Electric vehicles consists of an electric motor that is powered by a battery

pack. The main advantage of electric vehicles 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

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.
DC-DC Converter
The traction battery pack delivers a constant voltage. But different
components of the 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.

Electric motor
Electric traction motor is the main component of an electric vehicle. The
motor converts the electrical energy into kinetic energy. This energy rotates
the wheels. Electric motor is the main component 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.
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.

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 the vehicle

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.
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.
Auxiliary batteries
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.

Thermal system(cooling)
The thermal management system is responsible for maintaining an operating
temperature for the main components of an electric vehicle 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.

Transmission
It is used to transfer the mechanical power from the electric motor to the
wheels, through a gearbox. The advantage of electric cars is that they do not
require multi-speed transmissions. The transmission efficiency should be
high to avoid power loss.
Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles:
An electric car has an electric motor instead of an internal combustion
engine. The motor rotates the tires, propelling the vehicle. The energy to
power the electric motor is provided by the battery. When the battery
level of the vehicle goes down, it can be charged by plugging into the grid.
The vehicle can either be a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) or a plugin-hybrid
electric vehicle (PHEV).

An electric car has two types of batteries, i.e., a Traction battery and an
Auxiliary battery.

Traction Battery

It is the primary battery of an electric car. The purpose of this battery is to

drive the electric traction motor. Whereas gas cars are powered through an
internal combustion engine.

Auxiliary Battery

The purpose of this battery is to power the vehicle accessories, like

headlights, indication lights, and more. A gas car also has this battery for the
mentioned applications.

The following four EV batteries are commonly used in battery-electric

vehicles (BEV) and hybrids. Each one has its pros and cons.

 Lithium-ion batteries
 Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries
 Lead-Acid batteries
 Ultracapacitor batteries

Lithium-ion batteries
 These are the most common type of EV batteries and are also found in
consumer electronic items like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
  Lithium-ion batteries are preferred due to their high energy per
unit mass compared to other batteries. They also have the
advantages of a high power-to-weight ratio, energy efficiency, high-
temperature performance, and low self-discharge.

Types of Lithium-ion batteries

The exact chemical components of lithium-ion batteries vary based on
several factors, including costs and expected performance. Common types
include (based on their cathode or positive electrode chemical composition):

 Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC)
 Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO)
 Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum (NCA)
 Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP)
 Lithium-Manganese-Oxide (LMO)
 Lithium Titanate

Types of ev chargers
1. Rapid Chargers (Level 3)
As the name suggests, these are the fastest EV chargers available. They are
also known as DC fast chargers that have CCS2 or CHAdeMO connectors.
The main reason behind their speed is the fact that these are DC (direct
current) plugs. DC chargers can transmit energy extremely rapidly and can
charge your car in as less as 45-60 minutes! Since the current flowing in
these chargers is super strong, they require highly specialized equipment to
function safely. This also means that the installation, maintenance and usage
costs for this charger are significantly higer than the others.

2. Fast Chargers (Level 2)

These are the more commonly available chargers, and they can be found in
public places like mall parkings. These are used both in commercial and
resident settings to chagge up your cars. Commercial ones being like the
one’s you’d find at public parking, and residnt ones being the ones hosted
directly by the proprietors. The commercial charger uses a 208V AC plug
while a resident charger uses a 240V AC plug. These chargers are capable of
fully charging an EV in around 2 hours. A resident charger can easily charge
your car in just under 2 hours!

3. Slow chargers (Level 1)

These are the EV chargers that most Indian EV owners are currently using.
These can be simply set up at your home ensuring a comfortable and
convenient charging experience. These chargers are the cheapest among all
charging methods, but they are also the slowest of all. They use a 120V AC
plug which can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. Typically, these
chargers take around 8 hours to fully charge your car’s battery. The best way
to use them is to put your car on a charge overnight.

There are four types of electric vehicles available:

 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):Fully powered by electricity. These
are more efficient compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrids.
 Hybrid Electric Vehicle:
o Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): The vehicle uses both the
internal combustion (usually petrol) engine and the battery-
powered motor powertrain. The petrol engine is used both to
drive and charge when the battery is empty. These vehicles are
not as efficient as fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
o Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): Uses both an internal
combustion engine and a battery charged from an external socket
(they have a plug). This means the vehicle’s battery can be
charged with electricity rather than the engine. PHEVs are more
efficient than HEVs but less efficient than BEVs.
 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV):Electric energy is produced from
chemical energy. For example, a hydrogen FCEV.
Advantages & Limitations of Electric Vehicles
Advantages

1. Eco-friendly: Because electric vehicles do not utilize fuel for

combustion, there are no emissions or gas exhaust. Vehicles that run on
fossil fuels contribute significantly to hazardous gas accumulation in
the environment, thus driving an electric car can help contribute to a
cleaner environment.
2. Renewable energy source: Electric vehicles run on renewable power,
whereas conventional automobiles function on the combustion of fossil
fuels, which reduces the world’s fossil-fuel stocks.
3. Less noise and smoother motion: Driving an electric car is
significantly smoother. Because they lack fast-moving elements, they
are quieter and produce less noise.
4. Cost-effective: Electricity is far less expensive than fuels such as
gasoline and diesel, which are subject to regular price increases. When
solar electricity is utilized at home, battery recharging is cost-effective.
5. Low maintenance: Because electric cars have fewer moving
components, wear and tear is reduced when compared to traditional
auto parts. Repairs are also simpler and less expensive than combustion
engines.
6. Government support: Governments throughout the world have
granted tax breaks to encourage people to drive electric vehicles as part
of a green program.

Disadvantages of Electric Vehicles

1. High initial cost: Electric vehicles continue to be quite expensive, and

many buyers believe they are not as inexpensive as traditional
automobiles.

2. Charging station limitations: People who need to travel long

distances are concerned about finding adequate charging stations in the
middle of their journey, which are not always accessible.
3. Recharging takes time: Unlike conventional automobiles, which
require only a few minutes to replenish their gas tanks, charging an
electric vehicle takes many hours.

4. Limited options: Currently, there aren’t many electric car models to

pick from in terms of appearance, style, or customized variations.

5. Less driving range: When compared to conventional automobiles,

electric vehicles have a shorter driving range. Electric cars can be
convenient for short-distance travel but are inconvenient for long-
distance travel.