DIFFERENT TYPES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES GLOBAL PRESENCE TODAY
vijay tharad
Director Operations at Corporate Professional Academy for Technical Training & Career Development
Electric Vehicles
Why we are switching from Internal combustion Engine driven vehicle to Electric vehicle?
Climate change is becoming more and more important to environmental groups and Regulation and Legislation on the topic is becoming more apparent in two ways.
1: CO2 emission from combustion engines which are responsible for, human death by inhalation of carcinogens in exhaust product, which are proven causes of cancer,
2: Protection the earth’s atmosphere by introducing an upheaval of environmental and social change leading to a more sustainable working industry.
The recent combination of environmental, geopolitical, economic, and health concerns related to ICE-powered transportation has created fertile ground for renewed interest and investment in electric drive vehicles and electrified transportation.
Due to these changes and Regulations a new breed of vehicles has been introduced for sale in the market known as Electric Vehicle waving goodbye to the conventional internal combustion engine. The main emphasis being on sustainability of processes, materials, construction and the end-product results.
EVs use the electricity saved in the battery to cycle the motor and generate the power necessary for driving―this is the biggest difference to internal combustion vehicles, in which the engine exhausts fossil fuel to generate that power. As such, EVs have no need for the engine and transmission, the two of the most crucial components for internal combustion vehicles.
Electric Vehicles(EV) are increasingly becoming a part of modern life; its tremendous fuel economy, eco-friendliness, and smooth driving feel have appealed to many conscious modern consumers.
Automobiles vary in their electrification level from 0% (where the vehicle contains no electrical system) to 100% (where the vehicle contains only electrical systems). Most conventional cars today have around 5%–10% in their respective electrification levels. Below, we explore the increasing levels of electrification associated with BEVs, HEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs.
Unlike conventional vehicles that use petrol or diesel-powered engines, EVs use an electric motor powered by electricity from batteries or a fuel cell, known as BEV and FCEV.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
These vehicles are powered entirely by electricity and are more efficient than hybrid and plug-in hybrids. BEVs are also known as All-Electric Vehicles (AEV). Instead of gasoline, these vehicles run solely on battery power. The electricity used to drive the car is stored in a large battery pack which can be charged by plugging it into the electricity grid. They use electric motors and motor controllers instead of IC engine for power generation.
Hybrid vehicles
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle that combines a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) system with an electric propulsion system (hybrid vehicle drivetrain). The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle or better performance. There is a variety of HEV types and the degree to which each function as an electric vehicle (EV) also varies. The most common form of HEV is the hybrid electric car, although hybrid electric trucks (pickups and tractors), buses, boats and aircraft also exist.
Modern HEVs make use of efficiency-improving technologies such as regenerative brakes which convert the vehicle's kinetic energy to electric energy, which is stored in a battery or supercapacitor. Some varieties of HEV use an internal combustion engine to turn an electrical generator, which either recharges the vehicle's batteries or directly powers its electric drive motors; this combination is known as a motor–generator. Many HEVs reduce idle emissions by shutting down the engine at idle and restarting it when needed; this is known as a start-stop system. A hybrid-electric produces lower tailpipe emissions than a comparably sized gasoline car since the hybrid's gasoline engine is usually smaller than that of a gasoline-powered vehicle. If the engine is not used to drive the car directly, it can be geared to run at maximum efficiency, further improving fuel economy.
Hybrid Electric vehicles use an internal combustion (usually gasoline) engine and a battery-powered motor power train. The gasoline engine drives the car and charges the battery when empty. These vehicles are not as efficient as fully electric or plug-in hybrid cars. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged into charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged by regenerative braking and internal combustion engines, and unlike most electric cars, hybrid electric vehicles charge their batteries through regenerative braking. A Hybrid vehicle is often referred to as a conventional hybrid or a parallel hybrid.
Plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV)
The PHEV full form is Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. It is a vehicle that uses a combination of an electric powertrain and a conventional Internal Combustion (IC) engine. Unlike a traditional hybrid car, the PHEV comprises a larger battery pack which enables it to run on pure electric power at slower speeds.
One can charge the battery by plugging it into an external power source. The battery also gets charged via regenerative braking or through the IC engine. The IC engine can take over and propel the vehicle during high-speed cruising. In some scenarios, the electric motor can also assist the engine for better efficiency. A PHEV is similar to a standard hybrid vehicle except for the larger battery pack and the capability to run on pure electric power.
