Electric Cars

Electric Car

An electric car, battery electric car, or all-electric car, is a car powered by one or more electric motors, using only the energy stored in the battery. Compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric vehicles are quieter, have zero exhaust emissions, and generally have lower emissions. 

The term "electric vehicle" usually refers specifically to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or all-electric vehicles, a type of electric vehicle (EV) that has a battery that can be plugged into a board that can be plugged into a charge from the power grid. and the electricity stored in the car is the only source of energy that makes the legs run. This term usually refers to cars that can be used on highways, but small electric cars with the same size, power, and speed limits are allowed to work on public roads. These are classified as neighborhood electric vehicles (NEV) in the United States and electric quadricycles in Europe.

Early developments:

Robert Anderson is generally credited with making the first electric car between 1832 and 1839. 

The following experimental electric cars appeared in the 1880s: 

• In 1881, Gustave Trouvé demonstrated an electric car at the International Electric Exhibition in Paris.
• In 1884, more than 20 years before the Ford Model T, Thomas Parker built an electric car in Wolverhampton using his own well-designed rechargeable battery, although the only documentation is an 1895 photograph.
• In 1888, German Andreas Flocken designed the Flocken Elektrowagen, considered by some to be the first "real" electric car.

Electricity was one of the best ways to power cars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing a level of comfort and ease of use that was unattainable at the time. Electric vehicles numbered approximately 30,000 vehicles in the early 20th century.

In 1897, electric cars found commercial use as taxis in Britain and the United States. In London, Walter Bersey's electronic taxi was the first self-paying vehicle in the era of horse-drawn taxis. In the 20th century, the leading manufacturers of electric cars in the United States were Anthony Electric, Baker, Columbia, Anderson, Edison, Riker, Milburn, Bailey Electric, and Detroit Electric. Their electric vehicles are quieter than gas-powered vehicles and do not require gear changes.

Six electric cars held the land speed record within the 19th century. The last of these was the La Toujours Contente rocket, piloted by Camille Jenatzy, which broke the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark and reached a maximum speed of 105.88 km/h (65.79 mph) in 1899.

Electric cars remained popular until advances in internal combustion engines (ICE) and cheaper gasoline and diesel production led to a decline. ICE cars' fuel injection time and low production cost made them more popular. However, the rainy season came at the beginning of 1912 of the electric starter which replaced other, more laborious, methods of starting the ICE, such as the crank.

Modern electric cars:

In the early 1990s, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) began a campaign for more efficient and low-emission vehicles, with the ultimate goal of moving to zero-emission vehicles such as electric vehicles. In response, car manufacturers have developed electric models. These first cars were eventually pulled from the US market, due to a massive campaign by US carmakers to discredit the concept of electric cars.

The California-based electric car manufacturer, Tesla Motors began development in 2004 of what would become the Tesla Roadster, which was first delivered to customers in 2008. The Roadster is the first all-electric street car to use a lithium-ion battery cell and an all-electric car production to travel over 200 miles (320 km) per charge.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV, introduced in 2009 in Japan, is the first electric car to be produced on the road, and the all-electric car has sold more than 10,000 units. A few months later, the Nissan Leaf, launched in 2010, surpassed the I MiEV as the best-selling electric car at the time.

Starting in 2008, a renaissance in the production of electric cars occurred due to advances in batteries and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the air quality of cities. In 2010, China's electric car industry grew significantly with government support. The money introduced by the Chinese government will be reduced by 20-30% and completely eliminated before 2023. in Guangzhou. , which counts Fiat, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and Toyota as foreign partners.

In July 2019, the American magazine Motor Trend awarded the all-electric Tesla Model S the "best car of the year" title. In March 2020, the Tesla Model 3 overtook the Nissan Leaf to become the world's best-selling electric car, with more than 500,000 units sold; it reached the milestone of one million sales worldwide in June 2021.

In the third quarter of 2021, the Automotive Innovation Alliance reported that the sale of electric cars reached 6% of the total US car market, the highest value of electric cars. and 187,000 vehicles. This is an 11% increase in sales, compared to a 1.3% increase for the gasoline and diesel units.

