Electric vehicles have gained significant popularity due to their potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Full EVs, of course, run entirely on electricity stored in rechargeable batteries. They produce zero emissions during operation, making them environmentally friendly during this phase of use at least. But all the energy to charge the vehicles needs to come from renewable, clean energy sources to make this “clean energy” perception a reality. Also, the cost and recyclability of EV batteries – now and in the future – pose obstacles to making EVs truly green.
Can we replace the petroleum-to-energy transfer of the hundred-thousand-plus gas stations quickly with EV chargers, and will the grid allow for it? The charging infrastructure for EVs has been expanding globally, allowing for more convenient and accessible charging options. However, challenges remain.
A good stopgap while we are figuring this all out is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV. Combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a larger battery pack, PHEVs can operate on electric power alone for shorter distances before switching to the gasoline engine. They can also be plugged in to recharge when electrical energy is available.
Although having a vehicle having any kind of ICE (internal combustion engine) is to some a non-starter, HEVs offer obvious solutions to range anxiety. They are also far more desirable than pure EVs when you are stranded in a snowstorm with no EV chargers in sight.
Even less likely to win in the EV competition, IMHO, are hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles that emit only water vapor as a byproduct. Although these vehicles use hydrogen gas to generate electricity through a fuel cell powering an electric motor, and so lack the charging problems of typical battery-powered EVs, they are far less common.
I don’t believe the nation has the resources to replace all the fuel stations in America with hydrogen fuel and to install EV chargers all at the same time. Pick one!
But I do think reducing our dependency on petroleum fuels is better for the environment and will likely cut down on terrorism funding. (Some experts say that viewing EVs as a battery-storage source and smart grid technology will help with their adoption.)
More breakthroughs need to take place to make the electrification of transportation realizable and practical. The bump in battery, EV and charging technologies have created an uptick in the component industry. Funding is growing for R&D and the rollout of power electronics – and electronics overall.
Today we are seeing demands for EV technological developments, innovations and applications of electronics like never before.
