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Could cars exist without electricity?
This might be a counterintuitive question considering that the entire automotive industry is moving towards electric vehicles, but could cars exist without electricity?
Marlee John · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s a fair question! No, due to the way that even traditional combustion engines are designed, electricity is still needed in some capacity.
We know
electric cars
can’t exist without electricity but what about traditional fuel ones? Unlike an electric motor which is completely powered by electricity, an internal combustion engine (ICE) can run without electricity once it is on. A fossil-fuel-powered car can technically run without any aid of electricity, it just can’t start.An integral part of the engine is the electric spark plug which has the job of igniting the combustion engine (that’s why it’s called the “ignition”). In order to start up the engine, electrical energy is needed to begin its processes. Additionally, some internal systems that regulate the engine and make the vehicle more fuel-efficient, require electricity.
Special features in cars like the radio, headlights, and windshield wipers, all use electricity—without them driving would be pretty unsafe! Perhaps cars could exist without electricity, however not with the current design and functionality in cars as we know them.
Like all cars need electricity, and all drivers need insurance.
Jerry
, the number one car insurance
comparison app, can help you find the best rates on your insurance policy.Jerry customers save an average of $887 a year!
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