Kyler Lindo
Breaking It Down EaVily: Transition of Electric Vehicles and Their Modern-Day Components
Electric Vehicles of the 1800s:
Galvani
In 1837 Robert Davidson built a prototype electric locomotive that was powered by galvanic cells, unfortunately, these cells were not rechargeable. These power cells allowed the locomotive to go 1.5 miles at 4mph towing 6 tons (12000 lbs). Even so, this was still seen as an impressive performance. So impressive that railroad workers saw it as a threat to their jobs tending steam-powered engines and they destroyed Davidson’s “Devil Machine” Galvani.
Electrobat
Pedro Salom and Henry G. Morris initially presented this electric car in 1894 but continued to revise the product until 1896. The final phase of their vehicle consisted of 1.1 kW motors, traveling a distance of 25 miles, with a top speed of 20 mph. Surprisingly their invention won a series of five-mile sprint races against gasoline vehicles in 1896.
EV Sport cars:
Tzero
In 1997 the first-ever alternating current propulsion sports car named Tzero was revealed by Tesla Motors co-founder Martin Eberhard. Tzero used 150kW lead-acid batteries that helped it accelerate 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds with 201 horsepower. The performance and the limited quantity in which the car was made brought its cost to $220,000.
Roadster
Telsa Motors began production of this vehicle in 2008. This was vaguely described as an AC Propulsion tzero with more modified Lotus Elise components. The proprietary drivetrain technology developed at Telsa was implemented in Tesla’s 2011 model. The Roadster was notably the first car to have lithium-ion batteries in a production vehicle with a 200-mile driving
range! Tesla accomplished selling 2400 units over four years despite the price tag of $109,000.
Modern-Day Super EVs:
Over the years EVs have been exponentially improving at a rather surprising pace. The expected range and anticipated speeds of these electric vehicles have been delivered by various companies.
2024 Lucid Air
The Engineering behind the Air Sedan produced by Lucid Motors is astonishing. This company has achieved historic feats in the world of EVs with the creation of Lucid Air. They managed to create such an EV clocking 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds, with a range of 400 miles. The range made available by the Air Sedan is currently the longest-range EV currently on the market according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates These mind-blowing stats didn’t stop there. Lucid Motors then introduced another trim, Air Sapphire, a performance model that’s even quicker with a 0-60 in less than 2 seconds, equipped with 1,234 horsepower. To experience these kinds of speeds there will be a $250,500 price tag attached.
2024 Lotus Evijia
This Lotus is unlike many electric-powered cars because of its four electric motors and lightweight. These motors allow the performance of 2,000 horsepower and 1,254 pound-feet of torque! In addition to its acclaimed 3,700lb weight, it’s the lightest EV hypercar to ever reach the production phase. The production run of this car has been sold out, but if you ever planned to be in line for their 2024 restock and delivery you’d have to be willing to pay the price, $2.3 million.
Modern-Day Electric Vehicle Components:
Traction Battery Pack
The purpose of this Battery Pack is to power the electric motors of an electric vehicle. This is possible because it stores energy in the form of DC(Direct Current). The kilowatts (kW) of power are directly proportional to the range, if kW increases then the range increases. The life expectancy of these batteries is dependent on how they’re manufactured. From what I’ve researched most range from 10-20 years. But every battery in the US comes with at least a 100,000-mile warranty. Fun fact, Hyundai comes with a lifetime warranty, in Hyundai I trust!
Certain factors can affect the life expectancy of a Traction Battery Pack. The climate is a nonmodifiable risk factor that you should take into account when considering purchasing an EV (Electric Vehicle). Hotter climates can cause the battery to degrade faster, this can impact performance and longevity. Under colder weather conditions, though it might not deplete the EV life expectancy, it usually negatively impacts the range and performance.
Electric Motor:
These types of motors are what differentiate EVs from gas-powered cars. The electric motor converts the electric energy into kinetic energy. One of the most impactful features of these motors is the regenerative braking mechanism. This mechanism is created to recover energy by slowing down the moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy into stored energy until needed. The energy wasted by conventional braking systems by converting kinetic energy to heat due to friction (causing more wear and tear on braking systems) is preserved in regenerative braking integrated with EV models.
