What are Electric Vehicles And Their Impacts On Environment

What are Electric Vehicles and their mechanisms?

The mechanism of eclectic vehicles is different from that of conventional cars. Conventional cars run on internal combustion engines (ICEs), whereas electric vehicles run on electric motors. In addition, conventional cars are powered by traditional fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel, whereas rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used to power electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles primarily depend on five components to run effectively on the road. These components are a battery pack, electric motor, controller, inverter, and charging station.

• The EV battery is made of lithium-ion cells. These batteries also power mobiles, tablets, laptops, and other electronic gadgets. The EV battery life ranges from 8 to 10 years.
• Sometimes, the electric motors work more efficiently than internal combustion engines. The eclectic motor provides instant torque, enhancing the performance of EVs. The electric motors help convert electric energy to mechanical energy that accelerates EVs.
• Inverters transform AC into DC which powers electric motors. Vehicles using DC motors do not need any inverter.
• Controllers are used to manage the flow of electricity. They process the inputs coming from pressing brakes or clutches and deliver them to the motor.
• The charging station is essential to power EVs on the road. At the charging station, EVs are connected to the external power source.

Why EVs are better for the environment

• Electric vehicles use electricity to drive on the roads. So, the EVs cause zero tailpipe emissions, decreasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants in the atmosphere. Hydrogen-powered EVs produce a small amount of water vapour. This vapour improves the air quality. The EVs help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the ecological footprints. 
• EVs do not emit such elements that contaminate the air. However, if the batteries are manufactured irresponsibly, they will negatively impact the environment. As the lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry is relatively new, the companies have been facing several setbacks during battery production. With the advent of new technology, the battery industry has seen significant growth. It has reduced the carbon footprint by 2-3 times in recent years.
• The engines of EVs are much simpler in design than that of traditional cars. So, the EV engines produce higher acceleration than the gas-powered cars. Another reason for high acceleration is that electric engines are responsible for generating torque faster than other cars. 

Type of EVs

Electric vehicles are classified into three types, depending on preference and functionality. They are battery EVs (BEVs), Plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs), and non-plug-in hybrid EVs.

• Battery Electric vehicles (BEVs):  Battery EVs, also known as Full Electric Vehicles, completely rely on electric motors for driving. External power sources are used to charge this type of EV. You can charge this vehicle at a charging station or your home. After charging for a certain period, you cover 150-300 miles. This distance is also known as the electric range. The operating and maintenance costs of this type of EV are very cheap. BEVs do not produce any tailpipe emissions.
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs): This type of electric vehicle uses both electric motors and traditional combustion engines to drive on the road. It uses a larger battery pack and requires more time to charge than BEVs.
• Non-plug-in hybrid EVs (NPHEVs): Regular hybrid electric vehicles fall under this category. Like PHEVs, they use both electric motors and internal combustion engines (ICE). The battery used in regular hybrid EVs is powered by regenerative braking and the combustion engine. The popularity of hybrid EVs has increased as they do not have an external power source for charging. However, it has a smaller battery size and uses fuel to cover most of the electric range.
• Fuel Cell EVs (FCEVs): In this type of EV, the fuel cell is used to generate electricity. Hydrogen fuel is used as the primary source of energy. The refuelling period of this type of EV is higher than that of traditional cars. They usually take 3-5 minutes to completely refuel the tank. These EVs are the best option to optimise fuel economy. However, the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is in the developmental stage and available in fewer regions.

Final words

The adoption of electric vehicles is one step forward to reducing environmental degradation. As EVs do not emit tailpipe elements, driving them will significantly reduce the health risks associated with air and water pollution. As the dependency on traditional fossil fuels has decreased, the demand for green energy has gradually increased, leading to a cleaner and greener climate. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the advantages of using EVs. I recommend you switch to EVs from traditional cars and contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change.