Electric motorBelgium
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212. Electric motor
An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical power. In an electric or hybrid vehicle, one or more electric motors can provide the torque needed to drive the wheels.
Electric motors can deliver torque from very low speeds and operate without the combustion process used by petrol or diesel engines. During regenerative braking, some electric motors can also operate as generators and convert part of the vehicle's motion back into electrical energy.
Wikimedia.org • Oleg Alexandrov • CC BY-SA
What does the electric motor do in an electric vehicle in Belgium?
The electric motor converts electrical energy supplied by the vehicle's traction battery into mechanical power used to propel the vehicle.
Can a Belgian hybrid vehicle have both an electric motor and a combustion engine?
Yes. A hybrid electric vehicle combines electric propulsion with another propulsion source, normally a petrol or diesel engine. The electric motor may propel the vehicle alone or work together with the combustion engine depending on the hybrid system.
Does an electric motor produce exhaust gases while driving?
No. An electric motor does not burn fuel and therefore produces no exhaust gases itself. A fully electric vehicle consequently has no tailpipe emissions from propulsion, while a hybrid vehicle can still produce exhaust emissions when its combustion engine is operating.

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