Electric vehicles‘ adaptability is increasing exponentially. Due to the rising fuel cost and to counter the ever-increasing pollution, people are switching to electric vehicles.
However, many people may not know the Types Of Electric Vehicles available in the market. Due to this lack of knowledge, they often choose the wrong vehicle and later regret the purchase.
To solve this problem, we have created this article, in which we will discuss the different types of electric vehicles currently available in the market in India and how they work.
But before that, it’s better to know the basics of an electric vehicle and the basic working principle of a typical electric vehicle.
What Is an Electric Vehicle?
An electric vehicle converts electric energy to mechanical energy, which propels the electric motors and rotates the vehicle’s wheels.
Since electric vehicles do not burn fuel, they are considered emission-free vehicles, although to produce electricity, we may need to burn coal, which is again a safety hazard for the environment.
How Does An Electric Vehicle Work?
Here is the basic working principle summary of an electric vehicle.
- The Battery Management System (BMS)/ Battery controller takes the user’s throttle input and adjusts the electrical energy given to the motor and inverter accordingly.
- The motor then converts that electrical energy into mechanical energy and rotates the shaft.
- Vehicle wheels are either connected to the motor shaft or through a belt. When the motor shaft rotates, the vehicle wheels also rotate.
Types Of Electric Vehicles
Based on how the motor gets the power, there are four types of electric vehicles available in the market.
- Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
- Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
- Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
- Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
What Is a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Battery Electric Vehicles are called All-Electric Vehicles (AEV) as the power is supplied purely by a battery pack. No internal combustion engine is present.
You need to keep on charging the battery pack to run the vehicle. You don’t need any fuel as it does not have an engine. Battery electric vehicles are 100% emission-free vehicles.
Main Components Of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
- Motor
- Battery Pack
- Controller
- Drive Train
- Inverter
Working Principle Of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
- When we press the accelerator, it sends a signal to the controller that modifies the frequency of the AC flowing from the inverter to the motor to regulate the vehicle’s speed.
- The motor rotates the vehicle wheels through the belt or gear or directly mounts it.
- When you press the brake, the vehicle starts decelerating, and the motor acts as an alternator, charging the battery pack.
What Is a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
Hybrid electric vehicles have an internal combustion engine and a battery. When the IC engine is running, the battery pack is automatically charged. When the battery is charged, it comes into action and powers the vehicle.
The beauty of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle is that it does not need to be charged using a charger like a typical BEV. The IC engine itself charges the battery. However, the battery pack is usually smaller than a BEV.
An HEV gets better mileage as the battery drives the vehicle most of the time. Since it doesn’t need to be charged, it can also be used as a regular IC engine vehicle.
There are two types of Hybrid Electric Vehicles available in the market. One is a Mild Hybrid Vehicle, where the battery size is very small and only used for auxiliary functions like starting/ stopping the engine. A mild hybrid cannot power the vehicle using a battery alone.
The other is a strong hybrid electric vehicle with a high-capacity battery that can run the car alone without any power from the internal combustion engine.
Main Components Of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
- Motor
- Battery Pack
- Controller
- Drive Train
- Inverter
- IC Engine
- Fuel Tank
Working Principle Of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
- Like any IC engine, you need to use fuel to power the IC engine.
- Let the engine run your vehicle for some time till it charges the battery
- When sufficiently charged, the battery takes over the IC Engine and powers the car alone.
- When the battery charge drops below a threshold, the IC engine returns to action and performs the same cycle.
What Is a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
The main difference between a PHEV and an HEV is that a PHEV offers the option of charging the battery separately without any help from the internal combustion engine.
If you wish, the IC engine can also charge the battery, but you are getting an option to charge the battery pack using a charger.
In Plug-In Electric Vehicles, there are mostly two modes of operation. In one mode, the battery can drive the vehicle alone, whereas in another, both the battery and the IC use power to drive the vehicle.
Main Components Of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
- Motor
- Battery Pack
- Controller
- Drive Train
- Inverter
- IC Engine
- Fuel Tank
- Battery charger
Working Principle Of Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
- PHEV usually starts the car with the battery and runs till the battery range drops to a certain level
- When the battery range drops, the IC engine runs the car.
- You also get the option to drive the vehicle simultaneously using the battery and the IC engine.
- When the IC engine is running, it can charge the battery, or you can charge it by connecting it to a wall charger.
What Is a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles use compressed Hydrogen gas and air to drive. The fuel cell converts the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy, which in turn runs the electric motor.
The main component of an FCEV is the fuel cell, which combines oxygen and hydrogen to generate electricity and power the electric motor.
The battery will be charged by the electricity produced by the fuel cell. However, you must regularly visit the gas station to fill compressed hydrogen gas.
The beauty of FCEV is that it is 100% emission-free. Due to the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, it will only get water vapor from the exhaust pipe.
Main Components Of Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
- Motor
- Battery Pack
- Controller
- Drive Train
- Inverter
- Fuel cell
- Hydrogen storage tank
Working Principle Of Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
The working principle of FCEV is almost similar to any HEV or PHEV, with the only difference being that you don’t have to charge the battery separately, nor is there any internal combustion engine to charge the battery. The electricity produced by the fuel cell charges the battery pack.
Conclusion: Types Of Electric Vehicles
Although the demand for electric vehicles is at an all-time high, many people are still paranoid about the shift due to a lack of charging infrastructure, range anxiety, etc.
Even with the best technology available today, an electric vehicle takes about a couple of hours to charge, whereas a five-minute visit to a gas station can fill your fuel tank.
The adaptability of electric vehicles will still be questioned until there is a breakthrough development in battery technology.
Until then, technologies like HEV or FCEV will grow rapidly as people realize the flavor of an IC engine and a battery in the same car.
Do you know electric vehicles can save up to 80% of fuel costs? Use the electric vehicle savings calculator to determine how much electric vehicles can save you.
