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How Electric Cars Work

Image Gallery: Electric Cars

Image Gallery: Electric Cars The Subaru R1e electric car can be charged overnight on household current. It has a range of 50 miles and a top speed of 62 miles per hour. See more electric car pictures .

Electric cars are something that show up in the news all the time. There are several reasons for the continuing interest in these vehicles:

Electric cars create less pollution than gasoline -powered cars, so they are an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles (especially in cities).
Any news story about hybrid cars usually talks about electric cars as well.
Vehicles powered by fuel cells are electric cars, and fuel cells are getting a lot of attention right now in the news.

An electric car is a car powered by an electric motor rather than a gasoline engine .
From the outside, you would probably have no idea that a car is electric. In most cases, electric cars are created by converting a gasoline-powered car, and in that case it is impossible to tell. When you drive an electric car, often the only thing that clues you in to its true nature is the fact that it is nearly silent .
Under the hood, there are a lot of differences between gasoline and electric cars:

The gasoline engine is replaced by an electric motor .
The electric motor gets its power from a controller .
The controller gets its power from an array of rechargeable batteries .

A gasoline engine, with its fuel lines, exhaust pipes, coolant hoses and intake manifold, tends to look like a plumbing project. An electric car is definitely a wiring project.
In order to get a feeling for how electric cars work in general, let's start by looking at a typical electric car to see how it comes together.

How Electric Cars Work

A typical electric car, this one has some particularly snazzy decals. This vehicle is owned by Jon Mauney.

An Electric Car Example

The electric car that we will use for this discussion is shown here.
This electric vehicle began its life as a normal, gasoline-powered 1994 Geo Prism. Here are the modifications that turned it into an electric car:

The gasoline engine, along with the muffler , catalytic converter , tailpipe and gas tank, were all removed.
The clutch assembly was removed. The existing manual transmission was left in place, and it was pinned in second gear.
A new AC electric motor was bolted to the transmission with an adapter plate.
An electric controller was added to control the AC motor.

The 50-kW controller takes in 300 volts DC and produces 240 volts AC, three-phase. The box that says "US Electricar" is the controller.

A battery tray was installed in the floor of the car.
Fifty 12-volt lead-acid batteries were placed in the battery tray (two sets of 25 to create 300 volts DC).
Electric motors were added to power things that used to get their power from the engine: the water pump, power steering pump, air conditioner.
A vacuum pump was added for the power brakes (which used engine vacuum when the car had an engine).

The vacuum pump is left of center.

The shifter for the manual transmission was replaced with a switch, disguised as an automatic transmission shifter, to control forward and reverse.

An automatic transmission shifter is used to select forward and reverse. It contains a small switch, which sends a signal to the controller.

A small electric water heater was added to provide heat.

The water heater

A charger was added so that the batteries could be recharged. This particular car actually has two charging systems -- one from a normal 120-volt or 240-volt wall outlet, and the other from a magna-charge inductive charging paddle.

The 120/240-volt charging system

The Magna-Charge inductive paddle charging system

The gas gauge was replaced with a volt meter.

The "gas gauge" in an electric car is either a simple volt meter or a more sophisticated computer that tracks the flow of amps to and from the battery pack.

Everything else about the car is stock. When you get in to drive the car, you put the key in the ignition and turn it to the "on" position to turn the car on. You shift into "Drive" with the shifter, push on the accelerator pedal and go. It performs like a normal gasoline car. Here are some interesting statistics:

The range of this car is about 50 miles (80 km).
The 0-to-60 mph time is about 15 seconds.
It takes about 12 kilowatt-hours of electricity to charge the car after a 50-mile trip.
The batteries weigh about 1,100 pounds (500 kg).
The batteries last three to four years.

To compare the cost per mile of gasoline cars to this electric car, here's an example. Electricity in North Carolina is about 8 cents per kilowatt-hour right now (4 cents if you use time-of-use billing and recharge at night). That means that for a full recharge, it costs $1 (or 50 cents with time-of-use billing). The cost per mile is therefore 2 cents per mile, or 1 cent with time-of-use. If gasoline costs $1.20 per gallon and a car gets 30 miles to the gallon, then the cost per mile is 4 cents per mile for gasoline.
Clearly, the "fuel" for electric vehicles costs a lot less per mile than it does for gasoline vehicles. And for many, the 50-mile range is not a limitation -- the average person living in a city or suburb seldom drives more than 30 or 40 miles per day.
To be completely fair, however, we should also include the cost of battery replacement. Batteries are the weak link in electric cars at the moment. Battery replacement for this car runs about $2,000. The batteries will last 20,000 miles or so, for about 10 cents per mile. You can see why there is so much excitement around fuel cells right now -- fuel cells solve the battery problem (more details on fuel cells later in the article).

