All About Electric Vehicles

What do you think about the Tesla Model S?

We at TechDogs think it's an absolute Musk-have. *ba dum-tssss*

That was a terrible joke but we're sure that you've heard of Tesla, Inc. or Elon Musk, both being viral buzzwords in the internet community for the past few years. From launching a Tesla Roadster into space to breaching the "400 miles on a single charge" mark, Tesla has done it all, including selling over a million Electric Vehicles worldwide. In the last half-century itself, electric-powered alternatives have been invented for bikes, ships, planes, buses, etc. So, what is it that makes Electric Vehicles so appealing?

In this article, we'll take a smooth, eco-friendly, noise-free journey through the world of Electric Vehicle technology. So, start your ignition and let's go!

So, What Is An Electric Vehicle?

Electric Vehicles are an umbrella term for automobiles that utilize batteries, fuel cells (a type of battery that uses hydrogen and oxygen) and electric motors instead of conventional internal combustion engines (those that run on petrol and diesel). Electric Vehicles include cars, bikes, trucks, buses, ships, planes and even spacecraft! If you are someone who only ever associated Electric Vehicles with Tesla, this article is for you.

There are several types of Electric Vehicles such as Pure-Electric Vehicles (PEVs) that run entirely on an electric power supply or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) that combine electric power with the traditional internal combustion engines. The idea of automobiles powered by electricity isn't new (the first Electric Vehicle was fabricated in the early 1830s) but it wasn't till the 21st Century that the production of Electric Vehicles, or EVs as speed freaks like to say, started picking up the pace. (pun intended!)
 

From The Past To The Current Era

By the 20th century, EVs were all the rage in the United States, accounting for a third of the vehicles on the road. In fact, in the year 1900, over 90% of the taxi cabs plying on New York City streets were powered by electricity! That was because EVs overcame the main shortcomings of gasoline cars of that era; no vibrations from the engine, no poisonous fumes from the exhaust and no need to crank the engine by hand.

It looked like EVs were set to be the future of transportation but improvement in road networks (and the fact that gasoline cars were more practical for long-distance journeys) caused the emerging EV industry to collapse before it ever took flight. This technology lay dormant for a century, waiting for a scientific breakthrough - or a knight in shining armor.

The knight arrived but not as a genius inventor or a wealthy industrialist - it was climate change. The effect of burning fossil fuels had been immensely detrimental to the environment and eco-scientists started looking at EVs with renewed interest. EVs can be charged with electricity produced from renewable sources (solar, hydro-electric and wind power) and don't produce any greenhouse gases or poisonous fumes. This marked the comeback of EVs in the early 2000s as a real solution against climate change.
 

Road, Rail, Air, Sea And Space - EVs Have It All Covered

As we mentioned earlier, EV tech exists for every mode of transport - road, rail, air, sea and even space travel. Talk about an all-rounder!

Here we take a quick look at the types of EVs according to the mode of transport.
 

• Road-based EVs

  No points for guessing, road based EVs run on roads. We can categorize road-based EVs into three types - Pure-Electric Vehicles, powered purely by a battery or fuel cell are considered the pinnacle of modern EV technology as they produce zero tailpipe emission and mechanical vibration. Next, Hybrid-Electric Vehicles use both - an electric motor and an internal combustion engine - in combination to reduce exhaust emissions and the vehicle's maintenance costs. Finally, Plug-In Hybrid-Electric Vehicles have an on-board battery that can be charged using a dedicated external charger and improve the car's fuel economy by reducing reliance on gas. Road-based EVs make up the largest chunk of EV technology applications, including cars, motorcycles, heavy vehicles, tractors, etc.

• Rail-based EVs

  What comes to mind when we say "impressive" and "locomotive?” Obviously, other than the magical Hogwarts Express!
  
  For us, it's electric locomotives - they have much higher efficiency, quicker acceleration and produce less mechanical noise than their traditional counterparts. Even the superfast bullet trains and Maglev trains are rail-based EVs as they use electromagnets instead of a diesel engine. To make the case stronger for electric trains - their maintenance cost is 25-35 percent less than diesel locomotives.