How does a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle work?
The overall working principle of PHEV vehicles is similar to standard hybrid cars. The only difference is the larger battery pack which needs to be plugged into an external power source. Refer to the points below to understand how a plug-in hybrid car works.
A PHEV is a type of hybrid motor that combines a conventional engine with an electric motor and a large battery that can be recharged by plugging into an electrical outlet or charging station.
Further, there are two types of plug-in hybrid configurations.
· Series plug-in hybrid: In this type of configuration, only the electric powertrain propels the vehicle. The vehicle runs on all-electric mode until the battery charge depletes. Once the battery loses its charge, the engine powers the electric motor. The series plug-in hybrid may not use conventional fuel at low speeds and short commutes.
· Parallel plug-in hybrid: In this type of setup, both the electric powertrain and the conventional engine propel the vehicle in almost all driving conditions. Generally, the vehicle can operate in all-electric mode only at slow speeds.
Below are the key components of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
· Electric motor: An electric motor is a crucial component of the electric powertrain. It propels the vehicle in pure-electric mode or works in tandem with the IC engine. Depending on the PHEV type, the electric motor draws power from the battery pack or IC engine.
· IC engine: The conventional engine propels the vehicle when the battery runs out of charge. The IC engine may also power the electric motor or charge the battery pack in some vehicles.
Recommended by LinkedIn
· Battery pack: There are mainly two types of batteries in a PHEV. The primary battery pack is the traction battery that powers the electric motor, and the secondary or auxiliary battery powers other electrical components of the car. The traction battery can juice up by connecting it to an external power source.
· Onboard charger: Since the battery needs to be charged, the onboard charger plays a crucial role. It converts the AC (Alternative Current) electricity to DC (Direct Current) electricity to charge the battery pack. It also monitors various parameters such as battery voltage, temperature, charging status, etc.
· Generator: It generates electricity with the help of an IC engine. Some electric motors also act as a generator as they convert kinetic energy (energy loss while slowing down the vehicle) into electrical energy. The electrical power is utilised to charge the battery.
· Transmission: Without a gearbox, the electrical energy and IC engine are of no use; because it is responsible for the transmission of power from the engine/electric motor. A PHEV uses a conventional transmission like any other petrol/diesel car.
· Charging port: It allows the battery pack to connect to an external power source via a cable. The charging cable connects to the charging port and a power source such as the standard household socket or a dedicated charging station.
· Fuel tank: It holds the fuel for the Internal Combustion engine. When the battery runs out of juice, the IC engine takes over, and the engine can only run if there’s fuel. Hence, it’s also a crucial component of a plug-in hybrid car.
Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV)
Electric energy is produced from chemical energy. For example, a hydrogen FCEV. FCEVs are also known as Zero-Emission Vehicles. They employ fuel cell technology to generate the electricity required to run the car. The chemical energy of the fuel is converted directly into electric energy.
conclusion
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):Fully powered by electricity. These are more efficient compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrids.BEVs are also known as All-Electric Vehicles (AEV). Electric Vehicles using BEV technology run entirely on a battery-powered electric drivetrain. The electricity used to drive the vehicle is stored in a large battery pack which can be charged by plugging into the electricity grid. The charged battery pack then provides power to one or more electric motors to run the electric car.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle:
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): The vehicle uses both the internal combustion (usually petrol) engine and the battery-powered motor powertrain. The petrol engine is used both to drive and charge when the battery is empty. The transmission is rotated simultaneously by both engine and electric motor. This then drives the wheels. These vehicles are not as efficient as fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):
Uses both an internal combustion engine and a battery charged from an external socket (they have a plug). This means the vehicle’s battery can be charged with electricity rather than the engine. PHEVs are more efficient than HEVs but less efficient than BEVs. It can also be powered by a rechargeable battery pack. The battery can be charged externally.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle(FCEV):
FCEVs are also known as Zero-Emission Vehicles. They employ ‘fuel cell technology’ to generate the electricity required to run the vehicle. The chemical energy of the fuel is converted directly into electric energy.
This post is created by Vijay Tharad, Director Operation at Corporate Professional Academy for technical training and career development