An electric vehicle is a coordinated electrical, mechanical, thermal, and software system. This beginner course follows energy from the charging connection to the traction battery, power electronics, electric motor, reduction gear, and wheels. It also explains regenerative braking, onboard charging, low-voltage power, thermal management, software controls, diagnostics, and the safety boundaries that learners must respect around high-voltage equipment. A dedicated conversion segment shows how these same subsystems must be integrated when an existing combustion vehicle is converted to electric propulsion.
Learning objective: Trace the main energy path through a battery-electric vehicle during charging, acceleration, cruising, and slowing.
Learning objective: Describe the traction battery as a managed system rather than a single container of electricity.
Learning objective: Explain how controlled electrical power becomes motor torque and wheel motion.
Learning objective: Distinguish the components that charge the traction battery from those that power the vehicle's low-voltage equipment.
Learning objective: Explain how an electric motor can recover energy during slowing and why mechanical brakes remain essential.
Learning objective: Describe why temperature control is central to EV performance, charging, comfort, durability, and safety.
Learning objective: Recognize how software and electronic controllers coordinate the EV as one system.
Learning objective: Integrate the major EV components into a complete operating sequence, explain how the same subsystems are assembled in a conversion, and identify safety and professional boundaries.
