives about 320 km usable. In winter on a highway it may give 250 km. A 280 km trip needs a charging stop. Then set the activity: Plan one trip and decide if a stop is needed. Mark against the standard: Apply the margin, consider the weather, and name in the stop plan where and how long. Check at this level: What affects range? Model answer: Speed, temperature, load, hills.

L6: learner can coordinate a fleet. Focus module: Battery end of life (Evaluate, 3 h). A battery is still valuable when it can no longer power a car. Key points: Below about 70 to 80 per cent health a car battery may serve as home or shop storage. Recycling recovers metals; collect through approved centres only. Ask the maker or seller about take-back. Never dismantle at home.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A battery at 72 per cent health still stores 43 kWh from a 60 kWh pack. It can back up a small shop for years before recycling. Then set the activity: Write a three-step plan for a battery at the end of its car life. Mark against the standard: Plan names reuse, recycling route and who is responsible. Check at this level: Name an end-of-life option. Model answer: Second life or recycling.

L7: learner can audit advice. Focus module: Write the advice sheet (Create, 3 h). Bring the work together as one honest sheet for a named user. Key points: Start with the user: distance, budget, parking, charging access. Show the cost table, range plan and charging plan. State one risk and one limit in plain words. End with a clear recommendation and what would change it.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. For a user with home parking, 30 km daily trips and one 300 km trip a month, the sheet recommends the EV and a hire car or a charging stop for the long trip. Then set the activity: Produce the full one-page advice sheet. Mark against the standard: Include all parts, keep numbers consistent, and check that a reader can act on it without help. Check at this level: What should the advice sheet end with? Model answer: A clear recommendation and what would change it.