Here is an essay on ‘Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles’ for class 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles
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Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Introduction to Battery – Powered Electric Vehicles
- Essay on the Batteries Used for Electric Propulsion
- Essay on Battery-Charging
- Essay on the Economics of Battery – Operated Electric Vehicles
- Essay on the International Status of Battery-Operated Electric Vehicles
- Essay on the Indian Initiative on Battery-Operated Electric Vehicles
Essay # 1. Introduction to Battery – Powered Electric Vehicles:
Electric vehicles are the least polluting mode of transportation available today. Electric vehicles operate by way of an electric motor, powered by a series of rechargeable batteries. Batteries are charged by connecting the vehicle to an electric power source. Electric vehicles are zero-emission vehicles. They do not directly pollute through tail-pipe emissions, fuel evaporation, fuel refining or fuel transport to service stations.
Concerns have been raised regarding the emissions associated with the generation of electricity, particularly from coal-fired power plants. Electric vehicles remain cleaner than comparable gasoline powered vehicles even when the electricity they use for charging is derived from polluting fuels like coal. The reasons are their high-efficiency electric power trains and the fact that modern coal-burning generating plants produce electricity more efficiently and with fewer emissions than they did in the past.
The environmental benefits from using battery-operated electric vehicles promise to increase with time. That’s because electric generation continues getting cleaner as older and dirtier generating plants are taken out of service and replaced with newer, less polluting hydro power, nuclear power, wind, solar or other renewable fuels.
The resources expended on research and development of battery-powered electric vehicles have increased greatly since 1990, when the California Air Resource Board (CARB) adopted new emission regulations requiring a minimum of two percent of vehicle sales in California state (about 20,000cars) to be zero emission vehicles beginning in 1998. This percentage was to rise-to 5 per cent in 2001 and 10 percent in 2003. The only vehicles to meet California’s zero-emission vehicle requirement, battery-powered electric vehicles offer quiet, pollution-free operation.
The relatively limited mileage range of electric vehicles can pose a serious problem for some applications. The range varies depending on the number and type of batteries, as well as driving conditions, climate and other factors. An electric vehicle today has a range of about 70 to 80 kms. with lead acid batteries and about 150 kms. with nickel-iron batteries. The range decreases significantly with the battery getting older.
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A number of vehicle manufacturers are developing battery powered electric vehicles in Asia (including India), Australia, Europe, U.S.A and Japan. There are two main barriers to the wide spread acceptance of electric vehicles, cost and range.
Both are related to batteries. Battery development is the most important factor for the success of electric vehicles. The day major breakthrough is accomplished in identifying cheaper and suitable batteries, the whole automotive scenario will change and battery-powered electric vehicles will be mass produced throughout the world.
Essay # 2. Batteries Used for Electric Propulsion
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Batteries are the “storage tanks” of energy and the electricity- produced by the batteries drives electric hub motors at the wheels and the vehicle. Different types of batteries for electric vehicles are being developed for better performance. Lead—acid batteries are being used currently in most of the electric vehicles to propel a vehicle and a variety of new types of batteries are being developed.
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The existing low energy density (watt-hours per unit battery mass) of batteries affects vehicle weight and range. Battery technology for electric vehicles is now the subject of intense research and development aimed at increasing energy and power density in order to reduce the weight of the “battery pack” and increasing the range of the vehicle. The other major requirements of the batteries are long life, low cost, resistance to abuse and safety. Despite years of intense worldwide R & D, no battery can meet all of these goals.
Present lead acid batteries can store about 25 watt hours per kg and hence a 500kg battery- pack can store about 12.5 kilowatt hours of energy. If we assume 0.25 kwh/km as the energy requirement of a passenger car under ideal conditions, the range of the car will be about 50 kms. The more expensive lithium batteries have a storage capacity of 200 watt hours per kg and as such the range can be increased to about 400 kms or the weight of the battery pack can be reduced to 250 kgs and achieve a range of about 200 kms.
The following types of batteries are commonly used to power electric vehicles:
1. Lead acid – provides a low-cost, low range (less than 100 kms) options with about 3 year life cycle.
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2. Nickel metal hydride — offers a greater driving range and life cycle, but is currently more expensive than lead acid batteries.
3. Nickel-cadmium – offers a range of about 150kms, longer life, and faster recharge than lead acid batteries, but is more expensive.
4. Lithium – Offers a potential for a long driving range and life cycle, but is currently very costly.
5. Zinc-air- Currently under development. Provides superior performance compared to current battery technology.
Life of batteries is an important specification. The affordability of electric vehicles today is significantly affected-lead acid batteries must be replaced every three years. The useful life is expressed in terms of number of cycles and in calendar periods. For the battery to be economical, it should have a minimum 1000 full cycles, meaning that the battery can be fully charged and discharged atleast 1000 times, before its capacity goes below 80 percent of its rating. The battery should last at least five years.
Essay # 3. Battery-Charging
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When the batteries are discharged, they are recharged using electricity from the mains as the external energy source. It takes about 6 to 10 hours to recharge lead acid batteries used on electric vehicles. Nickel-cadmium vehicles can be recharged faster. Recharging is normally done at night when the vehicle is not in operation.
