With more auto manufacturers embracing Tesla’s success in the world of electric cars, it is time to learn more about them. Many governments hope to phase out gas combustion engines in the coming decades and embrace the game-changing technology of electric vehicles. They are increasingly becoming attractive thanks to their expanding choice of models available, lower running costs, and, most importantly, low emissions, which means a cleaner planet. Here is all about electric vehicles (EVs).
What is an EV?
Let’s start with the working mechanism of internal combustion engine cars, whose counterparts are electric cars. They work by combining fuel with air, and then a spark ignites the mixture. The expanding gas and heat push down the engine’s piston and gets the wheels moving.
On the contrary, an electric car has an electric motor and a battery pack that powers it. It doesn’t come with an internal combustion engine, a gas tank, or a fuel pump unless it is a plug-in hybrid electric model.
When you plug an EV into an EV home charger or public charging point, it takes electricity from the grid. It stores the charge in the rechargeable battery pack that powers the electric motor, which facilitates the movement of the wheels. The car is lighter to drive, so it accelerates faster than the gasoline-fueled ones, but you have to keep topping up the electric charge. Popular electric models in the market include Tesla, Toyota Prius, and Honda Clarity.
Types of evs
There are different types of evs in the market. They include battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and extended-range vehicles. Here is how they work:
Battery electric vehicles (BEV)
A battery-electric vehicle is powered 100% by electricity; therefore, it is a purely electric car. You can charge the vehicle with an external power source: a home or public EV charger HK. The car doesn’t produce any tailpipe emissions making it more environmentally friendly. Most of the electric vehicles in the market can cover 100-300miles on a single charge, and popular models include the Tesla Model 3, Renault Zoe, and Nissan Leaf.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV)
A PHEV strikes a balance between a fully electric car and a gas-fueled one. It has an electric motor, a battery pack that powers it, and an internal combustion engine. Therefore you can drive it using the gas combustion engine or electric motor. Like electric cars, you have to charge the battery pack at an external power source, either a home charger or a public EV charging point for electric vehicles.
A typical PHEV has an electric range of 50miles, and when the electric charge is over, the gas combustion engine takes over. That means you don’t have to worry about charging your PHEV while on the road. However, a PHEV’s gas combustion engine is less efficient than a traditional gas-powered vehicle.
The best thing about PHEVs is it comes with an electric motor and a gas combustion engine striking a balance between the two types of cars. The BMW 220e and Mitsubishi outlander are some examples of PHEVs in the market.
Extended range electric vehicles (E-REV)
The E-REV is a better version of the PHEV. It comes with an electric drive motor, a battery pack, and a gas generator. The electric motor always drives the wheels, and t internal combustion engine serves as a generator when the electric charge is depleted. The electric range is also higher than a PHEV since it can go 150-300miles on a single charge. BMW i3 range extender is an E-REV, although it is no longer available.
Reason to buy an electric vehicle
Although an electric vehicle is expensive, it has more savings in the long run, thanks to its lower running costs. Here are some of the perks of an electric car.
- A fully electric vehicle has zero rates of vehicle excise duty.
- A full charge in a fully electric vehicle gives over 200miles and is likely to cost less than $15 when charging at home. On the contrary, driving 200miles on a gas-fueled car will cost you double, three, or four times more than the expense of charging an electric car. You can save more by using an EV home charger and accessing an off-peak overnight electricity tariff.
- An electric car has fewer mechanical parts than its gas-fueled counterpart. That results in less maintenance and servicing costs.
- It doesn’t emit harmful gases, so it is more environmentally friendly.
- An EV feels lighter to drive hence better performance than its gas-fueled counterpart.
- Free parking with charging points is available for events in major cities.
Charging an EV
A gas station is no use to a fully electric vehicle, so you must find an EV charger HK or plug-in at home. The better part is that you don’t have to charge your car daily if you drive only a few miles, like commuting to work. Most EVs can cover 200-300miles on a single charge, and many people do not exceed 25miles daily.
However, many drivers fear running out of charge far from a petrol station which is where PHEVs come in. The truth is, you can comfortably charge your EV at home with a 120volt plug like the one used for everyday appliances. It is known as level 1 charging, and your EV may take from eight to more than 16hours to charge completely.
A level 2 EV charger reaches 240volts, which is found in most public charging points for electric vehicles. With this, you can expect 20-30plus miles of range for every hour of charging, and it may take around eight hours for your car to charge fully. The good news is that you can have a level 2 EV charger installed in your home.
A level 3 EV charger takes about 40minutes to get the charge to 80%. However, not all-electric cars accept that power level, and it costs more than level 2 charging. In a few years, EV public charging points are set to increase in major cities worldwide.
Investing in an EV is a good idea, saving you more in the long run.