in todays blog we will discuss about What is an electric vehicle (EV), History of the electric vehicle (EV), How the vehicle business is shifting, myths about electric vehicles (EVs), benefits of electric vehicle (EV).
What is an electric vehicle (EV)?
As the name implies, an electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that provides traction through an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and can be charged from external sources.
Electric vehicles (EVs) can be driven with the help of one or more than one fuel. Some are purely electricity, which stores the electricity as fuel in batteries, and some vehicles use hybrid mode, which means a vehicle that can be powered by electricity stored in the battery and by an internal combustion engine. This vehicle is known as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (EV).
We will discuss all these types of vehicles and their infrastructures in this blog.
History of the electric vehicle (EV)
In the 17th and 18th centuries, steam-powered vehicles were first built.in 1672, it was built as a toy for the Kangxi emperor.
In 1886, the first gas-fuelled car received the first patent from the owner of the all-time famous cars in history, Karl Benz. This was the start of transportation using machines. Before that, we all know horses and ponies were used for transportation and traveling purposes.
But this was the start of conventional cars and vehicles. No one would have ever thought about a mode of transportation where we could sit back and travel distances of not just kilometers but cities over cities in the historical era when people used to travel on horseback and probably by walking.
People were initially reluctant to the idea of mechanized transportation. Not only this but when the first idea of an electric vehicle (EV) was pitched, people started making myths and doubting its ability.
Around 1832, Robert Anderson developed the first crude electric vehicle (EV). But until the 1870s, it wasn’t in practice. So basically, the crude EV is powered by a disposable battery with crude oil used to generate electricity. This was the first electric vehicle (EV) invention.
In pursuing electric mobility, Anderson was not alone in the near period. Anyos Jedlik, a Hungarian scientist, and Sibrandus Stratingh, a Dutch professor, invented their respective electric vehicle (EV) models.
At the same time, an American blacksmith who turned out to be an inventor invented an integral component of an electric motor that helped produce the first electric car.
As these inventors were trying to produce the various integral components used in electric vehicles (EVs), William Morrison, a chemist who lived in America, built the first practical electric car.
This vehicle was a traditional horse-drawn surrey carriage converted to fit a battery. Morrisons electric carriage has a maximum speed of 32km/hr (which is 20 miles) and a maximum capacity of 12 people.
Around the 20th century, many people started trading their horses and carts for motorized vehicles. At that time, 38 percent were electric-powered vehicles.
After that, blended fuel and many more modifications are done in electric vehicles (EVs), which we will discuss in today’s blog. Around 1970-2003, electric vehicles (EVs) started to return to the market and have held their position until now. Many innovations are happening in that sector.
In 2003, Eberhard and Marc formed Tesla, a big EV giant, especially in EV cars, which Elon Musk currently runs; in 2010, Nissan launched its first beast, the Nissan LEAF. These cars have zero emissions and are all-electric, so they became one of the world’s all-time top-selling electric vehicles (EVs).
How the vehicle business is shifting towards electric vehicle (EV)
- That noise we hear every time we step out of our house, even to buy bread on Sunday mornings, is caused by vehicles around us that continuously burn fuel to emit carbon dioxide and generate noise; I know I know these vehicles are not meant for this but these are the by-products out vehicles.
So, whenever we talk about shifting the vehicle business towards electric vehicles (EVs), it generally causes all the noise and fuel-burning problems.
- The carbon footprints of traditional vehicles are very high. A typical vehicle passenger emits 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. Which is way off the records and causes hazardous side effects on ozone as well as atmospheric conditions,
We are all aware of the pollution in New Delhi. Due to this vehicular fog, people could not see through even on the roads, so the government started an odd-even vehicle policy to control this emission.
This was just an example to make you understand how much two-wheelers, three-wheelers like auto rikshaws, and wheelers can generate carbon footprint without even knowing,
But luckily, this is not the case with Electric vehicles (EVs)s cause their emission is comparatively very low.
- Though the initial cost of an Electric vehicle (EV) is very high, the fuel cost is comparatively low, which is becoming very popular amongst consumers due to the time available fuelling system of EVs, even if they are available in your homes and any parking area of a shopping mall or theatres, etc.
- Governments are providing various subsidies to customers as well as the company that builds electric vehicles (EVs); these incentives from the government really boost the economy of producers as well as consumers and cause an increase in the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) and as we all know market always works on demand and supply.
Due to these reasons, companies are shifting their focus towards electric vehicles (EVs).
What are the myths about Electric vehicles (EVs)
1. Electric vehicle (EV)s are uneconomical
In reality, electric vehicles (EVs)s are more economical when considering the fuel and maintenance point of view.
2. It takes too long to charge
As per the survey, it has been concluded that cars spend over 90% of their time parked. In the meantime, you can plug your vehicle into the grid and charge it even at home. If someone wants to charge their cars speedily while hitting the road, there are charging stations available on highways, just like the petrol pumps; some electric vehicles (EVs)s can get charged from 20% to 80% within a half hour from these fast charging stations.
3. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries will only last a few years
According to the typical consumer mentality, they think EV batteries have a short life span. They compare them with smartphone batteries, but the batteries designed for electric vehicles (EVs) are very advanced, superior, and designed especially for long service life. Nowadays, many manufacturers are providing warranties of 5 to 8 years.
4. The Emission impacts of an electric vehicle (EV) are more than a petrol or diesel vehicle
Even if we account for the electricity required to charge, the EV carbon footprint of electric vehicles (EV) is much smaller than that of petrol and diesel.
5. Electric vehicles (EVs) have a very low range
The range of electric vehicles (EVs) is sufficient to fulfill the demands of the average Indian driver at a typical mileage.
6. Electric vehicles (EVs)s are slow and have bad performance
Electric vehicles (EVs)s are powered by an electric motor that generates torque instantly without gears. When you push down the accelerator, the electric vehicle (EV) will accelerate from stationary without lag.
7. Electric vehicles (EVs) get damaged in waterlogged areas and are dangerous to charge in the rain
An undamaged electric vehicle (EV) has that water ingress protection. This concludes that electric vehicle (EV) circuits are well sealed, with few chances of getting damaged during the rainy season.
benefits of electric vehicle (EV)
1. lower running cost
The running cost of any vehicle is considered on the basis of how much that fuel will cost; in that case, charging your electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper than the fuel cost of petrol and diesel.
Electric vehicles (EVs) use electricity as fuel; you can plug your car into your home garage. Now you must be thinking, what fuel is required to generate electricity? Is it efficient when we use renewable energy for that purpose?
2. Low maintenance cost
Instead of moving parts like internal combustion engines, EVs have a battery and motor, which means that no moving parts cause maintenance costs to be low; the serving requirement of EVs is less than that of petrol or diesel vehicles.
3. zero tailpipe emission
tailpipe emission means the carbon footprints that conventional vehicles produce by creating carbon dioxide and emitting it into the atmosphere through a carbonator. But that’s not the case with EVs. It has, so far, no carbon emission, and with the help of renewable energy, we can reduce it to zero.
4. No noise pollution
The electric vehicle (EV)s has no engines under the hood, so it provides silent functioning capability. No engine means the vehicle operates so quietly that we must peek into the instrument panel to check whether it is on.
You will feel exaggerated to know that the company has to fit false sound alarms to let pedestrians know that a vehicle is passing by.
5. Convenience of charging at home
Imagine that rather than being in a busy fuel station at peak hours, you can sit back at home and charge your vehicle in the meantime, or you decide to watch a movie in the mall and park your vehicle, and once you come back from the movie, your vehicle is a charge. Only electric vehicles (EVs) can provide this next level of comfort.