Most of the recently built battery-powered vehicles have on board battery chargers. The on-board charging arrangement extends the vehicle range by charging batteries at parking areas in work places, public parking places etc., instead of depending on few outside charging stations.
The recharging time depends on the voltage of the recharging stations, the ambient air temperature, the size and the type of battery pack, and the remaining electrical energy in storage. Typically, the process takes several hours, but batteries are being developed that can be recharged more quickly. The cost of fully charging a battery pack varies with the rates charged by local electricity authorities, but generally is less than the cost of an equivalent amount of gasoline.
Essay # 4. Economics of Battery – Operated Electric Vehicles
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Electric vehicles are very expensive compared to other clean- vehicle technologies. General Motor’s EV1, the first electric car in modern times to have been specifically designed by a major car maker for the mass market, is priced at U.S $ 35,000. Estimates of the cost of battery-operated electric vehicles are heavily influenced by assumptions regarding battery cost and efficiency.
Estimates of the incremental costs (compared with a gasoline fueled vehicles meeting current U.S emission standards) range from U.S $ 3000 to more than U.S $ 20,000 per vehicle. Battery storage contributes significantly to the cost of an electric vehicle. To these costs needs to be added the costs of the electric charging infrastructure. Despite these limitations, electric vehicles have become popular in some European countries and are beginning to penetrate the motor cycle/moped market in Asia.
Essay # 5. International Status of Battery-Operated Electric Vehicles
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In France, buyers of electric cars qualify for a U.S $ 2500 government grant to offset the additional cost compared to conventional cars. Potential backing for battery operated electric cars in France has been influenced by the cheap nuclear generated power.
Despite their limited range problems, there are more than 2,50,000 electric vehicles in France. In Japan, the National Environment Agency has offered to subsidise 50 percent of the cost of electric vehicles purchased by local governments. The objective is to raise environmental awareness and encourage local businesses to purchase electric vehicles.
In Nepal, electric three – wheelers (Safa Tempos) have been introduced in Kathmandu as a replacement for conventional diesel- fueled tempos under a joint programme supported by the National government, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the private sector. The programme is managed by Nepal Electric Vehicle Industry (NEVI) and has received strong government support in the form of reduced import duties and other tax incentives.
There were 3500 diesel run three wheelers in Kathmandu providing public transport. In 1995, they were replaced by Safa tempos (“safa” means clean and “tempo” is the local generic name for a three wheeler). The electric three wheeler is powered by a pack of 12 (6 volt 220 amp.hr) batteries with a range per charge of 60 kms.
The maximum pay load is 600 kgs., equivalent to about 10 passengers plus driver. The Electric vehicle programme in Kathmandu is considered successful and many other Asian countries have asked for U.N assistance to implement similar programmes.
Essay # 6. Indian Initiative on Battery-Operated Electric Vehicles
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The Mashelkar Committee set up by the Ministry of non- conventional energy sources (MNCES) government of India in 2000, had recommended the following measures tor accelerated commercialization of electric vehicles in India:
1. Development of appropriate type of batteries for electric vehicles, including advanced lead acid batteries as a short term strategy, nickel metal hydride batteries as a medium term strategy, and lithium batteries as a long — term strategy.
2. Development of efficient and reliable electronic drives.
3. Development and use of innovative quick charging methods and devices for charging of batteries.
Based on the recommendations of this committee, efforts are being made to improve the fuel economy of electric vehicles by improving efficiency of batteries, battery charger, electric motor and the controller besides reducing the overall weight of the vehicles.
A number of electric vehicles are already plying on Indian roads today. Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited had developed and commercialized a 16 seater electric bus (Electra Van), more than a decade ago. Till date, BHEL has supplied more than 250 battery operated passenger vehicles to large number of customers.
These vehicles can operate at a cruising speed of 50 km per hour and have a range of 70 kms. The charging time of lead acid batteries used in these vehicles is 8 to 10 hours. Several improvements in control system, vehicle design and performance based on operational experience have been made in the recent years.
Three wheeler electric vehicles are also commercially available in the country. Scooters India Limited had developed and demonstrated electric three wheelers (Vikram EV) which are now in advanced stage of commercialisation. Other major players for electric three wheelers include Mahindra ECO mobiles, which has come up with a three wheeler electric vehicle called “Bijli”. Bajaj Auto and Eicher are also entering the three wheeler electric vehicle market.
Passenger electric cars are available in the country. Reva, Bangalore has developed battery-operated passenger cars. Government is launching a major operational programme on battery operated four wheelers, three wheelers and two wheelers. Exide Industries Kolkata, Lucas TVS Madras and other manufacturers are developing batteries required for electric vehicles.
With further technical performance improvement, cost reduction and increasing awareness, electric vehicles are expected to find greater acceptance and market penetration. Government of India and research institutions have a greater role to play in commercialization of electric three wheelers, electric cycle rickshaws and electric two wheelers. These types of electric vehicles will not be available from foreign suppliers, and have to be developed indigenously taking into account local conditions.