Electric Vehicles, All sides
By: Meer Hummal
Tags: Vehicles, Technology, Battery, Cars, Ev Vehicles

Engines to electric motors, Fuels to batteries, Is it the time for us to change our car’s fuel source by 2021?

Image via Unsplash

Electric cars or Electric vehicles aka (EV) run on batteries “energy stored in batteries”, Electric vehicles uses one or more than one electric motors or traction motors for driving force. Unlike those conventional vehicles, BEV’s (Battery Electric Vehicles) can be driven without any gasoline or diesel, they generate power from batteries fitted inside. However, all electric cars do not work the same way!

Varieties of EV

(HEV’s) Hybrid Electric Vehicle is powered by both electricity and fuel, it starts by using electric power and runs at a specific speed limit but as the load increases the internal computer automatically shifts it to petrol or diesel depending on fuel system. Electric energy in HEV’s is produced through its own braking system called [regenerative braking system] while braking it creates heat and store energy in batteries.

Hyundai Ionic hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Prius Prime Hybrid are the finest examples of Hybrid Electric Vehicles.

(PHEVs) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles comes with plug-in charging feature PHEVs can be recharged by plugging into an external source electricity. It can travel decent distances without using the internal combustion engine (ICE), PHEV out flow from car’s tailpipe to generators powering electricity grid.

Best-selling models of PHEVs are Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV, Chevrolet Volt Family and BMW 330e.

(BEVs) Battery Electric Vehicles are complete electric cars without having any exhaust pipe, combustion engine and fuel tank. BEVs traveling range (miles) depends on the model, with plus 65 kilowatt hours Lithium ion battery BEVs are easy to charge/ fast charge wherever possible.

Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-Tron and Tesla Model S are market leaders of fully electric vehicles.

Battery electric cars has been dominating the market for many years grabbing customer’s attention and growth in purchases:

Statistics from statista.com

In 2018 almost 3.3 million battery electric vehicles were in operation all over the world, the reason behind the growing purchase rate of BEVs is “less maintenance and less cost” ownership of electric vehicle will not cost much comparably to internal combustion engine.

Why do I switch to EVs?

Switching to EV is more than individual benefits, EVs lower emissions and save a lot of money, charging instead of fueling offers some profit in this case, which you can never get from ICEs. Electric cars response very quick, fast pick up acceleration and have a really good torque.

There are great names who has produced some quality models in last few years, and American electric car company Tesla Inc. is leading the market:

Statistics via statista

Climate view on EVs

Electric cars are not just attractive but beneficial too, with all smart features EVs are also harmless for environment, they radiate less air pollutants and greenhouse gases than a conventional car. EVs considered to be the most clean and green production from manufacturers.

With no exhaust silencers it is impossible to generate air pollutants, EV radiates no carbon dioxide while driving, in simple words use of EVs will result in clean and green streets all over the city.

Apart from this, it is for sure that covid-19 has already filtered climate in past months, such as lockdowns, and decrease in production of many major industries, the quality of air has ameliorated and same goes with water pollution which has also decreased this year, So it might be the perfect time for many firms to come up with the best of both worlds.

Pros and cons of EVs

Aside from benefits there are some disadvantages of electric vehicles as well, shorter range than fuel-powered cars, can be very costly if the battery fails, time taking while recharging the batteries, and they are usually expensive typically for a conventional car owner. PROS — the top of the list is that EVs are environmental friendly, “cheap” in sense of recharging batteries rather than filling the tank, Almost maintenance free — less maintenance required than gas-powered car, DC charging facility, Soundless drive comparably to conventional vehicles and at many routes, there are special lanes on highways for electric vehicles.

EVs in Pakistan

Similarly with fast growth of Electric vehicles globally, the global electric vehicle market is expected to reach 802.81 billion dollars by the end of 2027. Meanwhile in Pakistan EV technology counted less than 10% in all cities, but the country has plans to bring 30% of electric vehicles in use on roads by 2030,

Owning an electric vehicle in Pakistan can also be risky in many ways. The majority of people drive conventional cars because the country has full services for these cars, there are number of (HEVs) Hybrid electric vehicle users, driving Toyota Prius, Toyota Aqua and Honda Vezel. At the end of the year 2019 BMW launched its full electric car in Pakistan for the first time ever, around 95 lac rupees, costs an arm and a leg for residents and also it didn’t get any fame around natives.

Image via unsplash.com

EV freaks can face some major troubles in Pakistan as for example Lack of charging stations, fully electric vehicle in low budget, stressful road trips because of “if batteries depletes” and it’s heavy cost if batteries fail at some point, keeping rising petroleum prices in mind public would love to switch on EV technology as SAIC motors are launching an affordable MG ZS electric vehicle this year in Pakistan but the care services won’t be pleasing. The government has to work on EV infrastructures and invest in charging stations around all cities.

Besides all comfort seating, 5 star features and top notch technology a car driver need essentials and facilities for his car, I myself would love to have Porsche Taycan for fun and status but what about its necessities? Which my homeland is unable to provide at the moment. But the govt. has got your back if you step back from full electric vehicles and set eyes on Hybrid technology.

Will 2021 is going to be the year where people worldwide will be freed from noisy engines?