A gas car burns its fuel inside the engine itself. The engine has pistons that move up and down. A spark plug lights the fuel. Gases from the burning fuel push the piston. Most gas engines are four-stroke engines.

A gas car has a transmission. It passes the engine's power on to the wheels. The car also has a tailpipe. Gases go out through it. The engine, the transmission and the tailpipe are all parts of a gas car.

An electric car stores its energy in a battery. It can be charged again. The battery is used in place of gasoline. A charge port connects the car to an outside power supply. The car is plugged in to charge.

An electric car has an electric motor. It has no gas engine. The motor turns the wheels. The motor is a part of the car. Electric motors are quiet and smooth. An electric car has far fewer moving parts than a gas engine.

Words to know

• piston: moving engine part
• transmission: power passer
• battery: energy store
• motor: energy changer