Types of EV.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.

You normally hear about several types of electric vehicles.

There are hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles and many others.

In this section, we will talk about the types of EVs, and you will learn how to identify an electric
vehicle type.

Vehicles can be classified based on Drive-train & Fuel type such as: the conventional internal
combustion engine vehicle, the alternative fuel internal combustion engine vehicle, and the
electric vehicle.

The internal combustion engine is commonly referred to by its short form ICE.

The conventional ICE vehicle includes the gasoline and diesel vehicles; The Alternative Fuel
ICE Vehicle refers to vehicles that run on a fuel other than gasoline or diesel; like autogas;
natural gas, biofuel or hydrogen.

In all forms of ICE vehicles, the drive train is mechanical.

In contrast, electric vehicles use an electric drivetrain for their propulsion.

In this lecture, we will focus on electric vehicles.

While battery-electric vehicles have an electrified drivetrain, they can be classified based on
their energy sources, their propulsion devices and how their propulsion devices are
hybridized.

In general, we have: Hybrid Electric vehicle (HEV), Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV),
Battery electric vehicle (BEV), Fuel cell Electric vehicle (FCEV), and in the future, solar EV.

The hybrid electric vehicle sources its energy solely from gasoline or diesel, while it uses both
the electric motor in combination with a battery and a combustion engine for propulsion.

The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is similar to the hybrid electric vehicle that it uses both an
engine and an electric motor for propulsion.

The difference is that the battery of a PHEV can be charged by electricity via a charging port.

In contrast, the battery electric vehicle does not have an engine and is purely powered by
electricity instead of fossil fuels.

Further, the propulsion is solely driven by an electric motor.

Finally, in the case of a fuel cell and solar electric vehicle, the energy is directly sourced from
hydrogen using a fuel cell or from solar panels, respectively.
While the propulsion is done using an electric motor.

Now, let’s look at these vehicles one by one.

For reference, let us start with gasoline and diesel vehicles that use an internal combustion
engine for propulsion.

A gasoline car typically uses a spark-ignited engine, rather than the compression-ignited
systems used in diesel vehicles.

The engine uses a complex mechanical transmission system to transfer power to the wheels.

Similar to a gasoline vehicle, Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion
engine as well.

However, in addition, an electric motor can propel the vehicle by using energy stored in the
batteries.

The battery is in turn charged by drawing energy from the engine by using the electric motor
as an electric generator.

To operate the motor and generator mode, a clever power electronic motor drive is used.

The extra power provided by the electric motor allows for a smaller engine.

Further, the motor allows the engine to be operated in its optimal efficiency point, resulting
in better fuel economy.

What we have just seen is a parallel hybrid architecture where both the engine and the motor
can power the wheels at the same time.

A series hybrid electric vehicle, on the other hand, works differently.

The internal combustion engine is used to drive a generator and provide electrical power for
the traction motors and to charge the battery.

This is a common propulsion method which has been used in locomotives for many years.

The traction motor is the only power supply unit with a direct connection to the wheels.

The advantage is that the internal combustion engine can be operated at its most efficient
point to generate the necessary current for driving the traction motor or charging the battery.

The third type of hybrid is the series-parallel or dual-mode hybrid.

This has the flexibility to operate in either series or parallel mode by using a powersplit.

It has a generator to charge the battery as seen in a series hybrid.

And it has an engine and motor simultaneously powering the wheels as seen in a parallel
hybrid.

Although this type of architecture is more flexible in terms of driving modes, it is also more
complex and, of course, costly.

The Toyota Prius is an example of a Hybrid electric vehicle based on the series-parallel
architecture.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are similar to hybrid electric vehicles in that they have both an
engine and motor for propulsion.

The main difference lies in the fact that PHEV batteries are larger and can be externally
charged using the on-board charger.

This is beside the fact that the battery can be charged using the internal combustion engine
while driving.

This enables the PHEV to use the electric motor during larger periods of time when driving.

That means for larger distances.

This means that a PHEV can drive electric for most city commutes and switch to fossil fuels for
long highway rides, removing any range anxiety.

What is shown here is a PHEV based on a parallel drivetrain architecture.

Similar to what was seen before, a PHEV can be built based on series and series-parallel
architectures as well.

The Chevrolet Volt is an example of a Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle based on the series-
parallel architecture.

The disadvantage of the HEV and PHEV is that they continue to use fossil fuels and hence have
tail-pipe emissions.

To overcome this, the battery electric vehicles or All-electric vehicles (EVs) only have an
electric motor and no internal combustion engine.

The vehicle uses a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor and the battery
must be charged from a power outlet when it is parked.

The Tesla Model S is an example of a battery electric vehicle.

Next we look at a fuel cell EV.

A fuel cell electric vehicle substitutes the large battery of a battery electric vehicle for a fuel
cell stack to generate electricity from the hydrogen fuel.
Unlike a battery, a fuel cell is not a storage device, but a component that produces direct
current from a chemical reaction.

A small battery is still used as an energy buffer and to power the electric motor using the
motor drive.

A fuel cell vehicle has the advantage of short refuelling times and extended driving range when
compared with battery-electric vehicles.

Here are two examples of fuel cell electric vehicles: The Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota Mirai.

Now that we know all the EV types, let us compare them based on a factor called hybridization
rate.

The hybridization rate, is a measure used to describe how strongly the powertrain is
hybridized.

This level is determined by the role that the electric motor has in the performance of the car.

It is defined as the ratio of electric power to total power and is described by this equation
where P-em is the power provided by the electric machine and P-ice is the power provided by
the internal combustion engine.

The classification for different values of hybridization rate, is shown in this bar chart including
typical values of the power rating of the electric motor.

On both sides of this bar we can see that the ICE Vehicle’s hybridization rate is 0 and the
battery EV’s hybridization rate is 1.

When the hybridization rate value is smaller than 0.24, this HEV is considered to be a micro
hybrid.

When the hybridization rate, is between 0.24-0.38, it is then distinguished as a semi or mild
hybrid.

When the hybridization rate is higher than 0.38, we can then consider it as a full hybrid.

Apart from that, as we introduced before, if the battery of an HEV can be charged from a
charging port, it is classified as PHEV.

So, to wrap up; this table shows the overview of all types of electric vehicles.

In case of ICE Vehicles, they are solely powered by an internal combustion engine and has the
most emissions.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles are powered by both an internal
combustion engine and an electric motor that uses energy stored in a battery.

The battery is charged by the internal combustion engine for both.

For a PHEV, the vehicle can be plugged into an electric power source to charge the battery.

Battery Electric Vehicles use no fossil fuel and have zero tail-pipe emissions.

Like a PHEV, the EV batteries are charged by plugging the vehicle into an electric power source.

Finally, an FCEV uses fuel cell powered by hydrogen and battery to power vehicle using an
electric drivetrain.