Electric Car Conversion Definitions (Glossary)

When doing an Electric Car Conversion, knowing the definitions and words used in the industry will greatly assist you in getting the job done. This will help you understand what suppliers are telling you and also you will be able to ask questions using industry terms.

• AC: Alternating Current, a form of electrical current where the voltage polarity osculates  from positive to negative to positive (and repeating itself) like a sinus wave.
• AC Motor: an electric motor whose power source is from electrical alternating current.
• AGM Battery:
• Alternating Current (AC): See AC definition.
• Amps: In the context of electricity, it is an abbreviation for amperes which is a unit of measurement for current. In audio equipment, amps is often an abbreviation for amplifier.
• Battery: In electrical contexts, it is stored chemical energy in electrochemical cells that converts to electrical energy on demand.
• BLDC motor: Brushless Direct Current motor. See Brushless motor definition for more information.
• Brushless motor: An electric motor where brushes are not used. Instead, they have an electronic commutation system, usually controlled by a microprocessor.
• CAN Bus: Controller Area Network Bus, sometimes known as CAN is a protocol for microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other.  It was originally developed by Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany in 1983 for automotive use and so that no host computer was required, a bit like a peer to peer computer set up.
• CCA: Cold Cranking Amps. For a new fully charged battery, this is a measure of how many Amperes the battery can deliver for 30 seconds at -18 degrees Celsius  whilst each cell of the battery maintains 1.2 volts or more.
• Circuit Breaker: An electrical switch that automatically opens (breaks the circuit) when a preset threshold is reached such as a circuit overload or a short circuit.
• Clutch: In drive train automotive contexts, it is a mechanical device that sits between the engine and the gearbox which permits engine power to be transferred to the gearbox/transmission.
• Clutchless: In electric vehicle contexts, it is when the clutch (as defined above) is omitted during manufacture or conversion of a vehicle to be driven by an electric motor.
• Controller: In the context of electric cars and electric vehicles, it usually refers to Motor Controllers.
• Current: In electrical contexts, it is a measure of the rate of flow of electrical charge.

• DC: Direct Current, which is the one way direction of current flow.
• DC Motor: An electric motor whose power source is derived from Direct Current electricity.
• Direct Current (DC): See DC.
• Fuse: In electrical contexts, it is a device which melts when a threshold current is reached. It is used as a protection mechanism to prevent  a circuit from suffering an electrical overload or from excessive current entering an electrical circuit component.
• Gearbox: A device that transmits power.
• Hybrid: In electrical car contexts, it is a vehicle that has 2 sources of motors combined. Typical combinations are Internal Combustion Engines mated with an Electric Motor.
• ICE: Internal Combustion Engine, when a fuel reacts with an oxidant inside a chamber resulting in heat & pressure. The pressure is used to move a component which results in mechanical energy.
• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE): See ICE definition.
• Induction Motor: a category of Alternating Current Motor where the rotor turns due to magnetic induction applied to it.
• Lead Acid Battery: a cell or battery whose electrodes are lead and lead oxide immersed in a Sulfuric Acid electrolyte, when charged.
• LiFePO4: Lithium Iron Phosphate.
• Lithium Ion Battery: also known as LIB or Li-ion, a category of rechargeable battery that has Lithium ions migrate to the positive electrode when being used (ie. discharged). When recharged, the Lithium ions migrate to the negative electrode. It has very good energy density compared to Lead Acid Batteries.
• Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery: also known as LiFePO4 or LFP, is a category of Lithium-ion  rechargeable battery where the cathode is made of LiFePO4  material.
• Motor Controller: a device to control electric motors ranging from speed, torque, start up and running.
• Nickel Cadmium Battery: also known as Nicad, is a category of rechargeable battery.
• Nickel Metal Hydride Battery: also known as NiMH, is a category of rechargeable battery.
• Ohm’s Law: current travelling between 2 points of a conductor will have a voltage across those 2 points in proportion to the current and resistance inversely proportional to the current. ie.  Current = Voltage / Resistance.
• Parallel Hybrid: An electric motor and internal combustion engine (ICE) [gasoline, diesel or gas motor] are connected to the transmission of the vehicle. The electric motor and the internal combustion motor can be used to drive the wheels of the vehicle. The electric motor can act as  a generator to charge the batteries under certain conditions.
• Peukert: This is a value that is used in calculating the true capacity or discharge time of a battery. Every type of battery has a particular Peukert constant which is determined by battery materials used and the age of battery can affect the Peukert constant. To apply this value, use the formula (known as Peukert’s law) C_p = Ikt where C_p is the discharge rate of a battery in Ampere Hours (Ah) at a given current I (in Amperes), k is the Peukert constant of the battery and t is the time of discharge in hours (h).
• PMSM: Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor.
• PWM: Pulse Width Modulation, also called Pulse Duration Modulation. This is a digital method for controlling power to electrical devices. The power output is in the form of a square wave.
• Range Extender: Device used to increase the driving range of an electric vehicle. Typically a range extender is an internal combustion engine (ICE) which turns a generator to charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. They are sometimes known as a series hybrid.
• RC: Reserve Capacity. For a new fully charged 12 volt battery, this is a measure of how many minutes the battery can supply 25 Amps whilst maintaining a voltage above 10.5 volts.
• Resistance: in the context of electricity, it is the opposition of current.
• Series Hybrid: The electric motor is used to propel the vehicle. The internal combustion motor (ICE) is not connected to the transmission or driving wheels of the vehicle, but used solely to charge the batteries. Sometimes the ICE used to charge the batteries is known as a range extender.
• Series Motor: Electric motor where filed windings are connected in series to armature of motor.
• Shunt Motor: Electric motor where field windings are connected in parallel to armature of motor.
• Traction Battery: Battery used to power the electric motor to move the electric car.
• Traction Motor: Electric motor used to move the electric car.
• Vacuum Pump: A contraption that removes gas particles, thus creating an absence of gas particles which creates a vacuum.
• Vector Control: A method for motor controllers to control 3 phase AC (Alternating Current) Electric Motors. It typically relies on feedback from the Electric Motor so that the controller can accurately send appropriate current and voltage to the appropriate phase of the Electric Motor at the appropriate time.
• Volt: is a measure of electrical pressure.
• Voltage: is the electrical pressure or potential difference between 2 points.

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