Terminology and Early Developments
– Electric car refers to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or all-electric cars.
– Electric cars can be plugged in and charged from the electric grid.
– These cars rely solely on the electricity stored in their onboard battery for propulsion.
– There are also low-speed electric vehicles known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and electric motorized quadricycles.
– NEVs and quadricycles have limitations in terms of weight, power, and maximum speed.
– The first electric car was invented by Robert Anderson between 1832 and 1839.
– Experimental electric cars appeared in the 1880s, including Gustave Trouvé’s electric car and Werner von Siemens’ trolleybus.
– Thomas Parker built an electric car in 1884, using his own high-capacity rechargeable batteries.
– Andreas Flocken designed the Flocken Elektrowagen in 1888, considered the first real electric car.
– Andrew Morrison introduced the first electric car to the United States in 1890.
– Electric cars provided comfort and ease of operation compared to gasoline-driven cars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
– The electric vehicle fleet peaked at around 30,000 vehicles at the turn of the 20th century.
– Electric cars were used as taxis in Britain and the United States in 1897.
– Several manufacturers produced electric vehicles in the United States, including Anthony Electric, Baker, Columbia, and Detroit Electric.
– The introduction of the electric starter motor in 1912 boosted the popularity of internal-combustion engine cars.
Modern Electric Cars and Market Growth
– The California Air Resources Board (CARB) pushed for more fuel-efficient, lower-emissions vehicles in the early 1990s.
– Automakers developed electric models in response to CARB’s push.
– Tesla Motors introduced the Tesla Roadster in 2008, the first highway-legal all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells.
– Better Place, a company based in Palo Alto, California, developed battery charging and swapping services for electric cars.
– The Tesla Roadster and other modern electric cars have inspired the current generation of electric vehicles.
– In 2022, 10 million plug-in electric cars were sold worldwide, accounting for 14% of new car sales.
– Many countries offer government incentives, tax credits, and subsidies for plug-in electric vehicles.
– The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that electric cars will account for nearly one-fifth of global car sales in 2023.
– China has the largest stock of electric vehicles, with cumulative sales of 5.5 million units through December 2020.
– The total cost of ownership of recent electric vehicles is cheaper than equivalent internal-combustion engine cars in the United States and the European Union.
Economics – Manufacturing and Running Cost
– Battery cost decreasing from €605 per kWh in 2010 to €100 in 2019.
– Converting existing platforms for low production, dedicated platforms for higher production.
– Total cost of ownership of electric cars cheaper than gasoline cars in the EU and US.
– Break-even distance varies by country and city.
– EV incentives established by governments to reduce purchase price.
– Electricity costs less than gasoline per kilometer traveled.
– Price of electricity varies by location and charging time.
– Cost savings affected by gasoline prices.
– Cost increase in raw materials for EV production.
– Leasing and subscriptions popular in some countries.
Environmental Aspects and Performance
– Reduction of local air pollution by electric cars.
– Emission of particulates from tire and brake wear.
– Impact of sourcing fossil fuels and production processes.
– Life-cycle emissions of electric cars lower than ICE cars.
– Cost of installing charging infrastructure repaid by health cost savings.
– Electric motors provide high power-to-weight ratios.
– Electric motors have a flat torque curve down to zero speed.
– Many electric cars have faster acceleration than average ICE cars.
– NEVs may have low acceleration due to weak motors.
– Electric vehicles can use a motor in each wheel hub or next to the wheels.
– Internal combustion engines have thermodynamic limits on efficiency.
– Gasoline engines effectively use only 15% of fuel energy to move the vehicle.
– Diesel engines can reach on-board efficiency of 20%.
– Electric vehicles convert over 77% of electrical energy to power at the wheels.
– Dual electric motors can optimize efficiency for different speeds and acceleration.
– Combustion powered cars use engine waste heat for cabin heating.
– Electric vehicles can use electric resistance heaters or reversible heat pumps.
– Some electric cars allow pre-heating while the vehicle is plugged in.
– Auxiliary heating systems sacrifice green and Zero emissions credentials.
– Cabin cooling can be augmented with solar power or by allowing outside air to flow through the car.
– Safety issues of BEVs are addressed by the international standard ISO 6469.
– ISO 6469 covers on-board electrical energy storage, functional safety, and protection against electrical hazards.
– Electric vehicle batteries can catch fire after a crash or mechanical failure.
– Plug-in electric vehicle fire incidents have occurred, but fewer than ICE vehicles.
– High-voltage systems are designed to shut down automatically in case of an airbag deployment.
– EVs are generally heavier than gasoline vehicles due to the weight of batteries.
– Heavier vehicles provide safety benefits to occupants but increase harm to others in a collision.
– Lower center of gravity in skateboard configuration increases driving stability.
– Separate motors near or in each wheel claim to improve handling and safety.
– EV batteries require more water and thermal imaging cameras for fire safety.
Batteries, Range, and Charging
– Lithium-ion-based batteries are often used for their high power and energy density.
– Batteries with different chemical compositions, such as lithium iron phosphate, can be used to make cheaper batteries and cars.
– The range of an electric car depends on the number and type of batteries used, as well as other factors like aerodynamics and weight.
– Electric cars marketed for city use often have Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car
An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is a passenger automobile that is propelled by an electric traction motor, using only energy stored in on-board batteries. Compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quieter, more responsive, have superior energy conversion efficiency and no exhaust emissions and lower overall vehicle emissions (however the power plant supplying the electricity might generate its own emissions). The term "electric car" normally refers to plug-in electric vehicle, typically a battery electric vehicle (BEV), but broadly may also include plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
The electric vehicle battery typically needs to be plugged into a mains electricity power supply for recharging in order to maximize the cruising range. Recharging an electric car can be done at a variety of charging stations; these charging stations can be installed in private homes, parking garages and public areas. There are also research and development in other technologies such as battery swapping and inductive charging. As the recharging infrastructures (especially those with fast chargers) are still in its relative infancy, range anxiety and time cost are frequent psychological obstacles against electric cars during consumer purchasing decisions.
Worldwide, 10 million plug-in electric cars were sold in 2022, a total of 14% of new car sales, up from 9% in 2021. Many countries have established government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles, tax credits, subsidies, and other non-monetary incentives while several countries have legislated to phase-out sales of fossil fuel cars, to reduce air pollution and limit climate change. EVs are expected to account for nearly one-fifth of global car sales in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
China currently has the largest stock of electric vehicles in the world, with cumulative sales of 5.5 million units through December 2020, although these figures also include heavy-duty commercial vehicles such as buses, garbage trucks and sanitation vehicles, and only accounts for vehicles manufactured in China. In the United States and the European Union, as of 2020, the total cost of ownership of recent electric vehicles is cheaper than that of equivalent ICE cars, due to lower fueling and maintenance costs.
In 2023 the Tesla Model Y became the world's best selling car. The Tesla Model 3 became the world's all-time best-selling electric car in early 2020, and in June 2021 became the first electric car to pass 1 million global sales. Together with other emerging automotive technologies such as autonomous driving, connected vehicles and shared mobility, electric cars form a future mobility vision called Autonomous, Connected, Electric and Shared (ACES) Mobility.
