Printable VersionPlug-in Electric Vehicles
Wednesday, September 21, 2005(Electric Drive Transportation Association)
What is a plug-in electric
vehicle?
“Plug-in electric vehicles,” like all electric drive vehicles, use electricity to move vehicle’s wheels. Some, or all, of that electricity comes from the grid -- from “plugging in.”
How do they work?
Plug-in electric vehicles come in many forms, or configurations. With battery electric vehicles, all of the electricity comes from the grid. Hybrids with plug-in capability use a combination of grid electricity, regenerative energy from braking, and power from another onboard source, such as an internal combustion engine or fuel cell.
In addition, plug-in hybrids can be configured to operate serially, or in a blended fashion. In a serial configuration, the vehicle runs on electricity alone at some points, like starting, and uses its other power source alone at others, for example, when accelerating. Alternatively, a plug-in hybrid may be configured for blended operation, i.e., the battery and the conventional engine operate together.
An extended-range battery electric vehicle uses an internal combustion engine or fuel cell to recharge the battery, but not to move the wheels.
In addition to the variety of ways that plug-in technology can be configured, it can also be applied to a variety of vehicles. Plug-in electric vehicles are being developed and used in diverse applications – including commuter buses and utility trucks, full sized passenger cars, high performance roadsters and low-speed vehicles.
Why do we need them?
What plug-in electric vehicles all have in common is the ability to use electricity from the grid to displace the petroleum used for transportation. Currently, 96% of U.S. transportation is fueled by oil. More that half of that oil is imported, often from hostile nations. Policymakers and the public are increasingly aware that this dependence on oil is a threat to our national security.
Oil dependence also poses a
threat to our economic security, as price
volatility and supply insecurity impacts
markets and consumers.
Plug-in vehicles
are also an important part of a climate change
strategy. Displacing petroleum with electricity
reduces emissions from the transportation
sector. Even with today’s mix of grid
electricity sources, which is dominated by
coal, the use of grid power instead of
petroleum is a net benefit for the environment.
As grid-power becomes even cleaner over time,
the greenhouse gas reduction and other air
quality benefits of plug-in vehicles will be
even greater.
What are we doing to bring them into the market?
The private and public sectors are
working to accelerate the commercialization of
plug-in options throughout the transportation
sector. Major vehicle manufacturers and battery
companies, as well as small start ups, are
racing to make the necessary technology
advances. The federal government is supporting
research, development and deployment. States
and local government entities are implementing
programs and incentives for plug-in vehicles.
A continuing commitment to, and support
for, industry and government efforts can
increase the electrification of transportation
and move the Untied States toward a sustainable
transportation sector, that invigorates, not
undermines, our national security, our
environment or our
economy.
Advantages of Plug-in
Vehicles:
-Reduced fuel
consumption and tailpipe emissions
-Cleaner
electric energy through advances in natural gas
and coal gasification
-Optimized fuel
efficiency and performance
-Recovered energy
from regenerative braking
-Unchanged gas
station infrastructure
-Grid connection
potential
-"Home based" battery recharging
at a fraction of the cost of petroleum
equivalent
-Pure zero emission
capability
-Even lower fueling costs
compared to battery sustaining
hybrids
-Possible use in secondary markets
for used batteries and reduced
waste
Challenges:
-Cost
and complexity of two powertrains
-Component
availability--batteries, powertrains, power
electronics
-Higher initial cost
-Cost of
batteries and battery replacement
-Added
weight
More information: