Are Electric Vehicle Technologies The Future Of Transportation?

The electric vehicles will be the future of the 21^st Century. The demand for EVs is pumping due the global warming and therefore, the price increment of the crude oil in the market. The major automakers and suppliers are racing to bring Electric Vehicles into the market. They are trying to build new innovative electric vehicles which are more usable, convenient, and earth-friendly. And, the previous Petrol/Diesel Vehicles will gradually shift into Electric Vehicle Technology. So, it is clear that EVs are the next future and they are slowly coming into the track.

In this post, I am going to explain “What are electric vehicle technologies?”. What is the demand for Electric Vehicles and which technologies are being used or its upcoming technologies?

What is Electric Vehicle?

The Electric Vehicle is a vehicle that is powered by electricity and there is one or more electric propulsion-based motors. This type of vehicle’s motor is the conversion of the gasoline-fueled internal-combustion engine. In technical terms, the electric vehicle is named an “intelligent electric vehicle (IEV)”. The maintenance cost of EVs is lesser than that of traditional vehicles. According to the BloombergNEF report 2020, predicted that 400 million passenger EVs would be on the road by 2040.

Electric Vehicle Types

There are 4 types of Electric Vehicles such as:

(a) Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

This type of Electric vehicle is fully powered by electricity. Here power is stored in the battery. The stored power in the battery is pumped to the vehicles to run on the road.

(b) Hybrid Electric Vehicle

This type of vehicle is a combination of the electric battery and the internal combustion-based motor engine. When petrol is empty in the car, then an electric battery is used.

(c) Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

Here electric energy has been produced from chemical energy. An example of chemical energy: Hydrogen Fuel

(d) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle that is the combination of an internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.

List of Electric Vehicle Technologies

1. EV Battery Technology

The battery is the most important part of the Electric Vehicles. And, in the current market, the most popular battery is the lithium-ion battery. It is a lightweight battery and we are mostly used for laptops and cell phones to hybrids and electric cars. These batteries consist of several individual components, namely the anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and two current collectors—one positive and one negative. Significant investments have been made by prominent manufacturers such as Tesla and Nissan towards the development and advancement of this technology. The other prominent battery technologies are cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries, Solid-state batteries, Aluminum-ion batteries, Lithium-sulfur batteries, and Metal-air batteries. On the other hand, solid-state batteries don’t have electrolyte leaks or fires. The companies like Toyota and Volkswagen, are planning to integrate this battery into electric cars.

2. Charging Technology

With the growing demand for electric vehicles and the pressure on the government to reduce greenhouse gases to zero by 2050, there should be required to install charging stations a shorter span distance. Although, it is still in the under process to install charging stations in all cities of the USA. Smart EV Charging or fast charging is trying to meet the drivers’ and local grids’ needs like reliability, safety, renewable, and cost-effective energy to Electric. This process works on the back-end software technology that takes data from EVs, networked chargers, and the grid. Even today, normal EV Charging stations need a minimum of 10 minutes to charge the EV’s battery. Although there are three types of charging facilities for EVs such as Trickle Charger, AC Charger, and DC Charger. The other types of charging mechanisms are Megawatt Charging Systems, Mobile EV Charging, Autonomous EV Charging, etc.

3. Wireless Charging

With the demand for plugs and cable charging, there is also a demand for wireless charging in EVs. This technology works from the ground of the special EV Charging point to the coil integrated into the vehicle. Electromagnetic field technology has been used to transmit the energy from the charger to the car. It is a static wireless charging. In the year 2020, the value of the wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging market was estimated at $6.9 million. However, according to predictions, by the year 2030, it is expected to grow significantly and reach a remarkable value of $207.4 million. In 2019, BMW achieved a notable milestone by introducing a wireless charging system for their 530e plug-in hybrid electric sedan, becoming the pioneering manufacturer to offer such a commercially-viable solution.

4. AR technology

With the advancement of AI technology and the high demand for EVs, there is also raised the demand for holographic Augmented Reality (AR) Technology in electric vehicles. AR technology is not only offering interactive experiences but also unlocking creative possibilities for users. It offers different features to the users such as AR Head-Up Displays (HUD) technology, AR Smartphone Applications, AR Safe Driving technology, etc. This innovative technology provides a unique platform for users to discover their creativity and explore limitless virtual environments. It allows users to build virtual elements and brings objects to life with realistic 3D perspectives in front of the car glass. This technology is also present in video game worlds, enhancing museum visits with interactive exhibits, or optimizing industrial processes with augmented guidance. AR technology opens doors to new and exciting possibilities in various fields. In 2020, the market size of AR Technology was $ 3.97 billion. The experts projected that this technology will grow at a CAGR of 18.1% between the years 2021 and 2028.

Advantages of Electric Vehicle Technologies

1. Environmental Benefits: 

One of the most essential advantages of electric cars is that they are environmentally friendly. Electric vehicles produce zero emissions, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve city air quality. Currently, most countries release carbon monoxide gases after burning petrol and diesel through the vehicles and industry level. But by switching to electric cars or battery-based technology, we can prevent climate change and reduce health risks from air pollution.

2. Energy Efficiency: 

Electric cars are more efficient than gasoline cars. They convert more grid electricity into power for the wheels, resulting in increased driving performance and reduced operating costs.

3. Renewable Energy Integration: 

With the advancement and the upcoming demand for EVS, renewable energy integration, storage technology, and research will increase in the coming days. So, it will be the future of evergreen technology. So, Electric vehicles have the unique advantage of being powered by renewable energy such as solar or wind, reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the energy ecosystem.

4. Innovation and Development: 

The push for electric vehicles has fueled innovations in battery technology, charging and vehicle design. The development of solid-state batteries, high-speed connectivity and autonomous driving are just a few examples of how electricity use is increasing in the automotive industry.

5. Lower Operating Costs:

The operating costs of electric vehicles are lower than those of gasoline vehicles. Electricity is generally cheaper than gasoline, and electric cars have less movement, reducing maintenance costs. Therefore, the servicing cost of electric cars will also be less than gasoline vehicles. According to the report published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, EVs’ maintenance cost is 40% less than gasoline vehicles. As battery technology improves and becomes cheaper, the long-term savings of owning an electric car will become more attractive.

6. Tax Benefits:

Most of the country’s governments offer tax benefits to the people to encourage them to buy electric vehicles as they are environmentally friendly. They mainly provide lesser registration fees and road tax on purchasing EVs than ICE vehicles.

Conclusion

With the advancement of battery technology, Electric vehicles are becoming more popular among consumers. The main objective of electric vehicles is that it emits far less pollution than traditional gasoline-powered cars.

However, to dominate the electric vehicle market, need to address the existing challenges. The main challenges such as if the battery will discharge before reaching the destination and therefore lack of sufficient charging station.

Despite these challenges, electric vehicles are becoming more popular each year. In 2018, electric vehicle sales in the United States increased by 81% over the previous year. This trend is expected to continue, as battery technology continues to improve and the infrastructure to support electric vehicles is built out.