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Electric VehiclesElectric vehicles are powered in some capacity by an electric motor, which is used to improve the vehicle’s efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. While nonelectric vehicles ignite an air and fuel mixture within pistons to turn their wheels, EVs use induction motors to conduct electricity and create a rotating magnetic field that powers the rotor, turning the wheels. EVs store electricity in a lithium-ion battery block weighing an average of 900 pounds under the vehicle. Before the discovery of the first oil gusher in Texas in 1901 and the release of the Ford Model T in 1908 (which made gas-powered vehicles drastically more affordable and prevalent), electric cars accounted for more than a third of US automobiles and were a status symbol for the wealthy. Today, millions of EVs are sold worldwide, with most major automakers having committed to significantly reducing or eliminating gas-powered vehicles in the next 20 years.Explore Electric Vehicles

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Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems provide motor sounds in electric vehiclesSince 2019, various global standards have set requirements for these systems, which seek to mimic combustion-engine sounds by meeting specific sonic criteria, including sound pressure, frequency, and pitch. Sound engineers design these systems to meet these requirements, ensuring that passers-by, particularly the blind and visually impaired, can detect the presence of a vehicle. Vox Tesla has incorporated several Easter eggs into its electric vehiclesAfter a customer complained that the car's sounds woke up his baby, Tesla implemented "Joe Mode," which quiets sounds, in his honor. Autopilot can be used to engage a depiction of Rainbow Road from Mario Kart on the navigation screen. Capital One Auto Navigator A pair of engineers began Tesla to prove the viability of electric vehiclesMartin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning sought to design a high-end electric sports car for environmentally motivated, affluent buyers. The Tesla Roadster would be the first highway-legal car to use lithium-ion batteries. 1440 Daily Digest Tesla open-sourced all its patents to speed up industry adoption of electric vehiclesThe company employed a disruptive strategy to transform the transportation market, but early struggles, including leadership shifts and near bankruptcy in 2008, threatened its efforts to bring electric vehicles to the mainstream. Founders Electric vehicles have been around since the 19th centuryThe first EVs ran on rechargeable lead-acid batteries, which could travel 60 to 80 miles on a single charge. Women preferred these vehicles, which were quieter, less smelly, and did not require turning a hand crank to start the engine. 1440 Audi spent over three years developing engine sounds for its electric vehiclesUnlike the sounds made by combustion engines in gas-powered vehicles, electric cars produce no motor sounds. The company's acoustics team worked with composer Rudolf Helpmier to craft an electric-inspired revving sound for its R8 e-tron supercar. Audi Explore a gallery of electric vehicles from before 1920In 1884, Thomas Parker invented the first practical electric car in London. By the turn of the century, early EVs were seen on the streets of Washington, DC. Automaker promotional materials included photographs of cars on mountain roads and other terrains. Library of Congress From 1991 to 2024, lithium-ion battery cell prices have fallen by 99%The decrease from about $10,000 to $50 per kilowatt-hour has been driven by innovations in battery chemistry, improvements in manufacturing and supply chains, and increases in global cumulative production, which have caused average price declines of 19% each time it has doubled. Our World in Data View the five most expensive metals used to make batteriesBefore 2021, when lithium carbonate became the most expensive metal for use in electric vehicle cathodes, cobalt was the most costly battery metal. Of the top five, copper is the only metal not used in cathodes, arguably the most important part of the battery, which determines performance, longevity, and range. Visual Capitalist The widespread need for rechargeable batteries has fueled surging lithium demandAs of 2025, the average person uses 27 times more mined lithium than they did in the 1990s, with the US ranking second globally in consumption despite producing less than 1% of global supply. However, potential alternative materials and boom-and-bust cycles have challenged the profitability of mines and future demand for the mineral. Vox Most data centers rely on the local power grid to feed power-hungry computer equipmentThese facilities house rows of vertical racks containing multiple types of hardware, including servers that provide 24/7 access to online applications, services, and data. In a hyperscale center with thousands of these racks, the annual electricity used is estimated to equal that of 400,000 electric vehicles. AP News The venture capital mindset is shaping the US into a 'portfolio state'For decades, the US has operated as a