Following the energy
From the wall socket to the tarmac, step by step.
You'll learn
- Explain following the energy in plain language
- Recognise the key vocabulary
- Apply the idea to a real vehicle
Overview
Every kilowatt-hour follows the same path: grid, charger, battery, inverter, motor, gearbox, wheels — and back again when you lift off.
In depth
Energy flow simulator
Play the animation, step through it, or switch to regenerative braking to reverse the flow.
1×
Stage 1
Grid
AC electricity from the network.
Stage 2
Charger
Converts and controls the incoming energy.
Stage 3
Battery
Stores energy chemically as DC.
Stage 4
Inverter
DC becomes controlled three-phase AC.
Stage 5
Motor
Electrical energy becomes rotation.
Stage 6
Wheels
Rotation becomes movement.
Energy puzzle
Put the energy chain in order
- 1Battery
- 2Inverter
- 3Wheels
- 4Motor
- 5Grid
- 6Charger
Key takeaways
Remember this
- Energy passes through only a handful of conversions.
- The inverter is the control point for everything you feel.
- Braking reverses the chain instead of wasting energy as heat.
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