• Seaborne EVs

  The shipping industry is one of the largest contributors to global CO2 (carbon dioxide) and greenhouse gas emissions. To combat that, newer ships will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries and electric motors to reduce emissions. Smaller vessels such as boats and yachts can use solar panels to recharge their onboard batteries. Safe to say that in the future, seafaring vessels will have a strong relationSHIP with electric-powered tech!

• Air-based EVs

  As the name suggests - air-based EVs mainly include airplanes and helicopters. Early batteries were bulky and hence not considered a practical power source for aircraft. Today, with advancements in battery technology and commercialization of the airspace, UAVs and drones are being fitted with electric motors and batteries. The eCaravan - the largest electric aircraft ever to have flown - is powered by batteries weighing 2,000 pounds (approximately 900 kg).

• Electric Spacecrafts And Space-Vehicles

  Batteries have a long history of use in space exploration as it is expensive and extremely hazardous to transport fuel on rockets. Hence, the power source used for most spacecrafts is batteries in combination with solar panels. Even the lunar rover (or moon buggy as space aficionados know it) used in NASA's Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions was powered by a battery. Pretty cool, right?

Why Should You Choose Electric Vehicles?

It goes without saying that EVs have a plethora of advantages over traditional fossil-fuel driven automobiles. Here we list out some significant benefits for you.
 

• Environmental Sustainability

  Around 60% of the global CO2 pollution comes from passenger vehicles. Using EVs will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention other harmful tailpipe exhaust such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide.
  
  Fun fact - Cities like Shenzhen in China, having introduced all-electric city buses and taxis, have seen a drastic improvement in air quality since.

• Low Maintenance Cost

  As EVs do not use mechanical parts like conventional engines, their maintenance cost is quite low in comparison. An internal combustion engine has over 200 moving parts while an electric motor only has two! So, no need for a regular oil change if you drive an EV!

• Higher Energy Conversion

  Most EVs have an energy conversion of around 90%, much higher than a traditional internal combustion engine (between 12 to 30%). For example, an EV will not consume energy when stationary at a traffic signal, unlike internal combustion engines which consume fuel even while idling.

• Regenerative Braking

  This exclusive feature of EV technology allows conversion of heat generated during braking into electric energy. This energy can be stored for later use and improves the vehicle's overall efficiency and the life of the braking system. Smart, right?

• Better Driving Experience

  Electric Vehicles offer a smooth and silent ride as the electric motor produces zero vibrations. Along with that, EVs also benefit from automatic transmission. So, it doesn't matter if you can't drive a stick, EVs have got your back!

Gas Prices Hiked Again? In The Future It Won't Be Your Problem!

Electric Vehicle fever seems to be catching on quickly, as most developed countries are inviting EV manufacturers to set up factories while researchers improve battery characteristics. Even F1 and NASCAR will be adopting EVs in 2022, not just because they can reach breakneck speeds but also because they are economical.

The development of Intelligent Battery Management Systems, faster charging, standardization of batteries and improvement in the driving range will increase EVs' feasibility of becoming the accepted mode of transport. Another factor that favors this tech is the unavoidable increase in fuel prices in the coming years. As the adoption of EV technology rises, so will the need for supporting infrastructure - EV charging stations, expansion of the energy grid, producing electricity from renewable sources, etc., which will boost the global economy.
 

Autobots, Roll Out!

 
Leading auto-manufacturers and eco-scientists are currently researching EV technology as they believe that stricter regulations against the burning of fossil fuels, coupled with the development of powerful batteries, will give birth to an "energy revolution." Electric Vehicles might just become the norm in a few decades, if not years.

Till then, the key focus will be on improving battery properties and electrification of major roadways, which will allow EV technology to flourish. Most governments, including the United States, have already started offering subsidies to people buying Electric Vehicles, making it even more lucrative to invest in this brilliant technology. Reducing your driving costs while saving the planet sounds like a win-win, doesn't it?