What is the difference between a plug-in hybrid and an electric car? An all-electric car uses an emissions-free electric motor powered by a high-performance battery pack. A plug-in hybrid uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. In theory, a plug-in set-up could be used with any type of hybrid, but in practice, it is used in series hybrids. A series hybrid powers the wheels with a battery-powered electric motor. The gas engine serves as a backup generator that powers the electric motor when the battery runs out of power. Because the plug-in hybrid has larger batteries and more all-electric driving than a parallel hybrid, it draws power directly from an electric outlet to charge. Plug-ins are most efficient when used around town in pure electric mode.
Who makes plug-in hybrids and electric cars? Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are just starting to gain ground. In December 2010, Chevy launched the Volt, a plug-in hybrid (sometimes erroneously called an electric car by Chevy itself), and Nissan launched the Leaf, a fully electric vehicle. These vehicles represented the first mass-produced series hybrid and EV, but smaller boutique auto firms also sell plug-ins. The Tesla Roadster and upcoming Model S sedan are electric vehicles and the Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid. Tesla and Fiskers are more expensive, premium-level cars. Upcoming electric vehicles include the 2012 Ford Fusion Electric and the 2012 Mitsubishi i-Miev.
Why aren’t there more electric vehicles on the market? Many believe that even though auto makers produced electric cars to meet California’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate during the 1990′s, they did everything they could to keep those vehicles from being sold and actually confiscated and crushed thousands of vehicles, despite offers of full cash payments for demo models from satisfied customers. This situation is well documented in the movie Who Killed the Electric Car. In 2005, as a result of a campaign lead by DontCrush.com, Ford and Toyota agreed to stop crushing and sell some of their electric car models. In the interim, small boutique automakers like Tesla and Fisker filled the void left by major auto manufacturers, and that, combined with high gas prices, oil dependency and a reinvigorated green movement, have helped to push major brands like GM, Ford and Toyota toward plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle development.
How many miles can a battery powered electric car go between charges? An EV has a full tank every morning as it is charged overnight when electricity is in low demand and at its cheapest. Nissan advertises 100 miles per charge for the Leaf, and the EPA certified it at 73 miles. The Tesla Roadster advertises 245 miles. The 2012 Tesla Model S offers several driving range options; users can select 160-mile, 230-mile or 300-mile batteries. The Model S starts at around $57,000 for the 160-mile version and each longer range tier costs an extra $10,000. The Tesla, like many newer EVs, is capable of charging at any electric outlet or EV charging station.
How many miles can a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) go on electricity? Converted plugin-in Toyota Prius’ have been built with the ability to drive on pure EV mode for 10 to 40 miles. The 2011 Chevy Volt offers an EPA-certified 35 electric miles per charge. After the EV range is expended, the internal combustion engine-generator kicks in to power the car. The Chevy Volt offers 350 miles of electric + gas range.
How long does it take to recharge the batteries of an electric car or plug-in hybrid car? Depending on the capacity and charger type, electric vehicles can easily be charged to capacity overnight or within about eight hours if they are parked at work during the day. The 2012 Ford Fusion Electric advertises fast charging as one of its selling points. With the available 240-Volt charger, it charges in as little as 3.5 hours. Since electricity is cheaper at night, many utility companies offer special plans for EV owners and those using solar panels for net metering. To search EV charging locations or request one near your house visit ChargePoint.net.
Is it expensive to charge an electric car?There are several methods for calculating the petroleum-equivalent efficiency with electric cars using an advanced formula. If you don’t like math, look at the EPA’s “annual fuel cost” on a given gas, electric and/or hybrid vehicle to compare. The EPA lists the annual fuel cost of the 2012 Nissan Leaf at $612, the 2012 Chevy Volt at $648 and the 2012 Toyota Prius, a parallel hybrid and the most efficient car on the road prior to the launch of the Volt and Leaf, at$1,053. The EPA’s numbers are just estimates, but they are helpful in comparing vehicle types or specific models. The EPA’s site Fueleconomy.gov also provides a fuel cost calculator, so you can get a better idea of annual fuel costs for your specific needs.
How efficient are electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids? Electric vehicles are currently the most efficient cars on the road. When advertising the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, company executives made bloated claims of 230 mpg and 367 mpg, respectively. Before the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf went to market, the EPA restructured fuel-economy testing for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, since “miles per gallon” isn’t a relevant measure of electricity. The EPA’s method transforms miles per gallon into a “miles per gallon equivalent” (mpg-e) rating, which equates 33.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity to one gallon of gas. The 2012 Nissan Leaf gets a rating of 99 mpg-e. Because a plug-in hybrid operates on both gas and electricity, cars like the Chevy Volt get several ratings. The 2012 Volt’s electric-only rating is close to that of the Leaf at 94 mpg-e; the gas-only rating is 37 mpg, and the combined rating is 60 mpg.
