Just the Facts Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles

This is the third article of a series dedicated to “clearing the air” about alternative fuels, because while the World Wide Web is a vast source of information, it is not always accurate or up to date. The NAFTC is a non-profit, unbiased organization that develops curricula and conducts training to educate and inform people about alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. This third installment of “Just the Facts…” focuses on providing accurate information and erasing misconceptions about hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles.

In this issue we will be clearing up some confusion with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs/plug-in hybrids), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs/hybrids), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in relationship to their function and operation. My intentions are to provide the facts on their basic operation of technology and explain the differences between the technologies.

Battery Electric Vehicles
A BEV is an electric vehicle that is driven by one or more electric motors. The electricity is stored in battery modules. These modules are made up of cells, and the modules can be connected together to create a battery pack. The battery pack needs to be charged from the electrical grid; this means it is necessary to plug the vehicle in to recharge the battery pack. This process used to be a troublesome one in past model vehicles because the vehicle needed to be plugged into a charging station (off-board charger) which limited when and where the vehicle could be charged. Newer models have an onboard charger that allows the driver to plug the vehicle into the electrical grid at any 120v-20amp circuit (typical household outlet).

Onboard chargers allow the ease of charging at any 120v 20amp circuit. NAFTC Photo

I mentioned newer model electric vehicles, which are making a comeback, but did they go anywhere? The answer to this question depends on how you look at the automotive industry. If you rely on the media for all your information, then you will believe that the electric vehicle died. If you are involved in the industry, you realize that many electric vehicles exist across the country. Let’s look at the industry to get the facts.

There are three main categories of electric vehicles:

• Highway vehicles - These vehicles are able to drive on any roads in America and have passed safety standards just as any other vehicle on the road.
• Neighborhood electric vehicles - These vehicles are limited to 25 mph and are street legal on neighborhood streets. They also pass safety standards for the 25 mph limit.
• Off road electric vehicles - Currently this is the most widely used version of electric vehicle. They are not street legal, but can be used in many applications.

Miles All-Electric Vehicle. NAFTC Photo

Highway electric vehicles were under development by the OEMs for several years, and all of the OEMs decided to stop production of these vehicles, leaving the impression that the electric vehicle died; however, most people don’t realize that this research led the industry to the hybrid electric technology. The lack of battery technology limited the driving range of the electric vehicle, but was sufficient enough to use with the hybrid technology. The large demand for hybrid technology vehicles allowed manufacturers to develop more advanced batteries. This advancement in battery technology is bringing the highway electric vehicle back on the market. There are limited production electric vehicles on sale now to the public, and in the near future America will see affordable, mass produced, full-size electric vehicles. With the advancement in technology, these vehicles now have a driving range that is comparable to a traditional gasoline engine vehicle, and the ease of recharging the vehicle are making them more desirable to the public.

Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) are very common if you live in certain regions of the country. Some communities throughout the United States encourage the use of fuel-saving smaller vehicles within the community; these are primarily electric vehicles. In some instances, young drivers who are obtaining their driving licenses are allowed to drive these vehicles sooner than a traditional vehicle. NEVs are also very popular in industrial areas as they provide a compact, efficient means of transportation within the facility grounds. Many companies are manufacturing NEVs for industrial use with option packages for maintenance, security, and EMS personnel.

Offroad electric vehicles have been in use for many years. They are used in coal mines, airports, warehouses, golf courses, etc. These vehicles range from heavy equipment, forklifts, construction, luggage carts, and golf carts. Many of the NEVs are now being used in off road applications as well due to their many option packages.

Basically electric vehicles have been used for many years and have not died in any way. Just because they are not on every dealership lot does not mean that there are not hundreds of thousands of them in use every day. If you are waiting to see the comeback of electric vehicles on your local dealership lot, wait no longer as they will be available very soon.

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