EV TECHNOLOGY

EV TECHNOLOGY Essentially, an electric vehicle (EV) has a battery instead of a petrol tank, and
an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. The electricity stored in its battery
powers the electric motor. When too low, the car’s battery needs to be recharged by plugging it
in to use grid electricity, like when your phone needs charging. Similarly, Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)
come with a plug socket and charging leads so that you can charge the battery via the mains.
Although they have a smaller capacity, these models are able to run in electric- only mode for 20
-30 miles. An amazing perk of EVs is that they can be charged at home if you have a home
charging unit installed, saving you the usual trips to the nearest petrol station or charging point.
The thing that really swings most people when it comes to EVs is that they’re much cleaner,
producing no tailpipe emissions whatsoever

WHAT IS ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

An electric vehicle (EV) is one that operates on an electric motor, instead of an internal-
combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of fuel and gases. Therefore,
such as vehicle is seen as a possible replacement for current-generation automobile, in
order to address the issue of rising pollution, global warming, depleting natural
resources, etc. Though the concept of electric vehicles has been around for a long time,
it has drawn a considerable amount of interest in the past decade amid a rising carbon
footprint and other environmental impacts of fuel-based vehicles.
An electric vehicle (EV) is one that operates on an electric motor, instead of an internal-
combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of fuel and gases. Therefore,
such as vehicle is seen as a possible replacement for current-generation automobile, in
order to address the issue of rising pollution, global warming, depleting natural
resources, etc. Though the concept of electric vehicles has been around for a long time,
it has drawn a considerable amount of interest in the past decade amid a rising carbon
footprint and other environmental impacts of fuel-based vehicles.
HOW DOES ELECTRIC VEHICLE WORK?

All-electric vehicles (EVs) have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion

engine. The vehicle uses a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor and
must be plugged in to a charging station or wall outlet to charge. Because it runs on
electricity, the vehicle emits no exhaust from a tailpipe and does not contain the typical
liquid fuel components, such as a fuel pump, fuel line, or fuel tank.

ADVANTANGES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

No Fuel, Cheaper To Maintain :
Because electric cars are powered by electricity and not gasoline, it drastically reduces
the monthly spending of car owners. According to Bloomberg, the consumption of
fossil fuels by automobiles currently stands at 23 Mn barrels per day. However, with the
increased popularity of EVs, the global gasoline consumption in the passenger vehicle
segment will drop significantly within the next five years, as per a report by the
International Energy Agency.
Although the initial cost of electric cars is quite higher than that of conventional
vehicles, in the long-run, it is actually cheaper to own and maintain EVs. Ergon Energy
states that the electricity needed to charge an EV is, on an average, around a third of the
price of petrol per kilometer, especially in developed countries.
Similarly, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) contains fewer components than a
conventional petrol/diesel car, making servicing and maintenance a lot cheaper than
petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.
More Eco-Friendly, Lower Carbon Footprint :
Given that the number of air pollution-related deaths have been on the rise lately,
switching to electric cars, especially when it comes to public transport, could potentially
reduce carbon emissions, thus slowing down climate change and global warming.
In fact, electric cars are 100% emission free as they run on electrically powered engines.
Consequently, they do not emit any toxic gases or smoke that could adversely affect
the environment. In this count, all electric cars - particularly the ones powered by
renewable energy - are much better than hybrid cars.
However, in this regard, it should be noted that the source of electricity is also of
importance in case of EVs. If the electricity is produced through environmentally-
damaging means like coal power plants, which is often the case in developing countries,
the environmental benefits of electric cars ultimately get negated.

Less Noise Pollution, Smoother Ride :

Since they are devoid of internal combustion engines and, in general, have less number
of components, electric vehicles tend to be more silent than conventional vehicles. This,
in turn, helps in curbing noise pollution, especially in crowded urban areas.
As an added advantage, electric motors, being lighter, offer a smoother drive with
higher acceleration over longer distances than cars running on fossil fuels.

DISADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Range Anxiety, Lack Of Charging Infrastructure
Despite the massive technological advancements, EV charging infrastructure remains
inadequate in most parts of the world. Furthermore, most electric cars have a range
that falls between 150 to 175 km on a single charge. This, inevitably, gives rise to range
anxiety among car owners.
In the absence of charging points, especially during low-distance drives, there is the risk
of being stranded, which albeit can be avoided through battery swapping. However, for
widespread adoption of EVs, governments around the world need to be more proactive
in building a robust and well-connected charging infrastructure.

Long Charging Times : As mentioned above, the charging process of EVs can take
anywhere from 30 minutes (in case of fast charging) up to 24 hours, depending on the
capacity of the battery and motors. Most, however, take around four to six hours to be
fully charged, which is several times longer than the time it takes to refuel a
petrol/diesel car.

