Electric vehicles are about 2.5 times more energy efficient than their counterparts which are powered solely by internal combustion engines. This high energy efficiency is the main reason why electric vehicles can contribute to lower the CO2 emission and energy consumption of traffic substantially. Electric vehicles have zero tailpipe exhaust emissions and thus contribute substantially to a better air quality. Additionally, electric vehicles are inherently silent and can help to reduce the noise levels in cities. However, the market share of electric vehicles is currently still very small and consists mainly of small vehicles intended for urban transport. Purchase costs of electric vehicles are high compared to similar sized ICE vehicles. These high purchase costs are predominantly caused by the high costs of the battery pack needed in the vehicle. Moreover a recharging network with sufficient coverage is not yet available in most countries.
Electric vehicles are propelled solely by electric motors. There are three main types of electric vehicles:
The Battery Electric Vehicle does not have an internal generator to produce electricity, all the electricity has to be obtained from the power grid. Examples are the Citroen EVie, Mitsubishi iMiev and the Think (van Agt, 2010).
The Series Hybrid vehicle can obtain its electricity from the power grid but has additionally a small internal combustion engine which serves as a generator to recharge the battery and offers an extended driving range. The combustion engine does not directly propel the vehicle. Examples are the Opel Ampera, GM Volt and the Volvo Recharge. The third group of electric vehicles are hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. These vehicles can also obtain their electricity from the power grid but in addition, the fuel cell can serve as a generator to recharge the battery, which also extends the driving range. Examples are the Honda Clarity and the Toyota FCHV. In the following we focus on battery electric vehicles.
There are three main technical differences between a car run on an internal combustion engine and an electric car:
In addition, whilst an internal combustion engines contains lots of tubes, e.g. to transport the fuel, an electric engine contains a large amount of electric wiring. (Brain, 2005).
It is technically possible to convert a gasoline-powered vehicle to an electric vehicle; however, the associated costs are relatively high. (US Department of Energy, 2010) An explanation of how this conversion works can be found here.
The main barriers for a wider user of electric vehicles are related to the batteries and to the recharging infrastructure. Batteries for use in electric cars are still expensive and have relatively limited driving ranges. Most existing EV need to be recharged after a maximum of 150 to 300 km. Completely recharging the batteries may take 4 to 8 hours. (US Department of Energy, 2010b). The widespread use of electric vehicles requires an extensive recharging infrastructure. The absence of this infrastructure may lead to reluctance to buy electric vehicles due to the fear of getting stranded with empty batteries.
The main technical obstacles which hamper the introduction are how to standardize the cords and connectors used for recharging, the decision to employ an on- or off-board charger and to development of an accurate state of charge meter for the battery. (Markel, 2010).
The market share of battery electric vehicles is still very limited and comprises mainly of small vehicles intended for urban transport (van Agt, 2010). By the end of 2012 there was over 180,000 global stock of electric vehicles and global sales more than doubled from 2011 to 2012. However, this share only account for approximately 0.02% of total passenger cars globally (IEA, 2013). 38% of this stock is concentrated in the United States with Japan accounting for 24% and China next with 6.2% of the total.
Moreover, the purchase costs for electric vehicles are still relatively high due to the high costs of the required battery pack. To lower the purchase costs of the vehicle only relatively small battery packs are installed, limiting the driving range, which makes electric vehicles currently only suitable for urban transport. Nevertheless, the technology used in electric cars is largely proven and a breakthrough can be expected when the costs and weight of the battery pack are lowered sufficiently. Contribution of the technology to economic development (including energy market support)
Depending on where a country sources its gasoline and how it produces electricity, electric vehicles may improve energy security, as they may lower the dependency on imported gasoline.
The energy efficiency of electric cars is about 2.5 times better than their fossil fuel counterparts, which is the main reason why electric cars can lower the greenhouse gas emissions of road traffic and reduce the demand for oil. The actual greenhouse gas emission associated with the use of battery electric vehicles depends largely on the way the required electricity has been produced. Employing coal fired electricity plants to generate the electricity will marginally lower the CO2 emissions of an electric vehicle compared to similar sized vehicles with an internal combustion engine. However, using renewable electricity will lower the greenhouse gas emissions considerably. Electric vehicles might even provide a way to make the electricity sector more sustainable, if the batteries in the vehicles could be used to store the variable output of wind and solar-based power generation (Nieuwenhout et al, 2009).
Electric vehicles have no tail-pipe emission of air pollutants such as NOx and soot, which means that they can substantially contribute to improving local air quality, especially in urban areas. The global improvement of the air quality however, is determined by the way the electricity used is produced, e.g. fossil fuel fired power plants can have substantial emissions of NOx and soot when no appropriate measures are taken.
Road traffic is responsible for the majority of noise in cities. Electric vehicles are very quiet and can help to reduce noise levels in cities.
In the long-term electric vehicles are important for countries seeking to decarbonise the transport sector. Figure ? below highlights the important role that the transport sector will play in a future energy system that would limit the rise in global temperatures to 2⁰C by 2050 under the IEAs “2DS” scenario. In this scenario the transport sectors potential share of CO2 reductions would be 21% by 2050. To meet this target 75% of all vehicle sales by 2050 would need to be plug-in electric.
