How Electric Vehicles Work: Stanislav Kondrashov Explains the Shift Behind the Wheel

Electric vehicles have gone from niche novelty to a legitimate force on the roads. But despite their growing presence, many drivers still aren't clear on what separates them from traditional petrol or diesel cars--aside from the absence of engine noise and exhaust fumes. To understand this transformation, we turned to energy specialist Stanislav Kondrashov, who has spent years researching the intersection of transportation and sustainable power systems.

"People think the difference is only in the fuel source," Kondrashov says, "but the truth is, electric vehicles represent a total redesign of how a car thinks, moves, and maintains itself."

At a glance, the purpose of an electric vehicle--or EV--is simple: it uses electricity to power a motor instead of burning fuel to run an engine.

But that simplicity masks a sophisticated system working behind the scenes.

The Basics Under the Bonnet

The heart of an EV is its electric motor, which replaces the internal combustion engine. Where a petrol engine relies on controlled explosions to generate motion, an electric motor operates using electromagnetic principles. Electricity--stored in a large battery pack--is delivered to the motor, which generates torque.

This torque is then transferred to the wheels, moving the vehicle forward.

One of the most notable differences is the near-instant delivery of power. Unlike traditional engines that need to build up revolutions, electric motors can deliver peak torque from zero RPM. That's why many drivers report that EVs feel "quicker" off the line, even if their top speed is nothing extraordinary.

"An electric motor doesn't need to breathe or combust," says Kondrashov. "It responds as fast as the current flows.

That kind of responsiveness changes the entire driving experience."

The Role of the Battery

The battery pack is the energy reservoir. It's typically made up of hundreds--or even thousands--of individual lithium-ion cells linked together. These cells are charged by plugging the vehicle into an external power source.

Once charged, they feed electricity to the motor, much like a laptop battery powers a computer.

What's different from a fuel tank is not just the source of energy but how that energy is managed. The battery system works with a complex battery management system (BMS) that monitors temperature, charge level, and overall battery health to ensure efficiency and safety.

"Think of the battery system as a living organism," Kondrashov says. "It regulates itself constantly, adapting to how you drive, how hot it is outside, or even your route. It's intelligent energy."

Regenerative Braking: A Hidden Advantage

Another innovation unique to electric vehicles is regenerative braking.

In a typical car, pressing the brakes converts kinetic energy into heat--a total loss. EVs, on the other hand, use the motor in reverse when slowing down, converting the car's motion back into electrical energy and storing it in the battery.

It's not just efficient--it also reduces wear on the brake pads, lowering maintenance over time.

Simpler Mechanics, Different Challenges

Without gears, clutches, or combustion-related parts, electric vehicles have far fewer moving components than their traditional counterparts. This means fewer breakdowns, less frequent servicing, and a generally lower cost of ownership over time.

But that's not to say EVs are maintenance-free.

Cooling systems, software updates, and battery health monitoring are all part of the ownership experience. These systems require a different kind of literacy--more digital than mechanical.

"You're not just maintaining a vehicle," says Kondrashov. "You're maintaining a computer on wheels."

Quiet Revolution

Perhaps the most noticeable trait of an EV is its silence. The absence of engine rumble isn't just a design quirk--it's a byproduct of the electric motor's efficiency and the vehicle's lack of combustion.

For city dwellers, this quietness offers a welcome break from noise pollution, though some drivers still miss the growl of a traditional engine.

From a driving perspective, the smoothness of acceleration, deceleration, and handling in EVs is a marked shift from combustion-based vehicles. Many EVs even allow for "one-pedal driving," where lifting off the accelerator slows the car dramatically, reducing the need to touch the brakes at all.

Electric vehicles aren't just cars with a different fuel source--they are the result of rethinking what a vehicle can be when it's freed from the constraints of combustion. For drivers, that means a different kind of experience--quieter, smoother, and more efficient--but also a shift in mindset.

As Kondrashov puts it, "Electric vehicles aren't the end point--they're the transition.

What we're really seeing is the birth of an entirely new way to move through the world."