Most cars get their energy from。petrol (汽油). But some cars use electricity. They get their power from large batteries (电池). There are also some cars that have both an electric motor and a petrol motor. They are called hybrid cars.
Most people think of electric cars as a new invention, but they have been around for a long time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries electric cars were popular because the technology for petrol engines was not highly developed. But when the petrol engines became easier to make and more powerful, they became more popular. Interest in electric cars was high in the 1970s and 1980s because oil became very expensive. Recently, electric cars have again become popular because people want cars that pollute less.
Electric cars are better than petrol cars in several ways. The biggest benefit is that they can reduce pollution. In areas with a high percentage of electric cars, there is less pollution. But it is important to understand that electric cars still cause pollution. The electricity to power electric cars has to come from a power station. Unless these power stations run on solar or wind energy, they are most likely burning fossil fuels (化石燃料). The second benefit of electric cars is a reduction in the dependence on foreign oil. Since electric cars can run on electricity from coal or nuclear power (核能) stations, there is less of a need to import oil.
There are some problems with electric cars as well. One disadvantage is that electric cars are more expensive than petrol cars. This is mostly because of the high cost of the batteries. They need to be charged in special places. Right now, there aren't enough places where people can charge the batteries. Another problem is that electric cars cannot travel as far as petrol cars. Some people are afraid that the battery will run out of electricity before they reach their destination.
Despite these problems, many people, including car industry experts, believe that the percentage of electric cars will increase in the future.
