How EVs are by far the most efficient compared to ICE cars?
How EVs are by far the most efficient compared to ICE cars?
In this epic comparison, you will realize that EVs are 6 times more efficient than Petrol / Diesel cars.
Let’s start from the basics,
Efficiency is measured by the amount of output derived for a given input. In equation form, % Efficiency is "Useful energy output" divided by the "Energy input" multiplied by 100
For example, a 77% efficiency means for every 100 units of input you get 77 units of output, the remaining 23 units are wasted as losses. The more efficient a system is the more beneficial for business and the environment
Having understood the definition let's deep dive into the comparison. To do this, we have divided the value chain of EV and ICE cars into two stages,
Well to Tank
Tank to Wheel
1. Well to Tank 🛢️
”Well to tank” part of the value chain measures the fuel production efficiency from the fuel source, usually termed as well (a word derived from oil wells) to the fuel tank of the vehicle.
For ICE cars this means the efficiency of converting Crude oil to Petrol / Diesel fuel till reaching it to the fuel tank. For Electric vehicles, it's making the electricity available at the charging station/point.
Incase of Electric vehicles, the only loss is the distribution loss when electricity is distributed from the grid to the charging station, which is around 5%. Whereas for producing Petrol / Diesel fuel the energy losses are as high as 56% (22% in Electrolysis + 34% in FT synthesis).
In summary, the fuel production efficiency for EVs is higher at 95% compared to only 44% for Petrol/Diesel fuels.
2. Tank to Wheel 🚙
Let's now move on to the next part of the value chain, which is Tank to Wheel. For EVs, it measures the efficiency between Charging station to Battery; Battery to Inverter; Invertor to Electric motor, and Electric motor to Wheel. During these stages, a total of 18% energy is lost (approx 4.5% at each stage)
For ICE cars it is the efficiency of the Petrol / Diesel engine to convert fuel energy into power at the wheels. With huge mechanical and heat losses, ICE engines are far worse. Total losses for the ICE engine stand at 70% compared to 18% in EVs.
This in essence is captured in the below picture, wherein a small 45kg Electric motor can produce the same output as a 3.0 Litre, 6-Cylinder, 200Kg Petrol engine.
Conclusion:
On an overall basis, Electric vehicle efficiency stands at 77% compared to 13% of ICE cars. This means EVs are 6 times more efficient compared to Petrol / Diesel (ICE) cars
This highlights the inherent issue of ICE engines. Can you imagine the world has been moving on this inefficient powertrain for so long? This clearly points out that humans cannot afford to waste resources this way anymore.
This is one more reason why the world has to move to Electric vehicles.
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-Team EVQuotient.
USA is using in average 79% of fossil fuel to generate electricity. The Total Efficiency of EV is a sum of three components: Efficiency of the Refinery producing Fuel for the Power plant plus the efficiency of the Electrical Greed plus the EV batteries, drivetrain with the motor and wheels.
TOTAL EFFICIENCY CALCULATION OF EV in mechanical engineering is done by “SYSTEM OF MULTIPLE COMPONENTS” : 1)Efficiency of power plants are n=0.4 (40%) in USA 2) Efficiency loss of electrical transmission thru’ the electrical grid are 6 % or efficiency factor is n=94; 3) Efficiency loss of electrical car battery is 10% loss when is charged. Charging efficiency n= 0.9;
4) Efficiency loss of an electrical car battery when discharged is 10% or efficiency factor is n= 0.9;
5) Efficiency loss of an electrical battery when temperature falls below -20c is n=0.60-0.65 for a 5 years old battery. For calculation we will take n= 0.85 (not everywhere is winter.)
6) Efficiency loss of 15% of electrical power for heating up the car or cooling off (air-condition/heater) efficiency factor is n=0.85
7) Mechanical efficiency: transmission (not so complicated as at mechanical car) and all other moving parts including the wheels are only n=0.90;
8) Finally efficiency of an EV electrical motor is n= 0.90 (.80 -.94) ref #6
9) Battery efficiency for 5-6 years old battery is n=0.85 (Battery life is about 10 -12 years). In all published work EV testing provided with a new battery? (5-6 years old battery with 70000 mi should be used!) 12 years is average lifespan of the car in United States.
10) EV “Charging invertor’’ from AC to DC has n=0.95 efficiency factor.
Ref#13 Battery degradation results for our base EV and AEV for the composite... | Download Scientific Diagram (researchgate.net)
12-14 metric ton of the CO2 emission as result of manufacturing the lithium-ion batteries. It adds 20% of CO2 to the EV. It could be counted as an energy loss. We can add 20% to 79% =100% of fossil fuel!
NOW WE CAN CALCULATE THE TOTAL EFFICIENCY OF ELECTRICAL CAR, BASED ON OIL POWER PLANT GENERATION. Total efficiency in my study is calculated by using a widely used method in engineering, which is the system of multiple components, it does not include money, politics, competition, taxes and incentives for buying a new EV. 0.40 x 0.94 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.85 x 0.85 x 0. 90 x 0.90 x 0.85 x 0.95= 0.16 in most of the studies the EV efficiency is calculated for the range between 0 to 100 km/h when only in very few studies you may find the additional energy of 40% will require reaching speed of 140km/h or 25% more than gas-powered car. That means that EV efficiency on higher speed will drop even farther down. Using the same approach but for a brand new EV at ideal conditions without using A/C or heater efficiency may reach 0.25 or even 0.60 when using100% renewable energy. Those unreasonable numbers are widely used by the officials in media to mislead the public.
This analysis appears to substantially over-inflate the energy efficiency of electric vehicles by assuming that electricity is supplied to the power distribution grid at 100% efficiency. In reality, electric generation efficiency - primary fuel to electricity at the power plant - is significantly less than 60% (with additional distribution losses).
It also ignores a much more significant long term hurdle with large scale conversion to EVs - the massive amount of $$$, human capital, natural resources, and time required to build the electric generation and distribution infrastructure to replace the millions of barrels per day of gasoline and diesel that currently power ICE vehicles.