This blog post will look at why electric vehicles are the key to the future in terms of the environment, technology, and policy.
Comparison of gasoline and diesel cars and electric cars
Recently, an unusual event occurred in the United States, where the stock price of a car company soared by more than 1,000%. The protagonist is Tesla, an electric car company founded by Elon Musk, the famous founder of PayPal, along with four fellow engineers. Musk is leading a new trend in the automotive market by making battery-powered cars a reality, which was only possible in the imagination. Not only is there a growing global interest in environmental pollution, but the maintenance costs of electric vehicles are very low from the perspective of consumers, which is why demand for electric vehicles is skyrocketing. As a testament to this, there are even predictions that electric vehicles will account for about 20% of the entire automobile market by 2025. Under these circumstances, it is no exaggeration to say that electric vehicles have become an essential choice for automobile companies.
In fact, the need for electric vehicles has been raised for a long time. As environmental problems caused by global warming and automobile exhaust became prominent, the need for electric vehicles emerged as a solution, but commercialization was difficult due to battery output and charging time issues. However, with the recent advancement of smartphone and other electronic device technologies, battery efficiency has improved, making it possible to mass-produce electric vehicle models. In this article, we will look at the principles of electric vehicles in comparison with conventional gasoline and diesel cars, and also discuss the direction of development of battery technology.
The driving principle of gasoline and diesel cars
Most rear-wheel-drive cars follow the basic structure established by Frenchman Panhard in 1891. A car is composed of about 30,000 parts and is largely divided into the body and chassis. The chassis is the part that generates the power needed to drive the car, which is divided into the engine, transmission, and wheels. In the case of gasoline cars, high-pressure and high-temperature gas created by the combustion of fuel and oxygen inside the cylinder expands and moves the piston. This consists of a four-stroke cycle of intake, compression, power, and exhaust, and the exhaust gas emitted into the atmosphere during the exhaust stroke is the main cause of environmental pollution.
Diesel cars are also driven in a similar way to gasoline cars, but the fuel is ignited differently. Diesel engines have higher fuel efficiency and stronger torque than gasoline engines, but they have emission regulations and noise issues. Diesel engines use a method of burning fuel at high pressure, which boasts higher thermal efficiency, but they need technological improvements to solve the problem of exhaust gas emissions, including fine dust and nitrogen oxides.
How electric cars work
Electric cars, on the other hand, use electricity as a power source to rotate the motor. Unlike gasoline and diesel cars, they do not require a piston engine, so they are structurally simple and feature little engine noise. Electric cars are divided into several types depending on the power source they use. The first is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). This vehicle uses hydrogen as fuel to generate electricity in a fuel cell. The chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell generates electricity, and only water is discharged as a result, making it very eco-friendly. However, it will take some time for commercialization due to the lack of infrastructure such as hydrogen charging stations.
The second is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). This type of vehicle charges its battery from the vehicle’s built-in battery and uses that electricity to drive the motor. It is also called a “pure electric vehicle” because it is powered only by electricity. The models that Tesla produces are the mainstay of this type. However, battery electric vehicles take a long time to charge and have limitations in battery performance. The problem of fossil fuels being used in the production of batteries has also been pointed out, challenging the reputation of green technology.
The third is the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which uses a small internal combustion engine to supplement the limitations of the battery’s storage capacity. It can drive while charging the battery with the internal combustion engine, and is considered a transitional technology between battery electric vehicles and conventional gasoline vehicles.
Advances in battery technology and the future
One of the most important factors in the popularization of electric vehicles is battery technology. Currently, most electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which are relatively efficient but have a low energy density, meaning that the distance they can travel on a single charge is shorter than that of internal combustion engine vehicles. To solve this problem, next-generation battery technologies such as solid-state batteries are being researched around the world. Solid-state batteries are attracting attention as a technology that can increase safety and energy density and shorten charging time by using solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones. If this technology is commercialized, the range problem of electric vehicles is expected to be greatly solved.
In addition, battery recycling technology is also emerging as an important issue. Technology must be developed to effectively recycle lithium-ion batteries after they have reached the end of their life. If battery recycling technology is successfully introduced, the environmental benefits of electric vehicles will be further expanded.
Challenges for the Commercialization of Electric Vehicles
The challenges to commercialize electric vehicles require not only technological advancements but also the expansion of infrastructure and policy support. Recently, various regulations and support have been announced in various countries to promote the commercialization of electric vehicles.
In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed in 2022, benefiting manufacturers related to electric vehicles, and new policies related to stricter CO₂ emission standards are also being implemented. The European Union (EU) also announced the EU Battery Regulation in 2023, strengthening legal regulations to promote sustainable battery management and recycling. This regulation aims to minimize the environmental impact of batteries throughout their entire lifecycle and encourage a circular economy.
The biggest obstacles to the commercialization of electric vehicles are the charging infrastructure and battery performance. Countries are investing huge amounts of money to expand charging infrastructure, and during 2022-2023, Europe and the United States are implementing policies focused on installing charging infrastructure. As a result, battery technology is also rapidly advancing. Demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to grow, and by 2023, battery performance and productivity have improved significantly.
In addition, new battery technologies, such as solid-state batteries and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, are reducing battery costs, extending battery life, and increasing the competitiveness of electric vehicles. In particular, these batteries are expected to play an important role in the sustainable future of the electric vehicle industry by reducing the use of rare metals.
Therefore, although there are still challenges to be overcome in the commercialization of electric vehicles, such as expanding the charging infrastructure, improving battery performance, and strengthening battery recycling technology, policy support and technological innovation from around the world are quickly solving these issues.