le puteti gasi si pe

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/electric-car1.htm

Model: Focus Electric 2013

The Most Fuel-Efficient Compact Car in America.*

Powered exclusively by a lithium-ion battery system, the 2013 Ford Focus Electric has a city fuel efficiency rating of 110 MPGe. That's the best city rating in its class. ¹⁵²
The Focus Electric is now available to own at one of our Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealers. Ask your tax advisor to see if you may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

See the FAQ

*EPA-estimated 110 city/99 hwy/105 combined MPGe. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation.

The main advantages of the electric cars

The car, as you know – is not a luxury but a mean of transportation! And this transport, thanks to human genius, is constantly undergoing various metamorphoses. It seems that only yesterday the world understood all the charm of the internal combustion engine, but today we see on the roads around speeding cars, which hold under the hood, power units other than the internal combustion engine.

Among the latest cars, a special place have the electric vehicles (electric cars), which experts forecast total dominance in the near future. Whether their expectations are true or not, we’ll see in the near future, but today, with full confidence we can say that the potential of these cars is very, very big. Last but not least, thanks to the advantages such machines have. As you have probably guessed, this article tells about the merits of electric vehicles.

According to most experts, the main advantage of electric cars is its environmental friendliness. Cars of this type are absolutely harmless to the environment due to the fact that they work exclusively on electric. Therefore, no harmful emissions into the atmosphere they produce.

If we talk about security, the electric cars provide it not only in relation to the environment, but also, very importantly, toward the passengers. Thus, the electric vehicles, during exploitation are very fire and explosion resistant. This means that in case of an emergency (accident or breakdown), the health and life of the driver and his passengers will be subjected to much less risk!

Also from the indisputable advantages of the electric cars should be mentioned their ease of use, in particular, filling the tank. Let’s agree - many of us in our driver practice complained of the so old-fashion empty tank situation of our "iron horse". Remember how we had to change our plans and go to a gas station? In the case of electric vehicles, such problems can be avoided. The fact is that many models are calculated for home charging from an ordinary electrical outlet. For example, in the evening, you drove the car in the garage, plugged it into an outlet and went to rest, and, in the morning, sitting behind the wheel of your car, you can safely go on the road, with no thoughts related to an empty tank.

Another advantage of the electric vehicle is considered the simplicity of its design. Many of the car systems, which are so usual for the traditional cars, are not found in the electric cars. For example, gearbox, fuel system, clutch, etc. The absence in electric vehicles of defining systems for cars with conventional internal combustion engines, acts as one of the main advantages. A simplified design in this case - ensures the reliability and durability of the electric operation. There is practically nothing to break!

An inextricable link with the simple design of the electric car has also its economy. It is a fact that the maintenance of simple mechanisms is always cheaper than the "financial care" for their more sophisticated counterparts. This statement is absolutely true in the case of electric vehicles. Investing a certain amount of money in the purchase of an electric car, the owner will have much less to spend on its maintenance in the future, compared with the cost of a nowadays car with engine. Let’s take into consideration the charging from the home network. We are convinced that no one would argue with the fact that it is much more advantageous (from the financial point of view), rather than buying the rising in price petrol.

These, in our opinion, are the main advantages of the electric vehicles. However, it would be unfair to ignore his shortcomings, which it will be continued in our next article.

A Comprehensive Guide to Plug-in Hybrids

What Is A Plug-in Hybrid Car?

A plug-in hybrid car is similar to a conventional hybrid vehicle—both use a gasoline engine as well as an electric motor. However, a plug-in hybrid uses larger battery packs that can be recharged by connecting to common household electricity. Plug-in hybrids can be driven for long distances—from a few miles to as much as 40 miles—without using any gasoline.

Toyota has demonstrated a plug-in concept version of the Prius, and anticipates first-year production of 20,000 to 30,000 units in 2012.

Plug-in hybrids provide the benefits of an electric car, while maintaining the same driving range as conventional vehicles. Plug-in hybrid drivers travel in an all-electric mode for the vast majority of common local driving. When the battery’s electric charge is depleted, a downsized gas engine is used to either recharge the batteries (as the car moves), or as the primary source of propulsion until recharging the batteries via a plug.
Plug-in hybrid cars are also known as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEVs. Plug-in hybrid cars that use a gas engine exclusively for recharging batteries—rather than directly powering the wheels—are also called Extended-Range Electric Vehicles or E-REVs.