Power companies in the Middle East have designed electric cars. Mays Motors of Oman has launched the Mays I E1 which is expected to start production in 2023. Built from carbon fiber, it has a range of 560 km (350 miles) and can be extended from 0 to 130 km / h (0 to 80). mph) in about 4 seconds. In Turkey, the electric car company Togg is starting the production of its electric car. The batteries will be produced in partnership with the Chinese company Farasis Energy.

Economics:

Manufacturing costs

The most expensive part of an electric car is the battery. The price went from €605 per kWh in 2010 to €170 in 2017, and to €100 in 2019. When developing electric vehicles, manufacturers may find that converting existing platforms may be cheaper for low production, as development costs are lower; However, for high production, a dedicated platform should be chosen to optimize design and cost.

Ownership Costs

In the EU and the United States, but not yet in China, the cost of ownership of electric cars has recently been cheaper than that of gasoline cars, due to lower fuel and labor costs. 

The longer the annual journey, the lower the total cost of an electric vehicle is likely to be than the equivalent ICE vehicle. The length of the break varies from country to country based on different taxes, subsidies, and energy costs. In some countries, comparisons may vary by country, as vehicle types may have different entry fees in different countries; for example, in England, London pays more for ICE buses than Birmingham.

Cost of purchase 

Many state and local governments have introduced electric vehicle incentives to reduce the purchase price of electric vehicles and other plug-ins.

In 2020, the battery of an electric car represents more than a quarter of the total cost of a car. The purchase price is expected to drop below that of new ICE vehicles when battery prices fall below $100 per kWh, which is expected to be in the mid-2020s.

In a June 2022 report from AlixPartners, the cost of components in the average electric car increased from $3,381 in March 2020 to $8,255 in May 2022. The increase in cost was attributed to lithium, nickel, and cobalt.

Cost of Running

Electricity almost always costs less than gasoline per mile, but the price of electricity often varies depending on where and what time of day the vehicle is charged. Fuel prices are also affected by income, which can vary from place to place.

Environmental aspects:

Electric cars have many advantages when replacing ICE cars, including a significant reduction in local air pollution, because they do not emit air pollution such as volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, and various nitrogen oxides. Like ICE vehicles, electric vehicles emit particulates from tires and brake wear that can be harmful, although the brakes on electric vehicles are less reactive. brake dust. More research is needed on factors other than exhaust gases. Fueling (from oil and gas tanks) causes additional damage and use of resources during extraction and processing.

Depending on the production process and the source of the electricity used to drive the vehicle, the output can be transported from the cities to the electric power station that produces the vehicle and transports it. The amount of carbon dioxide depends on the results of electricity and the operation of the car. For grid electricity, cycle life varies with the amount of electricity generated, but is still lower than ICE vehicles.

It is estimated that the cost of installing charging equipment will be repaid by healthcare savings in less than 3 years. According to the 2020 study, improving lithium supply and demand for the rest of the century will require better recycling systems, vehicle installations, and lower lithium transport capacity.

Public opinion:

A study conducted in 2022 found that 33% of car buyers in Europe will choose a petrol or diesel car when buying a new car. 67% of respondents said they would have chosen a hybrid or electric model. Specifically, he found that electric cars are chosen by only 28% of Europeans, making them the best type of car. 39% of Europeans prefer hybrid cars, while 33% prefer petrol or diesel cars.

44% of Chinese car buyers, on the other hand, are likely to buy an electric car, while 38% of Americans will choose a hybrid car, and 33% will choose gasoline or diesel. diesel, while only 29% would opt for a car. electric car. cars.

Specifically for the EU, 47% of car buyers over the age of 65 are likely to buy a hybrid car, while 31% of respondents do not consider hybrid cars good. 35% would prefer gasoline or diesel, and 24% for electric vehicles over hybrids.

In the EU, only 13% of the total population would not consider owning a car at all.