What about the pollution created by making electricity? Aren’t PHEVs and Electric Cars just moving the pollution? There are two types of emissions to consider: tailpipe emissions, meaning those that come directly from the car, and well-to-wheel emissions, which take into account all emissions from the creation of energy. While electric vehicles advertise “zero emissions,” that’s tailpipe emissions, and there are clearly some well-to-wheel emissions involved in creating electricity. However, emissions are still much lower for electricity produced to power an electric vehicle than for gasoline vehicles, even when using the grid in the United States, which relies on 49% coal.
Consider the process of drilling for oil, pulling it up, refining it, shipping it across the oceans the land and into pump stations. The electricity grid isn’t perfect and energy still has to be moved, but in many ways, moving pollution a short distance away from population centers is a good thing for health and safety reasons. A 2008 analysis by Sherry Boschert, author of Plug-In Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America, found that electric vehicles powered by the U.S. grid cut anywhere from 11 to 100 percent of CO2 emissions as compared to gas engines. In fact, six out of seven analyses consulted in the study found that even EVs powered by 100 percent coal-sourced electricity cut CO2 emissions by 17 to 59 percent over gas engines. Other greenhouse gas emissions were also reduced. Depending upon what study you consult, plug-in hybrids may be very close behind electric vehicles in terms of emissions reductions, or somewhere between EVs and gas vehicles.
Because electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are part of a greater green movement, the power grid will get even cleaner as more and more renewable sources are integrated. The US Department of Energy says that utilities have enough excess generating capacity at night to charge 185 million plug-in hybrid cars. While electricity is getting cleaner and more renewable every year, even the cleanest gasoline car becomes more polluting over time.
How does a plug make hybrid cars better?. Parallel hybrid battery packs are charged via brake regeneration and offer a small amount of energy. A plug gives you the ability to power up a a more powerful battery pack and get more all-electric range. More all-electric range means less tailpipe emissions and less money spent at the pump. The great part of a PHEV is that you still have a gas tank attached for longer trips.
There are many auto mechanics and kits out there offering to help convert existing hybrids into PHEV’s and many of them don’t even void the warranty.
What is better an EV or a plug-in hybrid? Both vehicles are more efficient, cheaper to fuel and cleaner than gasoline vehicles. However, the market for both vehicles is different.
Assuming that electric vehicles prove to be a cost effective and profitable green technology, we’ll likely see better battery technology and much longer ranges. One day, we may see EVs that can go 400 miles on a single charge. But not today. For now, affordable EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric only offer about 100 miles of range. That’s okay if you commute locally, but for those with farther commutes, it’s rather low. To compound the problem, the electric charging infrastructure is not close to the point where you can just pull over and charge up, the way you can with a gas vehicle. So while electric vehicles are the cleanest type of car, and offer no tailpipe emissions and lower well-to-wheel emissions, they’re still not practical for every driver.
Think of plug-in hybrids as a solid compromise between clean driving and longer, gas-supplemented ranges. These vehicles are more efficient than parallel hybrids and gas vehicles but still offer the option of using gas if you need to drive farther.
Is hydrogen a good solution for cars? Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which are currently in the experimental stage, are a solution that boasts zero emissions and greater efficiency than gasoline engines. These vehicles use an electric motor to power the wheels, but have a fuel cell that creates electricity from a reaction in hydrogen. The only emissions created in the process are heat and water vapor.
Depending upon how the cells are filled, hydrogen may be efficient or not so efficient. In Iceland where they use geothermal power to charge fuel cells it makes sense because the power is local and renewable. In most other locations hydrogen fuel cell cars are 4x less efficient than EVs when the hydrogen is produced from electricity and 1.4x less efficient when made from natural gas.
Because fuel cell technology is still in the early stages, there are still many questions surrounding the technology. Where and how will the hydrogen be stored? Who will pay the billions required for this new infrastructure? With plug-in hybrid cars and EVs the infrastructure is already in place; the electricity grid.
The US Department of Energy is committed to researching fuel technology. Read more about these vehicles at the Alternative and Advanced Fuels Data Center.
Can I charge a plug-in car with solar or wind power? Yes, the cleaner the power source the cleaner the car. Putting solar panels on your home or business makes even more sense with a plug-in hybrid as the energy is produced locally so loss of power in transportation is significantly decreased. A distributed network of power creation is efficient, clean and more reliable than massive power stations. If you own an EV or plug-in and install solar or wind power on site the investment will pay off faster and the car becomes truly zero-emissions in both tailpipe and well-to-wheel emissions (beyond what it took to create and install the car, panels or wind turbine).
Over the summer, Ford announced that it will offer a 2.5 kW solar charging system option with the 2012 Focus Electric. The solar kit is designed to provide enough electricity for about 1,000 miles of driving a month. If you drive around 1,000 miles per month, your driving would be emissions free. If you drive less, you could even help supplement your home energy needs with the system.
What can I do to support electric cars and plugins? Join the Electric Auto Association (the CleanTech Authority Network is an ongoing member); tell your local auto dealer you won’t buy a car until it has a plug; and/or sign the PluginPartners.orgpetition. Tell your friends to see Who Killed the Electric Car and watch it yourself; buy or make an electric conversion; and visit EVFinder.com.
