What is an electric car?
An electric vehicle is a model that moves thanks to its 100% electric motor. This motor is powered by energy from its batteries, which are recharged by electrical current, that is, by plugging them in. Currently, electric cars have improved in range and performance, allowing them to make long trips while remaining the best option for urban traffic.
Elements that make up an electric vehicle
The main elements of an electric car are the engine, the charging port (i.e., where it receives electricity from the outside), the transformers (which convert the received electricity into the optimal voltage and amperage for the charging system), the batteries (currently made of nickel, although it is expected that, in a few years, they will be made of lithium and which are similar to the gas tank for this type of vehicle) and the controllers (whose main role is to regulate the energy received or recharged by the engine).
How does an electric vehicle work?
Electric cars feature highly developed and extremely simple technology at the same time. Technology that requires almost no maintenance. Mechanically, the number of components in an electric car is reduced to a minimum compared to a combustion-powered car, as it has virtually no wear parts.
The motors are progressive, so they don’t require a gearbox or clutch. Furthermore, they offer outstanding performance, with no vibrations whatsoever and almost no noise. This translates into a level of comfort that will allow you to enjoy driving to the fullest.
Electric motors convert almost all of the energy they consume into motion. Batteries determine the power the engine can use and the vehicle’s range. They also power the electric motor, which produces no polluting emissions during operation.
The energy needed to recharge an electric car’s battery comes from the electrical grid. The type of plug and charging power used to recharge the electric car will determine the charging duration.
This is a process that takes minutes, in the case of semi-rapid, rapid, and ultra-rapid chargers, to hours, if you recharge it from a conventional power outlet.
Types of electric cars
Electric vehicles, which operate thanks to a motor powered by an electrical energy source that is transformed into kinetic energy, are classified as: battery-based (BEV), fuel cell-based (FCEV), and extended battery-based (EREV). In any case, the former are the most widespread and widely marketed.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) operate thanks to one or more electric motors powered by a battery that can be recharged directly from the grid. Their main advantage is that they generate no emissions into the atmosphere.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) are based on a hydrogen fuel cell that only requires energy generated through a chemical reaction occurring internally. The hydrogen oxidizes, losing electrons that are captured to generate an electric current that drives the motor.
Extended-Range Electric Vehicles, on the other hand, have two engines (one electric and one gasoline combustion engine that simply generates electricity to recharge the battery), although these are still under development due to their technical complexity, and there are currently very few prototypes on the market.
What features of electric cars make them different from traditional cars?
An electric vehicle looks similar to a conventional one. However, if you look closely at its exterior, you can notice some differences. At the front, its grille is usually closed because it doesn’t need air to cool the engine, as is the case with a traditional combustion-powered car.
Similarly, that front end will include the charging point for the cable that connects the battery to the mains socket. This point is protected with a cover similar to that of a conventional model’s fuel tank. At the rear, you can see that it lacks an exhaust pipe; an electric car doesn’t require one.
However, the main differences between an electric car and a conventional one lie in their technology, their performance, and, of course, their lack of emissions.
Advantages of electric cars
In terms of mobility and savings, electric cars offer nothing but advantages:
- Purchase assistance. If you opt for an electric car, you can benefit from official purchase assistance. Hyundai also offers discounts and benefits if you choose one of its models.
- Tax savings. Electric cars are exempt from vehicle registration tax and enjoy tax advantages on road tax. They also receive discounts on some toll roads and can always use HOV bus lanes, even if you’re traveling alone.
- Easier maintenance. Electric cars are easier to maintain because they have simpler mechanics. They don’t have a clutch, gearshift, or starter motor, and they don’t require oil changes. Additionally, the brakes wear less because regenerative braking often takes over.
- Less noise. An electric motor operates silently. Inside, all you’ll hear is your favorite music. However, an electric car also has a safety warning sound for when traveling below 20 km/h.
- Zero Emissions Label. Electric vehicles are kings of the city because they have a zero-emissions label, meaning they can move freely around major city centers and park right in the city center without time limits, even during periods of high pollution.
Disadvantages of electric cars
Although electric vehicles (EVs) have gained ground in Spain in recent years, their adoption has been slower compared to other European countries. Here are some of the most obvious reasons:
- Insufficient charging infrastructure. Spain has fewer charging points per capita and per square kilometer than countries like Norway, Germany, or the Netherlands. The lack of well-distributed fast chargers hampers users’ confidence in taking long trips with an electric vehicle. Furthermore, the deployment of public charging points in rural communities or less densely populated areas is limited.
- High price. Despite a slight decrease in the prices of electric cars, they are still significantly more expensive than combustion vehicles. In countries like Norway, tax incentives and tax exemptions have greatly reduced this gap, while in Spain, incentives such as the Moves Plan are not sufficient to boost the sale of electric vehicles, as average purchasing power is not high enough. Furthermore, the long-term cost-benefit ratio (through fuel and maintenance savings) is not always clear to consumers. In this sense, contrary to what many people think, price isn’t the only limitation when deciding to buy an electric car. According to a study conducted by Europcar Mobility Group, 54% of people would still opt for a combustion vehicle, even if the price were the same as that of electric vehicles.
- Regulatory uncertainty. Spain has suffered from a certain lack of clarity and consistency regarding electric mobility policies. Although regulations favoring EVs are being implemented, such as mandatory Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in cities starting in 2023, users’ perception is that the changes are neither immediate nor strong enough to justify the change. In contrast, other European countries have implemented much clearer bans on internal combustion vehicles, which, combined with subsidies and bonuses, incentivizes the change.
- Limited autonomy. Another obstacle users face when purchasing an electric vehicle is range. It’s worth noting that electric models are enjoying increasingly longer ranges, but this continues to generate concerns among users. This is mainly due to the lack of rapid charging stations across the country to offset this difference in range compared to combustion vehicles.
- Power grid and power generation. Although Spain has a significant capacity to generate renewable energy (wind and solar), its integration with the electricity infrastructure to support massive EV charging is not yet optimized. As we mentioned before, it’s not just a matter of having more charging points; users also demand fast charging stations. There’s no point in stopping to recharge your car if it takes several hours to recover its range.
- Lack of attractive incentives. Leading electric mobility countries, such as Norway and Sweden, have offered very attractive benefits: toll exemptions, tax reductions, free parking, and even dedicated lanes on highways. In Spain, although incentives such as direct subsidies exist, these are not always as advantageous or implemented quickly.
- Limited second-hand market. In Spain, many people rely on the secondhand market to purchase vehicles, and the market for used electric vehicles is still very small, limiting access for consumers with lower budgets.
The future of the electric car
The coming years will necessarily be years of consolidation and, also, of greater growth in the commercialization of electric vehicles. The leading global automotive brands are immersed in R&D projects to exponentially increase the range of these vehicles. For example, Volkswagen is already testing a model that incorporates an independent electric motor for each wheel, exponentially increasing its range.
Among the challenges to boost the sale and use of electric cars, it is worth highlighting that, in many localities, it is still very difficult or even impossible to recharge these vehicles, forcing public authorities to design ambitious strategies for installing charging stations. Furthermore, while rapid charging for these vehicles has been reduced to 15 minutes, this time still needs to be reduced to attract potential customers. Finally, the acquisition cost remains high, while their range, at best, reaches up to 400 kilometers, which discourages many current users from opting for them.