Lower Battery Life, High Battery Costs

The batteries currently used in electric vehicles have a lifespan of only around three to
10 years, depending on the make and model. The lower battery life often serves as a
hindrance that affects the performance of electric cars. The higher costs of batteries,
which are caused by the insufficient supply of raw materials, add to this problem.
KEY COMPONENTS OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Electric vehicles consists of an electric motor that is powered by a battery pack. The
main advantage of electric vehicle components is that they emit zero emissions and are
eco-friendly. They also do not consume any fossil fuels, hence use a sustainable form
of energy for powering the car. The main components of electric vehicles are :
1) Traction battery pack
2) DC-DC Converter
3) Electric motor
4) Power inverter
5) Charge Port
6) Onboard charger
7) Controller
8) Auxiliary batteries
9) Thermal system (cooling)
10)Transmission

Function of components
1. Traction Battery Pack :Traction battery pack is also known as Electric vehicle
battery (EVB). It powers the electric motors of an electric vehicle. The battery
acts as an electrical storage system. It stores energy in the form DC current. The
range will be higher with increasing kW of the battery. The life and operation of
the battery depends on its design. The lifetime of a traction battery pack is
estimated to be 200,000 miles.
2. DC-DC Converter

The traction battery pack delivers a constant voltage. But different components of
electric vehicle has different requirements. The DC-DC convertor distributes the output
power that is coming from the battery to a required level. It also provides the voltage
required to charge the auxiliary battery.

3. Electric motor
Electric traction motor is the main components of electric vehicles. The motor converts
the electrical energy into kinetic energy. This energy rotates the wheels. Electric motor
is the main components of electric vehicle that differentiates an electric car from
conventional cars. An important feature of an electric motor is the regenerative braking
mechanism. This mechanism slows down the vehicle by converting its kinetic energy
into another form, and storing it for future use. There are basically two types of motors
DC and AC motors.
4. Power Inverter
It coverts DC power from the batteries to AC power. It also converts the AC current
generated during regenerative braking into DC current. This is further used to recharge
the batteries. The inverter can change the speed of the

5. Charge Port
The charge port connects the electric vehicle to an external supply. It charges the
battery pack. The charge port is sometimes located in the front or rear part of electric
vehicle components.

6. Onboard charger
Onboard charger is used to convert the AC supply received from the charge port to DC
supply. The on-board charger is located and installed inside the car. It monitors various
battery characteristics and controls the current flowing inside the battery pack.
7. Controller
Power electronics controller determines the working of an electric car. It performs the
regulation of electrical energy from the batteries to the electric motors. The pedal set
by the driver determines the speed of the car and frequency of variation of voltage that
is input to the motor. It also controls the torque produced.

8. Auxiliary batteries
Auxiliary Battery
Auxiliary batteries are the source of electrical energy for the accessories in electric
vehicles. In the absence of the main battery, the auxiliary batteries will continue to
charge the car. It prevents the voltage drop, produced during engine start from affecting
the electrical system.

9. Thermal system(cooling)
The thermal management system is responsible for maintaining an operating
temperature for the main components of electric vehicle (EV) such as, electric motor,
controller etc. It functions during charging as well to obtain maximum performance. It
uses a combination of thermoelectric cooling, forced air cooling, and liquid cooling.
10. Transmission
The gearbox transfers the mechanical power from the electric motor to the wheels. The
advantage of electric cars is that they do not require multi-speed transmissions. The
transmission efficiency should be high to avoid power loss

EV charging: the difference between AC and DC

The two electric vehicle charging technologies are alternating current (AC) and direct
current (DC). The ChargeNet network is made up of both AC and DC chargers, so it is
important to understand the difference between these two technologies.
Alternating current (AC) charging is slower, much like charging at home. AC chargers
are generally found in the home, workplace settings, or public locations and will charge
an EV at levels from 7.2kW to 22kW. Our AC chargers support the Type 2 charging
protocol. These are BYO cables, (untethered). You’ll often find these stations in a
carpark or workplace where you can park for at least an hour.
DC (direct current), often referred to as fast or rapid chargers, means much higher
power outputs, which equates to much faster charging. DC chargers are bigger, faster,
and an exciting breakthrough when it comes to EVs. Ranging from 22kW – 300kW, the
latter adding up to 400km in 15 minutes for supported vehicles*. Our DC rapid charging
stations support both CHAdeMO and CCS-2 charging protocols. These always have a
cable attached (tethered), which you plug directly into your car.
Our DC rapid chargers keep you moving when you are travelling intercity or exceeding
your daily range locally
AC Charging: During AC charging of an electric vehicle, electricity flows from the grid
to the onboard charger of the vehicle. The onboard charger converts AC power from the
grid into DC power suitable for charging the vehicle's battery.

DC Charging (Fast Charging): In DC fast charging, electricity flows directly from

the charging station to the vehicle's battery. There is no need for an onboard charger to
convert AC to DC since the charging station performs this conversion. This results in a
faster charging process compared to AC charging.

Motor Run: When the electric vehicle is running, electricity flows from the battery to
the electric motor controller (inverter). The inverter then converts the DC power from
the battery into AC power required by the electric motor. The electric motor uses this
AC power to drive the vehicle's wheels.

Regeneration: During regenerative braking, the electric motor functions as a

generator. When the vehicle slows down or brakes, the kinetic energy is converted back
into electrical energy. This electricity is then fed back into the battery for storage,
thereby recharging the battery and improving overall efficiency.

Auxiliary Battery Charging: Electric vehicles often have auxiliary batteries for
powering accessories such as lights, windshield wipers, and entertainment systems.
These auxiliary batteries may be charged either directly from the main traction battery
or through a separate charging circuit.