An engine is the heart of a vehicle, and every vehicle has a different type of engine. The two most popular types of engines used in cars are the traditional termic engine and the modern electric engine.
The termic engine has been around for over a century, and it still dominates the automotive industry. However, in recent years, the electric engine has gained popularity due to its efficiency and environmentally-friendly nature.
In this article, we will discuss how a termic car engine works versus an electric engine and compare their technical details.
How a Termic Engine Works
A termic engine, also known as an internal combustion engine, works by burning fuel inside a chamber to generate energy. There are four main components of an termic engine: the cylinder, piston, crankshaft, and camshaft. The fuel is burned inside the cylinder, which creates pressure that pushes the piston down. The movement of the piston is transferred to the crankshaft, which converts it into rotational energy that powers the car.
The termic engine is further classified into two types: gasoline and diesel engines. Gasoline engines use spark plugs to ignite the fuel mixture, while diesel engines use compression to ignite the fuel mixture.
Gasoline engines are more commonly used in cars, and they are more fuel-efficient than diesel engines. They are also quieter and smoother in operation. However, they produce more emissions than diesel engines and require more maintenance.
On the other hand, diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and produce less emissions than gasoline engines. They are also more durable and require less maintenance. However, they are noisier and produce more vibrations than gasoline engines.
How an Electric Engine Works
An electric engine works differently from an termic engine. It uses electrical energy stored in a battery to power an electric motor that turns the wheels of the car. The electric motor consists of two main components: the stator and the rotor. The stator is a stationary part that generates a magnetic field, and the rotor is a rotating part that has a permanent magnet. When electricity flows through the stator, it creates a magnetic field that interacts with the rotor, causing it to rotate.
Electric engines have several advantages over termic engines. They are more efficient, producing more power from the same amount of energy. They also produce zero emissions, making them environmentally-friendly. Additionally, they are quieter and smoother in operation and require less maintenance.
However, electric engines also have some disadvantages. They are more expensive than termic engines and require a charging infrastructure to support them. They also have limited range and take longer to charge than it takes to refuel a termic car.
Technical Details Comparison
Now that we understand how an termic engine and an electric engine work, let’s compare their technical details.
Fuel Efficiency: Electric engines are more fuel-efficient than termic engines. An electric car can travel more miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy than a termic car can travel per gallon of fuel.
Power Output: Termic engines produce more power than electric engines. A high-performance gasoline engine can produce over 400 horsepower, while an electric car’s maximum power output is typically between 200-300 horsepower.
Emissions: Electric engines produce zero emissions, while termic engines produce emissions that are harmful to the environment. However, the emissions produced by termic engines have been reduced through the use of catalytic converters and other emission control systems.
Maintenance: Electric engines require less maintenance than termic engines since they have fewer moving parts. They do not require oil changes, tune-ups, or timing belt replacements. However, the battery and charging system require maintenance.
Cost: Electric cars are more expensive than termic cars, but the cost of ownership can be lower over the vehicle’s lifetime due to lower fuel and maintenance costs.