ComparisonCompare a Plug-in Hybrid to Standard Hybrid

Point your mouse to the image to compare a plug-in hybrid to a standard hybrid.

Plug-in hybrid cars have considerable fuel efficiency benefits compared to other vehicles:

A hybrid car, depending on the model, achieves about twice the fuel economy as a conventional car of the same size and capacity
A plug-in hybrid car can obtain about twice the fuel economy of a conventional hybrid
A plug-in hybrid, running on biofuel (e.g., 85-percent ethanol or biodiesel) could almost entirely eliminate its use of petroleum

Availability of Plug-in Hybrids

Despite all the media attention about plug-in hybrids, it’s still not yet possible for an individual consumer to buy one. A few plug-in hybrids have been produced for testing in commercial fleets and government agencies. Many major automakers have produced concept prototype plug-in hybrids for display at international auto shows, but only a handful of carmakers have committed to a specific production date for these vehicles.
The following plug-in hybrids are scheduled for production:

Name	EV Range	Type	MSRP	Available
Chevrolet VoltAll-electric gas-free driving for 40-mile stretches.	40 miles	Sedan	$39,100	Now
Fisker KarmaThe rear-wheel drive sporty plug-in hybrid from designer Henrik Fisker.	50 miles	Luxury	$96,000	2011
Ford Escape Plug-in HybridThe proven fuel-efficient SUV hybrid will come with a plug in 2012.	30 miles	SUV	n/a	2012
Volvo V70 Plug-in HybridVolvo appears serious about producing a plug-in hybrid wagon with 30 or miles of electric range.	30 miles	Van/Wagon	n/a	2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid ReviewToyota will begin delivery of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid in March of 2012.	10 miles	Sedan	$32,000	2012
Ford C-MAX EnergiThe segment-busting almost-a-van vehicle will offer 40+ mpg, but only five seats as a plug-in hybrid.	n/a	Sedan	n/a	2012
Mitsubishi PX-MiEVThis mid-sized SUV plug-in hybrid has triple-threat functionality as a pure electric, a series hybrid, and a parallel hybrid. Result: About 120 mpg.	30 miles	SUV	n/a	Concept

Common Plug-in Hybrid Criticisms, And Responses

“I have always felt it was possible to build a car that gets more than 100 miles per gallon. It’s what this country needs: To build a car with high performance and all the fun factors of a conventional car, but have it run on electricity.”

Dr. Andy Frank
Widely considered the father of the modern plug-in hybrid

The extra batteries weigh too much.
Response: The extra weight of the batteries will be offset somewhat by the reduced weight of the gas engine. At high speeds in particular, fuel efficiency is affected primarily by aerodynamics—the MPG is minimally affected by the added weight roughly equivalent of one or two additional passengers.
The extra batteries cost too much.
Response: If sold in high volumes by carmakers, more powerful and cheaper nickel metal hydride or lithium ion batteries could be sold at prices only a few thousand dollars above that of today’s hybrids. Recharging will take place mostly at night during cheaper off-peak hours. Counting purchases, fuel and service, total lifetime cost of ownership is lower than a gas car.
Producing power from the grid (to charge the cars) will produce additional emissions.
Response: What the industry calls "well-to-wheel" emissions (including greenhouse gases) for grid-powered vehicles is far lower than gasoline, even for the American power grid (which is 50 percent coal). Cars charging off-peak will use power from plants that can't turn off at night. Many parts of the country get most of their power from cleaner sources such as natural gas and hydropower. It's far easier to improve centralized power stations than millions of aging cars. Finally, plug-in hybrids recharged from rooftop photovoltaic systems would have virtually zero emission.

le puteti gasi si pe website

http://www.hybridcars.com/

Hybrid SUV Roundup

Hybrid and diesel SUVs combine the interior space and ride quality of an SUV with fuel-saving capabilities of hybrid cars. Some environmentalists have criticized the hybrid SUV as a misapplication of gas-electric technology. It’s true that hybrid SUVs do not reach the level of fuel efficiency of smaller hybrids in terms of miles-per-gallon. Yet, miles-per-gallon is a non-linear and counter-intuitive form of measurement. An apparently small jump in fuel efficiency—for example, from 14 to 16 mpg—saves as much oil as increasing fuel economy from 35 to 50 mpg, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Which are the Best Hybrid or Diesel SUVs? That Depends on Your Needs.

