Understanding the Latest in Automobile Evolution - Electric Vehicles
The Automobile industry has gone through massive transformations, one such transformational shift is happening now, lets explore
The Automobile is undoubtedly been one of the most revolutionary inventions, earlier mentions often gave credit to Karl Benz, from Germany, for creating the first true automobile in 1885/1886. Later Ford’s famous Model T became one of the first cars to be mass produced. Since then, the industry has gone through massive transformations, one such transformational shift is happening now, the shift to Electric Vehicles (EV’s).
Now, What is an EV?
Traditionally the cars we are used to seeing runs on gasoline (petrol/diesel), but electric vehicles run on, as the name suggests electricity!. It uses one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries to power it. EVs come in various forms, including fully electric vehicles (which run entirely on electricity) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine.
Although we are only hearing more about EV’s over the past few decades. Believe it or not, electric vehicles are not a new concept, the first crude electric car was developed by around 1832, by Robert Anderson then in William Morrison, from Des Moines, Iowa, creates the first successful electric vehicle in the U.S. and they were quite popular in the late 19th early 20th century. Later with the increase in abundance of oil, making gasoline cars cheaper marked the end for electric vehicles of that time.
However, things began to change around the late 1900s early 2000s, companies were getting wind of the increase global concerns over the environmental impacts of gasoline vehicles, and started to launch a few electric vehicles which did not end up meeting consumer tastes.
Enter Tesla, the electric car company that played a significant role in bringing EVs to the mainstream. In 2008, Tesla released the Roadster, a highway-legal electric car with a lithium-ion battery, which had a range of over 200 miles (~320 kms) per charge. This was a game-changer and proved that EVs could be both practical and desirable.
Over the years, many more automobile companies hopped on the trend, resulting in the electric vehicle shift we see today.
How Does an EV Work Compared to a Gas-Powered Vehicle?
Lets take a basic breakdown of the two, starting with Gas powered vehicles
Engine: A gasoline vehicle uses an internal combustion engine (ICE), where fuel is burned to create energy. This process releases exhaust gases and requires a complex system of pistons, cylinders, and other moving parts.
Fuel Tank: Gasoline or diesel is stored in the fuel tank, and fuel is pumped to the engine where it’s burned to produce energy.
Transmission: Gas-powered cars typically have a multi-gear transmission that helps regulate power to the wheels.
Exhaust System: The burning of fuel creates emissions that are expelled through an exhaust system. This is where pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the environment.
Now EV’s run a simpler setup compared to ICE vehicles, fewer moving parts-lets take a look:
Electric Motor: Instead of a combustion engine, an EV uses an electric motor that gets its power from the battery. The motor is powered by electricity stored in the battery pack.
Battery: The heart of an EV, the battery stores electricity that powers the motor. It’s recharged by plugging the vehicle into a charging station, and the driving range depends on the battery’s capacity.
Transmission: Most EVs don’t require complex transmissions. They typically have a single-speed transmission, making the driving experience simpler and more efficient.
No Emissions: EVs don’t have tailpipes, which means they don’t emit pollutants like traditional cars do. They are, however, only as green as the source of electricity used to charge them.
Here is a more detailed look into the Working of an EV
Source: US DOE
Now like stated earlier, there are a few different types of EV’s, the one we talked about earlier is a completely battery electric vehicle (BEV) let’s take a look at the others:
Plug-In Hybrid: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use batteries to power an electric motor and another fuel, such as gasoline, to power an internal combustion engine (ICE). PHEV batteries can be charged using a wall outlet or charging equipment, or by the ICE. The vehicle typically runs on electric power until the battery is nearly depleted, and then the car automatically switches over to use the ICE.
Hybrid Vehicles: Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, which uses energy stored in batteries. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine. The extra power provided by the electric motor can potentially allow for a smaller engine. The battery can also power auxiliary loads and reduce engine idling when stopped. Together, these features result in better fuel economy without sacrificing performance.
Regenerative braking is a mechanism found on most hybrid and full-electric vehicles. It captures the kinetic energy from braking and converts it into the electrical power that charges the vehicle’s battery.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) use a propulsion system similar to that of electric vehicles, where energy stored as hydrogen is converted to electricity by the fuel cell. The Tailpipe emissions for these vehicles are zero, and the only waste produced is pure water.
How do we charge EV’s?
EVs are typically charged at charging stations or at home. There are three main types of charging stations: Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging.
1. Level 1 Charging (Household Outlet): This uses a standard 120V outlet, this is the slowest way to charge an EV and could take anywhere from 10 to 12 hours to fully charge an EV, depending on the size of the battery.
2. Level 2 Charging (240-Volt Outlet): Level 2 chargers are commonly found at public charging stations, shopping centres, office buildings, and homes with a 240V outlet. These chargers are much faster, a full charge typically takes between 4 and 8 hours, depending on the size of the battery.
3. DC Fast Charging: DC fast chargers are found along highways or at high-traffic locations like rest stops, highway service centres, or EV charging stations. It is the fastest charging option and can charge up to 80% typically in about 20 to 30 minutes.
Let’s take a look at some Advantages and Disadvantages of EV’s: Advantages
1. EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution and helping combat climate change.
2. Charging an EV is typically cheaper than filling a gas tank, and EVs have fewer moving parts, which means lower maintenance costs.
3. EVs are much quieter than traditional cars.
4. Many governments offer tax credits, rebates, and other incentives to make EVs more affordable.
Disadvantages
1. Range Anxiety: Although EV ranges are improving, they’re still not quite as far as the range of a gas-powered car. Long road trips can be challenging without access to charging stations.
2. While charging stations are becoming more widespread, they’re not as ubiquitous as gas stations, especially in rural areas.
3. While operating costs are lower, the initial purchase price of an EV can still be higher than a comparable gas-powered car, although this gap is closing.
4. Charging an EV takes longer than refuelling a gas car, especially if you're using a standard home outlet.
According to Bloomberg, Passenger EV sales are expected to exceed 30 million in 2027 in the ETS and grow to 73 million per year in 2040, contributing 33% and 73% to global car sales in those years, respectively.
BNEF also finds that electrification is now spreading quickly to all sectors of road transport, from rickshaws to heavy trucks. Two- and three-wheeled vehicle sales continue to rise in emerging economies and electric sales are expected to exceed 90% globally by 2040.
As the world shifts toward electric vehicles, the charging infrastructure will continue to grow, will improve making it easier and faster to power up EVs. With advances in charging technology and the increasing availability of charging stations, along with decline material prices making batteries cheaper, owning an EV is becoming more practical than ever.