The electric vehicle
All you need to know about EVs, its advantages and disadvantages
According to International Energy Agency, as of December 2019, more than seven million electric vehicles were circulating around the world.
Of these, it is necessary to differentiate between purely electric (BEV, for its acronym in English Battery Electric Vehicle), plug-in hybrids (PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and non-plug-in hybrids (HEV)
Although the electric car has almost two centuries of history, its mass production has been developed in recent decades, so its technology has improved significantly since the beginning of this century.
An electric vehicle (EV) is powered by one or more electric motors. It comprises, thus, any means of locomotion, from bicycles to electric spaceships. There are electric cars, motorcycles, buses, trains, boats and airplanes.
Regarding electric car, it moves thanks to motors which use electrical energy, usually stored in batteries.
Main advantages
Maintenance
The maintenance of an electric vehicle and the cost of its operation are much lower than in a combustion one.
Efficiency
The engine is more efficient, and offers maximum torque from the start, without the need for gears.
Clean consumption
The consumption of electrical energy does not pollute, and emissions only depend on the origin of electricity generation, with an increasing renewable component. In fact, according to the study by Auke Hoekstra (University of Eindhoven) a diesel car emits from 115% to 456% more than an electric equivalent, throughout its useful life from its construction.
Breaking capacity
Regenerative braking of the electric vehicle has two advantages, as it increases its autonomy and prolongs the useful life of the braking system.
Some drawbacks
Initial investment
Although the cost of the electric vehicle is gradually decreasing (battery prices fell by 35% in 2017), it is still not comparable to that of the combustion engine.
Less autonomy
Batteries have, increasingly, more capacity, offering nowadays standards of 40 to 60 kWh. The current range of the electric vehicle usually reaches 250-300 km, enough for daily needs, although in high-end models it can exceed 600 km.
Charging time
A gas tank fills up in just a few minutes, while the most basic electric vehicle charger can take several hours.
However, some advanced chargers such as Chargevite DC Performance, can reduce charging time down to twenty minutes.
Lack of accessibility to charging points
This incidence is being significantly reduced, as new access points are constantly being installed. Several web pages and mobile applications, such as Electromaps, allow to know the closest one.
A great future ahead
All the mentioned disadvantages are technical, and their permanent evolution is minimizing them, thanks to the commitment of vehicle manufacturers and governments, which is already undeniable.
