The vehicle industry is undergoing important technological changes that will reduce the impact of climate change on the environment. From AI-powered self-driving cars to electric vehicles (EVs) and electrified roads, these changes are expected to affect many aspects of human lives.
Sweden has recently unveiled roads that charge electric cars. The electrified road is an important development that could increase the adoption of electric cars in many parts of the world. One of the reasons why consumers are still skeptical about electric cars is the slow charging time and the short distance issue. While this is a desirable development that could help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, the cost of the infrastructure will be a barrier to prospective users.
Electrified Roads as a smart Innovation
With electric vehicles gaining acceptance in many more countries and range anxiety remains an issue, the need for other means of charging electric vehicles is inevitable. One of these means is the electric road. The electric road is a smart innovation that would solve the problem of slow charging time and also serve as an alternative means of charging the electric vehicle. Users can charge their vehicles on the road without worrying about range anxiety or slow charging time.
How Electric Roads work
Electric roads are a simplified means of charging that uses electricity-inducing components already installed on the road to charge the battery of the vehicles. The electric vehicles must also have in-built receivers to make the charging more effective and efficient.
How electric Cars work
In the 21st century, advancement in technology and increased concern for the environment has awakened the need for fossil fuel energy alternatives. Automobile companies are playing their part in cutting down carbon emissions by producing electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicles are noiseless, high-performance vehicles with less pollution. Their system is based on the AC (Alternating current) principle and they have 7,000 Lithium-ion battery packs under their flooring with coolant to prevent overheating.
The EV has an inverter that converts the AC to DC to power the engine, but this cannot be done without the induction motor which takes the AC from the inverter to create a rotating magnetic field that turns the motor.
When you accelerate, the vehicle uses more energy, but when you brake, the induction motor changes the energy into electricity that will be stored in the battery for later use.
Differences Between Electric Cars and Petrol Cars
| Petrol Cars | Electric Cars |
| The internal combustion engine is the main mover in petrol cars. | The power source is the battery pack |
| The engine is not self-started | engine is self-started |
| They are relatively lighter | Their battery pack makes them much heavier |
| The engine generates high heat | The heat from the induction motor is much lower |
| It can be refueled in less than 5 minutes | Presently, recharging takes at least 1 hour |
| Combustion of fuel gives off harmful gases | No harmful gases are given off |
Advantages Of Electric Roads
1. Electric roads will improve user experience with electric vehicles as they won’t have to search for compatible chargers at different charging points.
2. The electric roads will save time as there will be no need to plug in and unplug the vehicle.
3. Electric vehicles can easily be charged even in bad weather.
4. Electric vehicles can have smaller batteries to make them more spacious and lighter in weight.
Disadvantages Of Electric Roads
1. The cost of transforming ordinary roads into electrified ones is expensive.
2. The cost of building electric cars and electrified roads might overwhelm developing countries that have bad roads and other infrastructural inadequacies.
Conclusion
Electric vehicles are one of the inventions in the quest to save natural resources from depletion. They offer a lot of benefits to the environment and public health. Among the disadvantages of the electric vehicle is that it charges slowly and travels relatively short distances. But the electric road is the innovation that helps charge the vehicle while it moves so that users can save time and travel longer distances.
FAQ
1. Are electric cars any good?
Yes. considering some of their benefits such as low emissions and low maintenance cost, they might be a good option if you are looking to support the environment against climate change
2. Which part of the electric car is most expensive?
The battery. The average cost of an electric car battery is up to $20,000. However, most electric vehicle companies give up to 8 years of warranty on the battery.
3. Are electric cars safe?
Yes. The design of the components of electric vehicles makes them more stable. Also, EV injury claims have been comparably lesser.
4. Will electric vehicles replace gas vehicles?
Soon, yes. A lot of developed countries are already using EVs, but due to the required infrastructure, its adoption might take some time to manifest in developing countries.
