Working mechanism behind Electric Vehicles (EVs) - Arya College

 Electric cars run on clean energy, that is, electricity. They do not emit any toxic gases and produce zero emissions. Hence, they are eco-friendly vehicles and help to curb the ever-increasing air pollution. Several automakers of best engineering colleges in Jaipur have already introduced battery-powered cars in India. 

Electric cars work on the principle of transforming electric energy into mechanical energy, which is then used to obtain kinetic energy and enable motion in a vehicle. EVs feature an electric motor instead of a conventional fuel engine. Thus, electric energy replaces conventional fuel (petrol/diesel). The electric motor converts the electric charge into mechanical energy.

A car that runs on conventional fuel (petrol/diesel) comprises essential components such as engine, transmission, fuel tank, etc. Now, coming to an electric vehicle, the engine is replaced by an electric motor and the fuel tank is replaced by the battery pack. Transmission remains the same, although all-electric vehicles have a simpler arrangement of gears. There are some aspects which shows how EV car works:

1. The battery pack stores electrical energy when you charge the battery. The stored energy is used to power the electric motor and other accessories/components.
2. A controller manages the flow of electrical energy to the motor.
3. The controller modulates the flow of electricity depending on the signals received from the accelerator pedal.
4. The electric motor receives power from the battery and converts it into mechanical energy.
5. The transmission transfers the mechanical energy from the motor to drive the wheels.
6. Some EVs produce regenerative braking energy. The energy produced during braking or deceleration of the vehicle is sent back to the battery pack.
7. The battery pack can be charged via the charging port. The onboard charger converts AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current).
8. Students of top engineering colleges in Jaipur can charge the battery by connecting an external power source to the vehicle’s charging port.
9. An EV is also equipped with an auxiliary battery to power the vehicle’s accessories and other equipment.
10. The auxiliary battery is recharged via a DC-to-DC convertor which converts high-voltage current from the battery pack to low voltage current.

How Does An Electric Car's Engine Work?

As mentioned earlier, an electric motor plays the role of an engine in electric vehicles. Typically, car manufacturers use AC motors in e-cars, which means the motor runs on Alternating Current (AC).

The working mechanism of an electric motor are as follows:

1. When you press the accelerator pedal, the Power Electronics Controller (PEC) controls the flow of electrical energy to the motor. 
2. The amount of current required to run the motor varies depending on the input on the accelerator pedal. 
3. Once the motor receives power, the rotors start spinning and produce mechanical energy.
4. The mechanical energy produced by the motor starts rotating the gears or transmission.
5. The transmission transfers the mechanical energy to the wheels, which propels the vehicle forward.

In simple terms—similar to an engine—the electric motor is the heart of the electric drivetrain. It converts the electrical signals to mechanical energy, which the transmission uses to drive the wheels by the students of private engineering colleges in Jaipur.

How Does Charging Work?

An electric vehicle is equipped with a charging port and an onboard charger that converts AC power to DC. An all-electric vehicle charger comes with various types of connectors, depending on the brand and the battery capacity. However, the basic principle of charging an eco-friendly car remains the same.

Students of BTech colleges can charge an EV by connecting it to an external power source. It could be the power outlet found in households or a dedicated charging station. EV charging is further divided into three levels depending on the capacity of the flow of electrical energy.

1. Level 1 charging - It is nothing but charging an EV via the regular 120-volt power outlet found in households. You can plug in the charger to the power outlet and can allow the battery to charge overnight.
2. Level 2 charging - It is the most common type of public charging station. You can even install a Level 2 charging station at your home, provided the car manufacturer gives you an option to do so. It uses a 240-volt power outlet. The charging time is reduced compared to 120-volt charging.
3. Level 3 charging - This system uses rapid chargers or DC fast chargers. Typically, EV manufacturers set up fast-charging stations at strategic locations, and you may also have to pay for using such charging stations. Thanks to DC electricity, the charging speed is rapid (typically, just over an hour for a full charge) with fast chargers. However, your EV needs to be compatible with quick charging to make use of Level 3 charging.

Charging an electric vehicle is similar to charging your smartphone. All you need to do is connect the battery-powered vehicle to an external power source via the cable provided by the car manufacturer.