How do electric cars work?

Electric cars move by sending stored battery power to a motor. Inside the motor, electricity makes magnetic forces that turn a shaft connected to the wheels. Pressing the pedal asks for more current, so the motor turns harder and the car speeds up.

A neat extra happens when the car slows. The turning wheels can make the motor act like a generator, sending some energy back into the battery instead of losing it all as heat. That trick is called regenerative braking, and kids often notice it feels smooth.