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By 2030, analysts project that nearly a third of cars sold worldwide will be electric and 22 million electric vehicles (EVs) will be on USA roads. People are buying EVs because of advances in technology, greater vehicle availability and societal support for a low-carbon future.
So why choose electric? The bottom line is that EVs help lower carbon footprint by reducing emissions and can help you save money through lower fuel costs and less vehicle maintenance. Additionally, initial costs can be offset by the federal tax credit and state and utility incentives. There may also be additional local incentives that reduce upfront costs.
Buying an EV can provide a host of advantages for you and your community:
Advancing sustainability by improving air quality (EVs emit zero-carbon emissions) and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Realising cost efficiencies because the cost of EVs continues to fall relative to internal combustion engine vehicles; servicing and maintenance costs are lower, thanks to fewer moving parts, and national and regional financial incentives are available.
Getting future-ready by accommodating or meeting local low-emission regulations.
Better driving performance with faster vehicle acceleration and response due to a lighter overall build.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, which uses energy stored in a battery. HEVs are fuelled with petrol to operate the internal combustion engine, and the battery is charged through regenerative braking to offset fuel consumption.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by the combination of an internal combustion engine and electric motor that relies on battery energy storage like HEVs. However, PHEVs can operate in all-electric mode, thanks to a larger battery that can be plugged in to an electric power source. Most PHEVs have an electric range of 20 to 40 miles and can operate on petrol once the battery is depleted.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or all-electric vehicles do not use petrol at all. Instead, they have a large battery that is charged by plugging the vehicle into charging equipment. These vehicles offer a typical driving range of 150 to 300 miles.
The energy infrastructure for EVs involves much more than the charger. Utilities are investing billions of dollars in deploying charging infrastructure. Beyond the grid, there are wide-ranging implications for home and building energy systems in handling the additional electrical load.
Transport electrification requires a lot more electricity, so charging stations for electric cars can have an impact on the incoming utility service and building or home power distribution system design.
EVCI includes every power distribution and control component needed to safely get power from the grid or local generation resource to the electric vehicle battery. Typically, EVCI includes an EV charging station, electric grid interconnection components, power inverters, surge protection devices, circuit breakers and load centres.
Furthermore, using distributed energy resources (DER) like solar and battery storage can help reduce energy costs, and adding local power generation from solar PV systems and energy storage can offset utility demand charge and time-of-use rates.
Charging stations for EVs can either be alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Both charging options have their place, and each comes with economic and installation considerations.
It’s expected that AC charging will be the most widely used global public installation method up to 2025. However, DC charging will provide critical network support on long travel routes like international motorways as well as support for fleet operations and charging at popular destinations.
AC charging stations are typically used where a vehicle may be parked for a significant time, such as when at work or school, out shopping or at a hotel.
DC charging stations are preferred in some applications and for specific needs, depending on vehicle routes and dwelling time. This type of charging involves more power and can deliver a full charge in as little as 30 minutes.
Current versions of DC fast chargers typically have a power demand of 20 to 350 kW. However, more powerful chargers are becoming available. Careful planning and system design are essential to maximise the return on investment for costly site upgrades associated with pulling more power from the electric grid.
EV charging stations are available at home or work and out and about at supermarkets, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals, shopping centres, public car parks, hotels, businesses and more. The vast majority of charging happens at home or at fleet facilities.
The future is bright for electric cars: charging infrastructure is rapidly expanding to provide drivers with the convenience, range and confidence to meet transport needs.
The total amount of energy your EV battery can hold is kWh, while how fast energy is drained by accelerating or replaced by charging is kW (fuel and charging efficiency).
The transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon future is accelerating, driven by electrification, decarbonisation and the democratisation of energy generation.
Electrification of transport is essential to the energy transition. Today, transport is a massive contributor to global warming, accounting for around 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in America. Transport’s share of greenhouse gas emissions and giant carbon footprint make it an exceptionally important segment to decarbonise. This makes EV adoption essential for the energy transition and our world’s shift toward sustainable, low-carbon energy resources.
Today’s energy flows through the grid in more directions and through more devices than ever before, and although that decentralisation creates more complexities and challenges, it also creates new opportunities. At Eaton, we’ve taken an Everything as a Grid approach to the energy transition, creating flexible energy systems that support a low-carbon future, boost resilience, reduce energy costs and create new revenue streams.
While EVs will increase electricity demand, utilities and industry partners are transforming the very thing that enables low-carbon transport – batteries. Moving batteries from simple loads on the grid to intelligent energy storage that can create new possibilities to better manage energy loads, balance the grid and help maintain electricity during outages.
We are developing comprehensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI) solutions and services that unite the power needs of buildings and electric vehicles (EVs) with on-site renewable energy generation.
