Types of Electric vehicles on the road today

BY  AFZAL YOUSAF

TYPES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The term Electric vehicle is familiar to almost everyone out there, whereas few of them knows the different types of electric vehicles. Each and every one of them have its own advantages and disadvantages, Regenerative Braking mode, through which they recharge their batteries using recovered energy from barking rather than loosing the energy in the form of heat.

Four Types of EVs on road today.

1#.BEV- BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE

2#.PHEV- (PLUG IN) HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

3#.HEV- HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

4#.FCEV- FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE

BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE

BEV runs entirely on a battery without an internal combustion engine.It has an electric drive train. Electricity is stored in onboard batteries that are charged by using electricity grid. And this battery in turn powers the one or more battery in the power train.

More about BEVs

• Initial buying cost is high compared to similar gasoline cars.
• You can save a lot of money on fuel and maintenance cost.
• Will have a range of upto 500km on a single charge.
• Battery pack size will be bigger as it's only source of energy is electricity.
• Battery have both slow and fast charging methods.In slow charge mode, you can charge from your household itself. For fast charging, you can use charging stations.
• Slow charging takes upto 5-6 hours to charge fully, while in fast charge(DC Quick charge) we can charge within 1-2 hour
• For public transport EVs, like electric bus, can be charged using pantograph up/down  roof top fast charging, like ABB FAST CHARGING, to charge within 10 minutes. 
• In the light of technical advancement in battery technology, upcoming BEVs are offering range upto 600 miles on single charge.

          Here you can find Top 10 E-cars with highest range.

PLUG IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

PHEV uses both battery and gasoline engine. The battery in this type gives a range upto 100km to all the electric drives before the IC Engines comes to action for the longer drives.

More about PHEVs

• Initial buying cost or MSRP(Manufacturer's suggested Retail Price) will be higher than similar vehicles operating on IC Engine alone.
• Battery can be charged from electric grid.
• They have longer rang e compared to BEVs as PHEV has both battery and fuel tank. Battery can give a range upto 100 km and by using fuel, it can travel upto 700km.
• It can achieve higher range or fuel economy than conventional IC Engine vehicles.
• PHEV is cheaper to operate and maintain compared to IC engine.

                                           Top PHEV Cars in the world.

HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

HEV has two complementary drive system.

1. IC Engine and Fuel tank

2. Electric motor and Battery

IC Engine and Electric motor together turns the transmission that powers the wheel.Unlike the two above mentioned EVs, battery of HEV can only be charged through regenerative braking. Most of the driving is powered by IC Engine and Electric motor is just secondary.

More about HEVs

• HEVs have higher fuel economy than normal IC Engine vehicles.
• Maintenance and operational cost is less compared to normal IC Engine.
• They are more similar to Gasoline vehicles than electric vehicles.

 FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE

FCEV is also fully electrically operated vehicle. But it creates electricity from Hydrogen and Oxygen, instead of storing and releasing like battery. Because of it's high efficiency and water produced as a by-product, many experts consider this as the best of  EVs.

More about FCEVs

• Initial purchase cost is high because the price of fuel cell is very high compared to normal lithium cells and IC Engines.
• FCEV is still in development phase and has many challenges.
• Refills hydrogen from H2 fuel stations. Lack of fuel station is a big challenge. 
• FCEVs are expected to be widespread on the road in next few years.
• Extraction of hydrogen from water molecule is an energy intensive process.
• Toyota Mirai is one of the first such cars to be sold commercially.

Pictorial illustration of BEV, PHEV and HEV  

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