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Can an alternator charge an electric car?
Auto-mechanic here! I was just wondering—can an alternator charge an electric car?
Chanice Boyd · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Awesome! We’re thankful for your work, and yes, an alternator can technically charge an electric car, but it wouldn’t do much good.
As you know, to produce electricity, your alternator would require constant revs, which isn’t something that would make very much sense when considering an electric vehicle. The alternator can convert power from internal combustion into electricity, meaning alternators can be used as electric motors.
So why not use alternators in electric cars?
For starters, electric vehicles don’t have engines. Since alternators are powered by the mechanical energy created through the combustion of fuels, that part of the process would not be possible with a car that runs on electricity.
Secondly, there are better devices available. In electric car technology, there are simpler and better options to use instead of alternators. Electric cars use a DC converter—a device that takes current from one voltage and sends it to another.
Alternators are great for fueled-powered vehicles, but they prove to be inefficient and high-maintenance compared to DC converters.
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