Charge Port:
These charging ports are made differently per manufacturer and region. Various charging levels operate at different volts, some are more convenient than others.
Level 1 charging holds 120V, and charges the EV at a slow rate. Level 2 charging operates at 240 V, these chargers are more than three times faster than Level 1. These are not compatible with 240-volt outlets, so an electrical capacity might need to be added to the home. Level 3 (DC Fast Charging) is the quickest one that’s available, these operate at 400-800 volts.
Controller:
This part of the EV is what regulates the energy from the batteries to the motors, and controls the torque produced.
Thermal Cooling System:
The thermal management system helps maintain an acceptable operating temperature for the main components of the EV. This system works through the combination of thermoelectric cooling, forced air cooling, and liquid cooling. Liquid cooling is the most recommended by most top EV manufacturers such as Telsa, Jaguar, and BMW.
Transmission:
This gearbox transfers the mechanical power from the electric motor to drive the wheels. There are three kinds of transmissions used in EVs. These include Single Speed, Multi-Speed, and Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). A single-speed transmission ensures that the power transferred to the wheels is delivered at a lower, more suitable speed, with increased torque. Multi-speed transmissions provide multiple gears. With these transmissions(in PowerPoint to optimize performance and efficiency), there are low-gear ratios, that provide higher torque and acceleration, and high-gear ratios that provide higher speeds and efficiency. Lastly, a CVT provides an infinite amount of gear ratios within a specific range providing smoother performance.
Conclusion
The aim to give a detailed analysis of the history of EVs exemplifies the ceiling they never seem to hit because the sky’s the limit.
Key Words:
- Traction battery pack
- Electric motor
- Charge Port
- Controller
- Thermal Cooling System
- Transmission
Appendix A
Fig. 1 – Electric Locomotive, “Davidsons Devil Machine”. (Credit: Ullstein BildDTL. Getty Images).
Fig. 2 – Electrobat. (Credit: Creative Commons, Museum Of The City Of New York).
Fig. 3 – tZero. (Credit: All Car Index).
Fig. 4 – Tesla Motors, Roadster. (Credit: Motor Trend).
Fig. 5 – Lotus Elise. (Credit: Classic Motorsports).
Fig. 6 – 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire. (Credit: Ludic Motors).
Fig. 7 – Lotus Evijia. (Credit: Piston Heads).
Fig. 8 – Traction Battery Pack. (Credit: evfiresafe).
Fig. 9 – Electric Motor. (Credit: EV West).
Fig. – 10 Charg Port. (Credit: Rac).
Fig. 11 – Controller. (Credit: indiamart).
Fig. 12 – Transmission (Credit: Mercedes).
References
2024 Lotus Evija Review, pricing, and Specs – Car and driver. (n.d.-a). https://www.caranddriver.com/lotus/evija
2024 lucid Air Review, pricing, and Specs – Car and driver. (n.d.-b). https://www.caranddriver.com/lucid-motors/air
AC Propulsion tzero. ACI. (n.d.). https://www.allcarindex.com/production/united-states/ac-propulsion/tzero/
Chopper Bike (please) :: Project Zomboid suggestions. Steam Community. (n.d.). https://steamcommunity.com/app/108600/discussions/2/1744479698804770383/
Database menu. (n.d.). http://ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/login?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebscohost.com%2Flogin.aspx%3Fdirect&db=a9h&AN=162349398&site=ehost-live
David S. Wallens Sep 8, 2022, | Lotus. (n.d.). Buyer guide: 2005-’11 Lotus Elise and Exige. Buyer Guide: 2005-’11 Lotus Elise and Exige | Articles | Classic Motorsports. https://classicmotorsports.com/articles/buyer-guide-2005-2011-lotus-elise-and-exige/
First Electric Car: A brief history of the EV, 1830 to present. (n.d.-c). https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g43480930/history-of-electric-cars/
The main components of electric vehicles: Parts of Ev. YoCharge. (2023, July 27). https://yocharge.com/ev/components/#inverter