low-regulation, private-sector-driven, globalized economy (also known as neoliberalism). In recent years, the Trump administration has taken direct stakes (rather than providing subsidies) in private companies with strategic products like semiconductors and rare earths. This paper argues the approach allows the US to capture the upside of growth. Foreign Policy Research Institute Electric vehicle systems run on five key componentsThe system is made up of a charger—converting AC into DC—a battery, a power control unit, motor(s), and a single gear. A complex gearbox is not needed because electric motors are efficient at operating across a range of speeds. CNET Map your next trip along Tesla's Supercharger networkThis community-driven platform—created by Tesla enthusiasts—provides information on site statuses, power levels, and plug types across nearly 8,000 stations worldwide. Supercharge.info Explore a timeline of Tesla through 2025Initially called Tesla Motors, the company was renamed Tesla Inc. in February 2017. Its Model Y became the world's bestselling EV worldwide by the end of 2023, overtaking the Model 3's title from 2020. Officetimeline Bill Nye believes a World War II-level mobilization is needed to end climate changeAs part of his science advocacy efforts, Nye has argued that existing technologies, including electric vehicles and renewable energy, can already significantly reduce emissions. However, switching to these technologies requires a more expansive awareness of the problem and a greater sociopolitical willingness by policymakers and the general public. Quartz Texas is the state with the most energy sector employeesTexas has more than 990,000 individuals in the energy sector—roughly eight out of every 100 workers statewide. Oil and natural gas production account for more than 289,000 workers. USAFacts Despite electric usage concerns, EV charging accounts for less than 1% of grid loadOther popular myths about EVs include battery failure concerns—failure rates are less than 1% on newer models—and that there are no places to charge cars, though both at-home outlets and more than 77,000 stations on the road are available. US EPA Protein content and multiple fermentations create beer foam stabilitySingle-fermentation beers rely on protein viscosity for foam, with lipid transfer proteins transforming into stabilizing structures during fermentation. Scientists believe foam research may result in safer lubricants for electric vehicles. Popular Science A $50 bet led to the first coast-to-coast road tripIn 1903, Dr. Horatio Jackson took a $50 wager that he could drive from San Francisco to New York. Soon after, Jackson and his mechanic set out on the cross-country voyage without a map. They arrived in New York 63 days later. The trip cost them $260K in today’s money. Big Think Hydrogen vehicle adoption has struggled due to high costs and stiff EV competitionDespite features like fast refueling and zero emissions, hydrogen vehicles face significant hurdles in affordability and infrastructure. As of 2025, there are about 200,000 electric vehicle charging stations compared to fewer than 100 hydrogen fuel ones. Donut Media Elon Musk joined Tesla in 2004, investing $30M and becoming chairThe company went public in 2010, raising $226 million in its IPO just two years after beginning production on its first car. Tesla’s first Supercharger stations were launched in 2012 with six locations in California. TheStreet Tesla plans to eliminate the use of rare earth elements in future vehiclesAt a 2023 Investor Day event, Elon Musk outlined steps to focus Tesla's efforts on climate action rather than new vehicle models. Musk estimates the transition to carbon-free, sustainable energy will cost $10T. NPR Take a drone tour of a Tesla factoryThe first of Tesla's large-scale European manufacturing plants for its electric vehicles was opened in Berlin in 2022. It—along with other facilities in Nevada, New York, Texas, and Shanghai—collectively manufactures solar panels, batteries, and other energy collection and storage products. Tesla California startup Rivian has attracted disillusioned Tesla ownersSome electric vehicle buyers frustrated by Elon Musk's antics have been won over by the adventure-focused company, which has received a $5B investment from the Volkswagen Group to develop crossover and hatchback models with solid-state batteries. InsideEVs Since its 2019 reveal, the Cybertruck underwent numerous delays and design changesElon Musk first envisioned the Cybertruck in 2012, with its design inspired by "Blade Runner" and "The Spy Who Loved Me." Semiconductor shortages and battery manufacturing issues made it impossible to manufacture enough vehicles to meet the 250,000 preorders without shifting delivery dates. SlashGear As of January 2025, Tesla is the second best-selling EV company in the worldChinese automaker BYD saw nearly three times as many registrations of electric vehicles as Tesla through the sales of its plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Fellow Chinese competitor Geely sold 12.7% of all BEVs worldwide, surpassing Tesla's 12.4% share during the same period. CleanTechnica Tesla's production of a high-performance electric vehicle