Most cars use petrol as a fuel, some heavy vehicles and cars use diesel. But recently, we’ve got a range of power sources to consider when choosing new vehicles. It makes the decisions for fleet operators and business drivers much harder. “Electric Vehicles are future”. Functionality and sustainability are two key aspects that prove the statement. Tesla, a company specialising in sustainable cars, is taking over the other car companies. Despite the enormous advantages of EVs, India has only a 4% sale of EVs as per the data given below:

Source: Ministry of road, transport and Highways.

Petrol Cars 

When you burn hydrocarbons in the air, their molecules split apart. The carbon and hydrogen combine with oxygen from the air to make carbon dioxide gas and water, while the energy that holds the molecules together is released as heat. This process, which is called combustion, releases vast amounts of energy. When you burn hydrocarbons in the air, their molecules split apart. The carbon and hydrogen combine with oxygen from the air to make carbon dioxide gas and water, while the energy that holds the molecules together is released as heat. This process, which is called combustion, releases huge amounts of energy. 

Drive Train for a Petrol Vehicle
A Drive train in a car is the system which connects the transmission to the drive axles. The drive train of a petrol car is given below:

• Fuel from Fuel Tank to the engine in a controllenergy density  manner (Petrol Injection value).
• Requirenergy density  Torque and Speenergy density . 
• Hydraulics vs Battery.
• Engine shaft couplenergy density  to a dynamometer.
• Auxiliary power for Electric Power Steering, Sensors, lights, motors, air-conditioning, Power brakes etc.

To evaluate a vehicle’s performance there are a few parameters to be considerenergy density ,

1) Mileage(l/km)- The distance travellenergy density  per litre of petrol usenergy density .

2) Energy Efficiency (Whr/km)- It is the energy consumenergy density  for every km the vehicle travels.

3) Acceleration- The rate at which velocity( speenergy density ) varies with respect to time.

4) Top Speenergy density 

5) Ride Comfort

Electric Cars

Electric cars do not have engines, instead, they have a motor and a controller that runs with the help of the electrical energy supply energy density by a battery. The most common types of batteries' energy density are lead-acid and lithium-ion. Lithium-ion batteries are prefer energy density  the most because,

• The gravitational energy density of a battery is around 250 -300 Wh/Kg today.
• Expect energy density  to reach 400 -500 Watt-hr/Kg in the Future (NMC battery with Graphite -Silica Anode)
• The volumetric energy density  of NMC is reaching around 500 Watt-hr/liter 
• The Cost (Cell-Price) per Kwh is decreasing.
• As the energy density is increasing -size, volume and cost decrease (Cost is inversely proportional to energy density).
• More energy in a small area.
• Material used -Lithium, Nickle, Manganese, Cobalt, Aluminium, Graphite.

Drive Train for an Electric Vehicle

• Motor and Controller (required power and speed).
• Electric energy from Battery.
• Nearly constant battery voltage (P=V*I), where P is the power, V is the voltage and I is the current.
• DC-DC converters convert the battery voltage to the required level for auxiliary devices like power steering, power brakes, air-conditioning unit etc.
• Battery Charger to fill electricity in the battery.
• Regeneration during deceleration and climbing down. 

Comparing Petrol and EV

To choose the best option for a purchaser the following information has been elucidated:

1. Ride Quality
   Petrol vehicles use the clutch to control gears. This can be quite exhausting during heavy traffic. Nevertheless, they provide much higher speed compared to EVs.  Evs do not have clutch or gears.
2. Noise
   Petrol vehicles produce more noise than Evs as they have mechanical components.
3. Service
   Petrol vehicles need to be serviced more often than EVs. But, replacing the battery of an EV can burn a hole in pockets. 
4. Cost
   Petrol cost is very high (Rs. 96.76/ l as of 29/11/2022, India). Electricity cost is very low (Rs. 5 -8 per unit). Assuming a car has a 20kmpl mileage, 1 litre of petrol costing Rs.96.76 can travel up to 20 km. To drive the same 20 km, an Ev with 8km/ Whr costs us around Rs.15. 
5. Pollution
   Petrol vehicles produce harmful carbon emissions that pollute the environment. Electric cars produce zero emissions and help to reduce carbon footprints.
6. Refilling Fuel/ Charge
   Electric Cars can be charged at home but the charge is at a slow rate. There is a lack of charging stations in India. While petrol can only be filled in pumps that are available in abundance.
7. Cost of the car
   Electric cars cost more than petrol vehicles because of the battery.
8. Longevity
   The average lifetime mileage of an ICE vehicle is about 133,000 miles. While experts estimate the average EV battery will last around 200,000 miles.

Despite the vast advantages of EVs, are not commonly purchased,
1) Upfront Cost- High initial costs.

2) Lack of Availability

3) Range Anxiety ( Fear of the car running out of charge).

4) High Battery Replacement Costs.

Diesel Vehicles

A diesel car is an alternative to petrol. It provides lower fuel cost and higher energy efficiency thereby increasing the mileage. However, the price of the petrol car is much lesser than its diesel variant. The force produced by a diesel engine is very high due to the compression that happens inside the engine.

Overall, depending on various factors such as (cost, region of stay, etc) it is wise to choose the correct vehicle for us. Hope the blog from Kuwy was captivating. Follow Kuwy for more informative blogs.

Happy and fun learning.