What Is a Vape? How Vapes and E-Cigarettes Work
A vape is an electronic device that heats a liquid to produce an aerosol that the user inhales.
You may also see these products described as e-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vape pens, vape devices or vaping products.
Although different devices can look very different, most vaping systems contain several basic components that work together to produce an aerosol.
How Does a Vape Work?
A typical vape uses a battery to provide electrical power to a heating element.
When the device is activated, the heating element heats the liquid contained within the device or cartridge.
The resulting aerosol is then inhaled.
The Australian Government describes vapes as battery-operated devices that deliver an aerosol by heating a liquid.
The word “vapour” is commonly used in everyday conversation, although the aerosol produced by an e-cigarette is not simply water vapour.
What Are the Main Parts of a Vape?
Depending on the device, a vape can contain several components.
Battery
The battery provides the electrical energy needed to operate the device.
Battery capacity is commonly expressed in milliamp-hours, or mAh.
Heating Element
The heating element heats the liquid.
Different devices can use different coil designs, including mesh-style heating elements.
E-Liquid
The liquid contains the substances that are transformed into an aerosol when heated.
The exact formulation varies between products.
Airflow
Airflow controls how air moves through the device and can influence the way the aerosol is produced and inhaled.
What Is a Disposable Vape?
A disposable vape is generally designed as a single-use device rather than a product intended to be refilled and repeatedly reused.
However, product designs and terminology can vary.
Consumers should always check the specific manufacturer’s information rather than assuming every device described as disposable has identical specifications.
In Australia, the regulatory treatment of disposable vapes is particularly important because the current government framework states that single-use disposable vapes cannot be purchased in pharmacies.
What Is a Pod System?
A pod system is an electronic vaping device that uses a pod or cartridge containing the liquid.
Some pod systems use replaceable pods, while others can use refillable pods depending on the design.
Pod systems can differ substantially in battery size, airflow, liquid capacity and operating method.
What Is a Vape Coil?
A coil is a heating component used in many vaping devices.
When electrical power passes through the heating element, it produces heat that helps turn the liquid into an aerosol.
Different coil designs can influence the characteristics of the device.
What Is a Mesh Coil?
A mesh coil uses a mesh-style heating element instead of a conventional wire coil.
The exact design varies between products.
Product manufacturers may use mesh technology as part of the heating system in different device ranges.
Consumers should rely on the specifications of the particular model rather than assuming every “mesh coil” device performs identically.
What Does Puff Count Mean?
Puff count is a product specification intended to describe the approximate number of inhalations a device may provide under specified testing or usage conditions.
It should not automatically be interpreted as a guaranteed number of days of use.
Actual usage can vary depending on factors such as draw duration, frequency and device characteristics.
For example, two people using products with the same advertised puff capacity may use them for different lengths of time.
What Does mAh Mean?
mAh stands for milliamp-hour.
It is commonly used to describe the capacity of a battery.
A higher mAh figure generally indicates greater battery capacity, but battery capacity alone does not determine how long a device will operate.
Power requirements, device design, usage patterns and other factors can affect battery performance.
What Is Nicotine?
Nicotine is an addictive substance that may be present in some vaping products.
The amount and concentration can vary between products.
Because nicotine is regulated in Australia, readers should not assume that a product sold overseas is subject to the same requirements as a therapeutic vaping product supplied under Australian regulations.
Are Vapes Safe?
Vapes should not be described as risk-free.
The Australian Government states ( Australian vape laws) that vaping can expose users to chemicals and that vaping can cause health problems.
People who are concerned about nicotine dependence or want to stop vaping should seek appropriate health advice.
Vape Terminology at a Glance
Here are some common terms:
Vape: A general term for an electronic vaping device.
E-cigarette: Another term for an electronic cigarette.
Disposable: A product generally designed for single-use rather than repeated refilling.
Pod: A cartridge or container used with some vaping devices.
Coil: A heating element used to heat liquid.
Mesh coil: A heating element using mesh-style material.
mAh: A measurement commonly used for battery capacity.
Puff count: An advertised or estimated number of inhalations associated with a product.
E-liquid: Liquid used in vaping devices to produce an aerosol.
Why Vape Specifications Differ
Vaping products are not identical.
Different models can have different:
- battery capacities
- liquid capacities
- heating systems
- airflow designs
- physical dimensions
- nicotine concentrations
- flavour options
- charging systems
- advertised puff counts
For that reason, consumers should check the specification for the exact product rather than applying information from one model to another.
Final Thoughts
Understanding basic vape terminology makes it easier to read product information and, more importantly, distinguish manufacturer specifications from assumptions made online.
When researching vaping in Australia, combine product information with current Australian Government and state or territory regulatory guidance.
The regulatory environment has changed significantly, so older online information should always be checked against current official sources.