Electric Vehicle
Electric Vehicle is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. Power can come from the collector system, extravehicular sources of power, or from a battery. Electric Vehicles aren’t limited to road and rail vehicles but have explored their application from surface and underwater and spacecraft also. EVs are becoming very popular and are like the skyrocket. They are considered to be one of the best solutions to the transportation problem of the future. Tesla is one of the best-known examples.
A brief history of electric vehicles
The concept of electric carriages, trams, cars, and trains started in the 1800s. The very first battery-powered electric motor was invented by Thomas Davenport in 1834. One of the major issues with these electric vehicles to make them commercialized was the issue with the battery system. The rechargeable batteries weren’t available at that time making them impractical for commercial use. However, there were various experiments carried out with electric vehicles.
When vehicles such as the CitiCar were produced in the 1970s, interest in electric vehicle technology was renewed. General Motors launched the EV1 mid-1990s, and Toyota produced the Prius in 1993.
Until the launch of the Tesla Roadster in the late 2000s, power and range were still concerns. Today, most major automakers offer at least some electric and hybrid vehicles, and battery manufacturing has advanced dramatically.
Major Components of EVs
The major components of electric vehicles include:
- Electric Battery
The battery stores the electricity needed to operate the vehicle. Electric current flows from the battery to the motor. Thus, the vehicle runs. An electric vehicle with a large battery range will have a longer range. Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular type of battery today. They have a high energy density. They can store more energy.
- Inverter
Direct Current (DC) in the form of electric current stored in batteries. In fact, most electric vehicles use Alternating Current (AC) motors. Therefore, the inverter converts DC to AC.
- Electric Motor
The rotation of the wheels is powered by an electric motor. A motor may be either DC or AC, but the AC type is more common.
- Regenerative Braking System
This system recovers the energy lost when the vehicle brakes and uses it to charge the batteries. Electric vehicles have limited energy resources. Hence, you must conserve every ounce of power.
- Power Control Unit
Electric vehicles have a control unit that controls all the components. It monitors the motor output, the battery charging, and gives the driver the necessary information.
Advantages of Electric Vehicles
- Less noise pollution
The noise level while operating the vehicle is much lesser compare to noise generated by petrol or diesel engine. This results in less noise pollution.
- Higher Efficiency
The efficiency of EVs is higher compared to that of other vehicles. The efficiency is 90% compared to that of an internal combustion engine.
- Lesser air pollution
Electric Vehicles runs completed by the motor system. There is no combustion process this makes them air pollution-free vehicles. Thus, they cause less harm to the environment compared to IC engines.