With more than 10 hybrid SUVs currently on the market—and clean diesel models also worth considering— consumers can choose features and pricing best suited to their specific needs:

Affordability and Maximum Efficiency: Ford Escape Hybrid
V8 Performance and Towing: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid
Seven-Passenger Seating: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
Luxury: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Lexus RX 450h

The V8 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which achieves the same city fuel economy as a four-cylinder Toyota Camry, can tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The List of Hybrid SUVs

In addition to gas-electric hybrid SUVs, our sortable list also include diesels and conventional small SUV alternatives—as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen SUVs in the works.

Name	Combined MPG	Technology	MSRP	Available
Ford Escape HybridThe most fuel efficient SUV available.	32 MPG	Hybrid	$30,500	Now
Lexus RX 450hUpdated version of the luxury SUV with green stripes.	30 MPG	Hybrid	$45,900	Now
Toyota Highlander HybridThe Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the most fuel efficient seven-passenger SUV available.	28 MPG	Hybrid	$38,100	Now
Chevrolet EquinoxSmall gas-powered SUV with the highest highway fuel economy rating.	26 MPG		$23,200	Now
BMW X5 xDrive35dHigh-performance, luxury SUV. Now more efficient as a diesel.	23 MPG	Diesel	$52,000	Now
Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid ReviewCombines a direct injection engine and hybrid gas-electric system for maximum benefit.	22 MPG	Hybrid	$62,000	Now
Mercedes ML 450 HybridThe Mercedes-Benz version of the Two-Mode system combines a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors.	22 MPG	Hybrid	$55,000	Now
Audi Q5 HybridIn addition to saving fuel—the Q5’s combined EPA fuel economy could approach 26-27 mpg versus the gasoline model’s 22 mpg—the Q5 Hybrid teems with engineering, technology and performance.	22 MPG	Hybrid	$35,600	Now
Chevrolet Tahoe HybridThe Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid makes significant strides in improving the fuel economy of the full-size SUV.	21 MPG	Hybrid	$52,300	Now
Volkswagen Touareg TDIVW ditched V10. Now, the Touareg TDI comes reasonably priced and reasonably powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine.	21 MPG	Diesel	$42,800	Now
Mercedes ML 320 BluetecThe most popular Mercedes SUV, available in fuel-efficient clean diesel version.	21 MPG	Diesel	$48,600	Now
GMC Yukon HybridThe sister vehicle of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. Features same fuel economy in a better appointed package.	21 MPG	Hybrid	$52,800	Now
Mercedes R320 BluetecA big and heavy luxury station wagon with a clean diesel engine.	21 MPG	Diesel	$49,100	Now
Audi Q7 TDILuxury seven-passenger clean diesel SUV with ultra-low emissions.	21 MPG	Diesel	$50,900	Now
Cadillac Escalade HybridLaunched in August 2008, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid sport-utility vehicle is unquestionably the world’s blingiest hybrid.	21 MPG	Hybrid	$73,000	Now
Porsche Cayenne S HybridThe Cayenne S Hybrid is about as far away from the earnest nerdiness of the Prius as any Porsche can get.	21 MPG	Hybrid	$69,000	Now
Mercedes GL320 BluetecThe biggest, bluntest, and heaviest clean diesel SUV from Mercedes-Benz.	20 MPG	Diesel	$59,200	Now
BMW X6 HybridAn SUV that has crossed over into sports car territory.	18 MPG	Hybrid	$90,000	Now
Ford Escape Plug-in HybridThe proven fuel-efficient SUV hybrid will come with a plug in 2012.	n/a	Plug-in Hybrid	n/a	2012
Mitsubishi PX-MiEVThis mid-sized SUV plug-in hybrid has triple-threat functionality as a pure electric, a series hybrid, and a parallel hybrid. Result: About 120 mpg.	120 MPG	Plug-in Hybrid	n/a	Concept
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel CellA fleet of 100 Chevy Equinoxes running on hydrogen have been tested by more than 3,000 thousand real-world drivers.	43 MPG	Hydrogen	n/a	Concept
Audi Q7 HybridRefined and opulent, and now the hybrid version offers slightly better fuel efficiency. le puteti gasi si pe website http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-suv	n/a	Hybrid	n/a	Concept