Introduction
The move from internal combustion engines to electric propulsion marks one of the most important turning points in automotive history. While electric vehicles and conventional fuel-powered cars share the same basic purpose, the technology beneath their bodies can be very different. Some systems are completely new in electric cars, others are heavily modified, and several components remain almost identical. This article explores where EVs and ICE cars differ, where they overlap, and why those similarities still matter.
What is new in an electric car?
The most important component found only in an electric vehicle is the high-voltage battery. It takes over the role of the fuel tank in a conventional car by storing the energy needed to drive the vehicle. Instead of gasoline or diesel, however, it supplies electricity to the powertrain.
The electric motor is another key part that replaces the internal combustion engine. Its job is to turn electrical energy into mechanical force that moves the car. But the process is not as direct as it sounds. The battery stores electricity as direct current, while most electric motors operate using three-phase alternating current. That means the two components need a kind of translator between them.
That role is handled by the inverter. During acceleration, it converts direct current from the battery into alternating current for the motor. During regenerative braking, the process is reversed: the motor acts as a generator, and the inverter converts the alternating current back into direct current to recharge the battery.
The efficiency of the inverter has a major effect on the overall efficiency of the electric vehicle. But it is not the only power conversion device in an EV. The onboard charger converts alternating current from the electrical grid into direct current when the car is charging at home or at an AC charging station. During high-power DC fast charging, the onboard charger is bypassed.
Cabin heating is another area where electric cars differ significantly. In a combustion-engine car, the engine produces a large amount of waste heat, which can easily be used to warm the interior. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, are far more efficient and generate much less wasted heat. That is why they use dedicated heating systems such as PTC heaters or heat pumps to warm the cabin and, in many cases, the battery itself.
An ICE and an EV
Another component unique to electric vehicles is the DC/DC converter. It takes high-voltage electricity from the main battery and converts it into lower voltage, typically 12 volts, to power everyday systems such as lights, windows, mirrors, and the infotainment system.
Finally, the charging socket is another part that is specific to electric cars. It replaces the fuel filler cap and serves as the connection point between the vehicle and the charging infrastructure.
What is different between EVs and ICE cars?
Both electric and combustion cars use air conditioning, but the way the compressor is powered is very different. In an EV, the air conditioning compressor is usually a high-voltage component powered directly by the battery. In an ICE car, it is typically driven mechanically by the engine through a belt. This is why switching on the air conditioning in a conventional car can cause a slight drop in engine performance.
Electric cars and combustion cars may both use gearboxes, but their designs are very different. Most electric vehicles use a simple single-speed reduction gear, with only a few exceptions. Internal combustion cars, meanwhile, often require multi-speed transmissions, and modern passenger cars increasingly feature advanced automatic gearboxes with eight or nine speeds.
The braking system also works differently. In many electric vehicles, lifting off the accelerator or pressing the brake pedal activates regenerative braking. The electric motor becomes a generator, slowing the car while recovering energy and sending it back into the battery. If more braking force is needed, the conventional hydraulic brakes take over. In everyday driving, this means the friction brakes are used far less often, which can reduce wear on pads and discs. In an ICE car, the hydraulic braking system is used every time the driver slows down.
Another major difference is mechanical simplicity. Electric motors usually have very few moving parts and generally require less maintenance. Internal combustion engines are much more complex. A typical four-cylinder engine contains dozens of moving components and requires regular servicing, including oil changes, filter replacements, belt inspections, and other maintenance tasks that are unnecessary in most electric drivetrains.
High voltage A/C compressor from Rheinmetall Automotive
What remains the same?
Despite their different power sources, EVs and ICE cars still share many fundamental vehicle systems. Suspension, wheels, and tires are among the clearest examples. Both types of vehicles use similar suspension layouts, including MacPherson struts, multi-link setups, and double wishbone designs.
Electric cars based on existing combustion-engine platforms often use suspension components similar to those in their ICE counterparts. Dedicated EV platforms also rely on familiar suspension architectures, though the setup is often tuned to handle the additional weight of the battery pack.
Tires follow a similar design philosophy in both EVs and ICE cars, with low rolling resistance becoming increasingly important for efficiency. Wheels were once one of the more visible differences, because many electric cars used aerodynamic covers to reduce drag. Today, however, combustion-engine cars are also adopting aerodynamic wheel designs, since wheel turbulence can account for a significant share of a vehicle’s total drag.
Steering systems are also largely similar. Most modern EVs and ICE cars use electromechanical power steering, which is essential for supporting advanced driver assistance features such as lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and automated parking.
Tesla Model 3 and Skoda Fabia aero wheels design
Conclusion
Electric vehicles and internal combustion cars are fundamentally different in how they generate and deliver power. EVs introduce components such as high-voltage batteries, inverters, onboard chargers, DC/DC converters, and dedicated heating systems, while eliminating many of the complex mechanical parts required by combustion engines. At the same time, they still rely on many of the same core automotive technologies, including suspension, tires, steering systems, and braking hardware.
This mix of innovation and familiarity is important. If electric cars had to be completely different in every respect, they would be more expensive and harder to adopt at scale. By building on shared automotive foundations while transforming the drivetrain, the industry is making the transition to electric mobility both practical and gradual.
