What is an electric vehicle? How does it work? What are its great benefits?

Today, the issue of environmental protection is being paid much attention, and one of the practical solutions is electric vehicles. So what exactly is an electric vehicle, how does it work and what are the benefits, let's find out in this article!

1. What is electric vehicle?

Xe điện, English as Electric Vehicles (EV), are any vehicle powered by an electric motor or traction engine instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE).

Unlike conventional vehicles, which operate on the principle of burning the fuel mixture and creating emissions, electric vehicles do not cause any problems with environmental pollution.

In Vietnam, just holding the phone and surfing around, we can see electric vehicles such as electric bicycles and electric motorbikes being sold very popularly. And now, researchers and manufacturers around the world are tending to focus on developing electric cars.

In fact, electric vehicles are not too strange to us, but the "degradation" of the living environment due to high carbon emissions from vehicles has promoted a more widespread and popular use of electric vehicles.

2. How does an electric car work?

The operating way of an electric vehicle actually depends on the type of battery the vehicle uses. However, according to the overview, electric vehicles work on the principle of taking energy from batteries in large quantities, and then supplying that energy to the motor for the vehicle to operate.

Almost electric vehicles need to recharge their batteries to be able to continue working the following times.

3. Classification of electric vehicles on the market today

We can divide electric vehicles into the following 4 categories:

- Battery electric vehicles

The BEV is an all-electric vehicle that works on batteries. This type of vehicle has only one energy source, a battery, not a gasoline engine. These batteries have a high capacity, store sufficient energy to work and be recharged through an external power source.

 Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

PHEV is an electric vehicle that combines electric energy from a battery and from a gasoline or diesel engine. PHEV electric vehicles may receive battery energy right from the vehicle's engine, in parallel with charging from an external source.

Compared to the BEV, the battery of the PHEV electric vehicle has a smaller capacity, so if you need to travel far with the PHEV, you nearly have to use both the battery and gasoline or diesel at the same time.

- Hybrid electric vehicle

HEV is almost similar to HPEV, consuming both electric fuel and gasoline fuel. However, the electric fuel of this vehicle cannot be plugged in to an external source, but is generated from "regenerative braking" - which transforms heat energy from the vehicle's brakes into electricity.

- Fuel Cell Electric vehicle (FCEV)

Finally, it is the FCEV - an electric vehicle powered by a fuel cell. Fuel cells are batteries made from compressed oxygen and hydrogen, which are available in the natural environment, so when used, they will not create any problems regarding emissions.

4. Great benefits of electric vehicles

- Lower costs

Using electricity for your vehicle instead of gasoline means you will save a lot of money on your vehicle. On the other hand, if the government builds free charging stations, or you use solar energy for batteries, the amount of money you have to spend on fuel will decrease even more.

- Easy maintenance

When using electricity to operate the vehicle, the hardware in the car will operate less. In addition, when manufacturing, manufacturers will also ensure the durability of the batteries for a few years.

So, compared to gasoline vehicles, electric vehicles cost less and the number of times to maintain a vehicle is fewer as well.

- Easy registration for use

In the face of the situation that electric vehicles, especially electric cars, are still not widely used, some governments and countries have offered the most optimal support packages in the process of buying and using for people. This is absolutely necessary to encourage the widespead of this eco-friendly vehicle.

- Living environment protection

• Reducing environment pollution: Using electricity or using electricity in parallel with using gasoline reduces the emissions that vehicles emit on a daily basis.
•  Use renewable energy: Electricity, batteries using renewable energy, or batteries charged from solar energy are renewable, not depleting resources from the living environment.

Although no harmful emissions to the environment are generated during vehicle use, the charging process and the production of renewable batteries still possibly emit emissions into the environment. However, this ratio is still lower than using gasoline and diesel fuels.

- Health protection

This is obvious, when carbon emissions are reduced, air quality will improve and therefore our health will be less at risk.

In addition, electric vehicles are inherently much quieter than conventional vehicle, so it will reduce noise pollution that is harmful to the user's ears.

- Reducing dependence on gasoline and diesel from abroad for a nation

Some countries, due to lack of natural resources, almost have to depend on the supply of gasoline and diesel abroad. If electric vehicles are widely used, this pressure will be reduced because the energy used for vehicles can be renewable and generated from the country itself.

5. Electric vehicle energy supply time (EV charging)

- Super fast EV charging

This is the highest charging level. Charging stations on highways, main roads or service charging stations will often have this charge level.

Super fast charging has a capacity of 50 kW/h, even some models may charge 80% in 20 minutes.

(*) Fast charging is only available on certain lineups.

- Fast EV Charging

Fast EV charging has a capacity ranging from 7-22 kW/h. The specific charging time will depend on the amperage, alternating current or direct current,…

- Slow EV charging

This is the most modest charging when using an electric vehicle. The average capacity of slow charging is only about 2.3-6 kW/h. These charging levels are common when charging electric vehicles at home, or charging stations which are located in 24-hour parking lots for a long time charging.

Source : Thegioididong