The high cost of an electric vehicle over the conventional alternative is mainly determined by the costs of the lithium ion battery pack. Recent developments in lithium-ion batteries make it likely that these additional costs can be reduced from the current level of about €15,000 in prototypes to an expected level of around €3,000 in 2020. This requires the battery to be about €200-250 per kWh (Nieuwenhout et al, 2009). The 2007 prices for high energy batteries range from €800/kWh to €1000/kWh (Pesaran et al, 2009). The medium term cost goals of these batteries are €500/kWh in 2012 and €300/kWh in 2016. BYD’s first commercial electric car, the E6 model, is expected to be available for sale in the US for 40’000 USD in 2010. (People’s Daily Online, 2010)
In addition, there is a need for investment into the recharging infrastructure. This infrastructure needs to be standardized in a way that every brand of electric vehicle can recharge at every recharging station. A simple recharging point at a private house or at an office site costs about $ 1800,-. However, a public recharging station, with the necessary electronics to make contact with the bank is estimated to cost about $ 18.000,-. (Roeterdink, 2010).
Project developers of projects deploying electric vehicles can use the following CDM methodology: AMS-III.C.: Emission reductions by electric and hybrid vehicles.
Author affiliation: Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Policy Studies
From the house of Hero Electric, India's Largest Electric Vehicle company comes Raahii E-Rickshaw. Raahii is built indigenously with a robust body that requires low maintenance. In addition to a sleek and refined look, attractive interiors, custom fittings and an exceptional finish, it can accommodate four passengers at a time. Its large wheel base and sturdy chassis makes it stable and run smoothly even on sub-standard roads.
The Circuit S e- Bus is a zero-emission vehicle, an assurance of a positive, cleaner and greener future for all of us and for the generations to come. It is built to match the country’s unique transport need that is powered by the swappable Smart Battery technology. The Circuit bus is designed keeping in mind the Indian road conditions, the prevailing usage, load conditions and landscape. The driver cockpit is designed to lower driver fatigue and ensure a comfortable drive.
Interoperable Smart Mobility solution offers a single energy infrastructure platform for the small electric vehicles such as electric bikes, scooters, e-Rickshaw and e-Auto. The solution comprises of Smart Battery and Quick Interchange Station all linked together through a smart network. Various applications that can be powered by this solution include intracity public transport-bike taxis, last-mile connectivity and contract carriage through e-Auto/e-rickshaw; last mile goods delivery and point-to-point transport services.
Electric vehicle growth poses both challenges and opportunities for the electric grid. The charging of electrical vehicles is an additional demand for electricity and since a majority of charging happens at home end, a lot of the demand for charging can happen in the evenings when people return from work. For the electric grids, it can become expensive to meet the demand at peak periods.
EV chargers are classified as per the speed of charging (slow, fast and rapid) and the whether they provide AC or DC current as an output. However, in general all these chargers are designed to take electricity from grid and not vice versa. If EVs have to also supply electricity back to the grid as is required for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) applications then we need bi-directional chargers.
A major aspect of why a buyer is deterred from opting an electric vehicle in India is the lack of charging infrastructure, which gives way to the anxiety of running out of juice. Now though, the situation is on the trend of getting better, this charging solution integrated with solar rooftop is doing its bit to add to it. Solar panels and electric vehicles are the perfect match that is certainly going to play a key role in the energy systems of the next 25 years
Intelligent vehicles will revolutionize our commute experience in the future and the Ather vehicle stands at the cusp of this exciting reality. Ather 450 and Ather 340 are one of the first fully indigenous and high quality electric scooters. The vehicle is powered by a brushless DC motor (BLDC) and uses a battery pack and battery management system (BMS) designed by the company. BMS and a range prediction algorithm helps predict the range accurately.
Traction batteries for electric vehicles, which run on voltages of several hundred volts, must be well protected. Electrical components are packed into a thin-walled yet stable metal housing. Housings of this kind are equipped with at least one pressure compensation valve mostly in the form of microporous film. A second valve is a safety measure: It only opens if damage to one or several battery cells results from a malfunction, and the buildup of gases has to be released. A smart pressure compensation element, the "DIAvent", combines both functions into a single component.
Due to the growing energy density of battery systems in Electric Vehicle, the developers of lithium ion batteries must satisfy ever higher safety requirements. It is especially crucial to keep a single damaged cell from overheating the entire battery module. The goal is greater range without the battery growing in size and weight. If neighboring healthy cells also heat up due to the heat buildup, a chain reaction can result that, in the worst case, could lead the entire battery system to explode.
The traction battery is the core of an Electric Vehicle. In all circumstances, it is essential to protect its high-voltage components from moisture and dirt, even in long-term operation. At the same time, it must be possible to open battery housings for maintenance. That’s why automakers are turning to housings with a large cover that allows good access to all components. But the cross-section and dimensions of such seals must be adapted exactly to a specific battery. Changes are impossible without fabricating a new tool.