Molly Ayala
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, with 16% of new car sales in 2023 falling into this category. There are four main types of electric vehicles, each with its own charging requirements: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). BEVs, also known as all-electric vehicles, are powered and fuelled solely by electricity, with energy coming from rechargeable battery packs. PHEVs also use batteries but incorporate a smaller internal combustion engine for longer driving ranges. HEVs, on the other hand, cannot be plugged in to charge; instead, they use regenerative braking or the gasoline engine to recharge their batteries. Finally, FCEVs are powered by hydrogen gas, which undergoes a chemical reaction to generate electricity and power the electric motor.
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What You'll Learn
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
BEVs are notable for producing zero emissions and offer a smooth and
BEVs include automobiles, light trucks, buses, trucks, forklifts, motorcycles and scooters, bicycles, skateboards, railcars, boats and personal watercraft, although the term usually refers specifically to passenger cars. As of September 2024, the world's top-selling BEV in history is the Tesla Model Y, with an estimated 3.4 million sales, followed by the Tesla Model 3 with over 2.6 million sales.
BEVs are not ideal for long-distance driving due to their limited battery range. However, advances in design and energy storage will improve the range of BEVs and decrease charging time in the future.
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Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
PHEVs offer a popular alternative to BEVs as they address range anxiety, providing the advantages of an EV without the same limitations. They can drive in pure electric mode for a range of roughly 20 to 50 miles, producing zero tailpipe emissions. Once the battery is depleted, the ICE kicks in, allowing the vehicle to extend its range. This makes PHEVs seamless and quiet on the road, and more affordable to run.
PHEV batteries can be recharged through regenerative braking, where energy generated during braking is captured and used to recharge the battery. The electric motor can also work as a generator, capturing energy that would normally be lost when braking to charge the battery. PHEVs can be charged at home or through commercial EV charging stations at locations such as shopping centres, gas stations, or parking lots.
PHEVs use 14 to 47 percent less fuel than conventional vehicles if their batteries are fully charged. They can also run on conventional fuel when electricity is unavailable. This flexibility means that PHEVs are a good option for those wanting an electric vehicle without the range limitations.
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Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
HEVs can be either mild or full hybrids. Mild hybrids, also called micro-hybrids, use a battery and electric motor to assist in powering the vehicle and can allow the engine to shut off when the vehicle stops, further improving fuel economy. However, mild hybrid systems cannot power the vehicle using electricity alone. These vehicles generally cost less than full hybrids but provide fewer fuel economy benefits. Full hybrids, on the other hand, have larger batteries and more powerful electric motors, which can power the vehicle for short distances and at low speeds. Full hybrids cost more than mild hybrids but offer better fuel economy advantages.
Parallel hybrids are the most common HEV design, with both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine driving the wheels directly. Series hybrids, on the other hand, use only the electric motor to drive the wheels and are more commonly found in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). PHEVs, unlike HEVs, can be recharged from external sources and use a smaller internal combustion engine to recharge the battery or, in some models, directly power the wheels. This allows for longer driving ranges.
HEVs offer a cost-competitive alternative to traditional vehicles and are generally more affordable than BEVs and PHEVs, with some options costing less than $25,000. They are also similar to traditional gas-powered vehicles in terms of flexibility, as they only need to be filled with gas, making the transition to an HEV seamless without requiring any significant lifestyle changes.
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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)
FCEVs are considered environmentally friendly as they produce no harmful emissions during operation. They are classified as zero-emission vehicles, as no carbon is involved in the fuel, and therefore no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons are emitted. They are also very quiet, with no noisy engines.
FCEVs are similar in operation to BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), except for the source of energy. Hydrogen fuel and the fuel cell replace the battery. The process of conversion takes place by taking compressed hydrogen from the vehicle-mounted tank and mixing it with the atmospheric air, which produces DC electricity to drive the electric motor. The electricity generated can also be stored in an energy storage device, such as a battery pack.
FCEVs can currently travel around 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen, and the vehicles are equipped with advanced technologies to increase efficiency, such as regenerative braking systems. However, there are a limited number of hydrogen fuelling stations for automobiles publicly available, and critics doubt whether hydrogen will be efficient or cost-effective for automobiles compared to other zero-emission technologies.
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Electric Micromobility Devices
Micromobility devices include electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), electric skateboards, and electric unicycles. Some sources also include velomobiles, shared bicycle fleets, and electric pedal-assisted (pedelec) bicycles in this category. These devices are typically classified as light electric vehicles (LEVs), which cannot be constructed to exceed 25 km/h and have a gross vehicle weight of less than 500 kilograms.
The evolution of micromobility can be traced through several generations, starting with the introduction of dockless bicycle-sharing services in 2000, followed by dockless electric bicycle sharing in 2017. The third generation employed a dockless model, allowing users to leave the shared micromobility device anywhere within a geo-fenced area. This flexibility, along with the availability of inexpensive batteries and other components, contributed to the growth of micromobility services worldwide.
The legality of micromobility devices and their usage can vary depending on the jurisdiction. In the European Union, for example, micromobility vehicles are classified as bicycles and are permitted to use bicycle infrastructure. This classification also exempts users from registration, vehicle registration fees, and liability insurance requirements.
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