Jetgala - FALL-WINTER 2022

71 E V M A R K E T S U R V E Y The Drive System Conundrum Another consideration with electric cars is the type of drive system. Many of the economy EVs uses a two-wheel drive system while luxury EVs tend to offer four-wheel drive by using a motor for each axel. Of course, all-wheel drive is the best option as it gives much better traction and superior road handling. However, it also means that the car will use more power or need more batteries, which will make the cost of the vehicle higher. One of the biggest concerns about EVs today is the lithium battery system. The most popularTesla battery pack, for instance, contains 7,104 individual cells each about the size of an AA battery. Consider as well that while Singapore COE lasts ten years, most car manufacturers will only cover eight years warranty on the batteries. Changing out a faulty battery system can cost in the neighborhood of S$30,000 or more, depending on the vehicle. What more, with current lithium technology the batteries hold less charge as time progresses, a fact that some care dealers are reluctant to discuss.The more cycles (full charges) a battery has completed the more it degrades, reducing its lifespan. Then, there are all the EV videos that show cars on fire. Lithium is inherently prone to overheating and fire. Naturally, engineers are working on this problem and many new batteries are being proposed to take over from the current lithium generation. Regarding the Hybrids One option that seems to be becoming very popular is the HybridVehicle of which there are three main types: full hybrids, mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids. A full hybrid (FHEV) can run on just its combustion engine, the electric engine (i.e. power from batteries), or a combination.TheToyota Prius is one such car.A full hybrid is not plugged in to recharge; running the combustion engine recharges the battery. A mild hybrid has an electric motor and combustion engine that always work together.An example of this is the Honda Accord Hybrid. Mild hybrids cannot run in just electric or combustion modes; the engines/motors always work in parallel. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) requires plugging into the mains in order to fully recharge its battery. PHEVs can be run in just electric mode or with its combustion engine. What make hybrids so popular is that they straddle between the electric and the conventional fuel worlds.They burn about half as much fuel as their conventional counterparts and in some cases can also drive in full eclectic mode. So you get the benefit of two fuel sources. Hybrids are an excellent alternative for those who don’t have home chargers or need to travel long distances. Elon Musk famously called hybrid cars ‘frogs’ as he feels that they are not true electric vehicles. Of course, controversial Musk also referred to hydrogen fuel cell cars as ‘fool cells’ as he didn’t think that much of that technology either. In conclusion, EVs are here to stay. While their environmental impact may be a subject of much contention, EVs do not pollute in the same manner as conventional internal combustion engines. And while the battery systems are still in their infancy, they are continually being refined and improved, which should make EVs the mainstream choice for automobile transportation in the years to come.