revived the EV industryThe Model 3 shifted public perception by showing that EVs could be fast and desirable, and built at scale. However, at one point, Tesla built an entirely manual production line in a tent outside its main factory to keep up with demand. CNBC Over-the-air updates, pioneered by Tesla, have become the industry standardTesla's innovative direct-to-consumer sales model and online ordering system changed car-buying, and the Model S, which had a 200-mile range, forced other automakers to enhance their EV offerings and rethink vehicle design. Consumer Reports BYD Auto is the largest EV maker in China, overtaking TeslaAs of 2023, the company has 40% of the electric vehicle market in China and produces more than 3 million EVs for customers worldwide. Its vertical integration, which includes building its own batteries and cargo ships, has allowed BYD to lower retail costs. CNBC By designing a $35,000 car, Tesla sought to bring EVs into the mainstreamDespite production delays, factory struggles, and skepticism from established carmakers, Tesla reached its goal of making 5,000 Model 3s per week. This achievement marked a turning point, proving that electric vehicles could be scalable to meet increasing demand. Land of the Giants Charging an EV depends on power source, charger type and battery sizeIt takes less time to charge an electric vehicle's battery for Level 3 chargers, which can deliver 80% capacity in as little as 30 minutes. Level 1 chargers can take days. Larger vehicles possess larger batteries that increase charging time, despite often having less range. Car and Driver Growing EV adoption requires battery management infrastructureDespite rechargeable batteries' limited life cycle, companies like Spiers New Technologies have developed methods to repair, refurbish, repurpose and recycle these components to minimize environmental waste, lower demand for new critical minerals, and increase electric vehicle lifetimes. CNBC Nearly 40% of American cars were electric in 1899They were most common in cities, where battery swap stations allowed drivers to "refuel" their vehicles reliably. Innovations in combustion engines caused electric cars to lose ground until environmental policies and advances in battery technology revitalized interest. TED Talks At its peak in 2001, the Toyota Prius made up 77% of the US hybrid vehicle marketCelebrities and early adopters popularized the model, making it a cultural symbol for eco-conscious driving and fuel efficiency. The rise of fully electric vehicles, like Tesla's Model 3, caused the Prius to lose the spotlight. CNBC High fuel prices and fuel shortages revived dormant interest in EVsElectric vehicles, in the form of motorized carriages, predate the invention of the gas-powered automobile by over 40 years. The latter's affordability made it more popular until technological advances made EVs more viable to consumers in the early 2000s. Car and Driver US EV sales grew from 1.4 million vehicles in 2023, to 1.7 million in 2024California, Florida and Texas have the highest number of electric vehicle registrations in the US, while Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia have the lowest. Charging station infrastructure, high costs, and range anxiety contribute to lower adoption rates. MarketWatch Explore a map of every charging station in the US and CanadaAn electric vehicle owner's main fear running out of power before getting to their final destination. Using this interactive, users may identify stations and their charger type to map fuel corridors for EV road trips. U.S. Department of Energy Battery and plug-in hybrid EVs can operate with zero tailpipe emissionsBattery electric vehicles only run on electricity, while plug-in hybrids incorporate a small internal combustion engine that recharges the battery or directly powers the wheels to improve driving range. Fuel cell electric vehicles convert hydrogen gas fuel into electricity. U.S. Department of Transportation The average electric vehicle motor has about 20 moving partsThe simpler design significantly reduces the energy lost to heat compared to the approximately 2,000 parts in a gas-powered car. Pollution is also lower, though an EV's emission profile is only as clean as the electric utility it's plugged into. TED Talks As of 2022, only about 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled globallyTraditional recycling methods have been inadequate for lithium batteries, prompting manufacturers to explore more sustainable battery designs, alongside robotic disassembly and ultrasonic techniques to improve recycling rates. Studies have shown that mining for new lithium requires significantly more water and energy than recycling and results in declining vegetation near mines. BBC Explore the human and environmental resources needed to make an electric vehicleThe minerals needed to build batteries for electric vehicles are expensive and often take a human toll paid by the communities where they are mined. This interactive article details what minerals make up an electric vehicle battery, where they come from, and dangers posed by the mining process. The Washington Post

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