Anatomy & systems

Electric car · Battery-electric passenger cars shifting the car from oil pumps to power grids.

Every electric car is a stack of systems that must agree under load, weather and regulation.

Meters below are relative within this atlas; hotspots name the parts riders and engineers argue about first.

Systems

Structure

The structure of a electric car sets limits on performance, upkeep and passenger experience.

Propulsion

The propulsion of a electric car sets limits on performance, upkeep and passenger experience.

Energy store

The energy store of a electric car sets limits on performance, upkeep and passenger experience.

Control

The control of a electric car sets limits on performance, upkeep and passenger experience.

Passenger interface

The passenger interface of a electric car sets limits on performance, upkeep and passenger experience.

Safety systems

The safety systems of a electric car sets limits on performance, upkeep and passenger experience.

Relative meters

74
Power density
86
Energy thrift
62
Ease of use
72
Crash / fail soft
78
Cultural charge
94
Tech churn
Power density
Power density: relative 74/100 for electric car.
Energy thrift
Energy thrift: relative 86/100 for electric car.
Ease of use
Ease of use: relative 62/100 for electric car.
Crash / fail soft
Crash / fail soft: relative 72/100 for electric car.
Cultural charge
Cultural charge: relative 78/100 for electric car.
Tech churn
Tech churn: relative 94/100 for electric car.

Hotspots

Primary structure

Frames, hulls, fuselages or beams that carry static and dynamic loads.

Propulsion core

Engines, motors, rotors or sails that produce useful motion.

Energy path

Fuel tanks, batteries, catenary or cables that feed propulsion.

Human interface

Controls, cabins, decks or cockpits where people command the vehicle.

Protection layer

Brakes, redundancy, life-support or crash structures that buy time when something fails.

Materials

Structural metals

Steel and aluminium alloys remain common where cost and reparability matter.

Composites

Carbon and glass fibre cut weight when certification and inspection keep pace.

Polymers & elastomers

Seals, tyres, fairings and interiors manage weather, vibration and touchpoints.

Conductors & semiconductors

Wiring, power electronics and sensors turn raw power into controllable motion.

Keep exploring

More in Road