Internal Combustion (ICE) to Electric Vehicles (EV)
Carried by climate change and Net Zero CO2 challenges most leading nations now take EV uptake seriously, and supported by various government policies and incentives, global EV sales are accelerating in 2024. The global electric car sales reached almost 14 million in 2023, which represented a 35% increase from 2022. This growth meant that the global electric fleet rose to 40 million in 2023. There are over 100 electric vehicle manufacturers in China and in 2023 China had about half of the EVs worldwide or 20.4 million.
EV's seem to be a love or hate relationship for most drivers. Most major automotive manufactures now have an EV policy and product line. Companies as different as Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Kia and Volvo have all embraced the EV concept and technology. They are different and have lost some of the quirkiness of the internal combustion engine with its complex moving parts and amazing array of noises. There is no clutch or gearbox in an EV and an electric motor has about 20 moving parts versus 2000+ in an internal combustion engine. But what EV's lose in mechanical complexity they gain in technology. EV's are heavy due to the battery bank that could power a house for a few days and some can do just that in an emergency. EV's are fast and quiet, and they directly produce no polluting CO2 gases. Many of the comparisons raise the issues of CO2 consumption in manufacturing and downline recycling. That however is debatable and most of these negative issues have been debunked.
Volvo has released their fastest car, an EV, EX30 Ultimate Dual engine with 315 kW, 543 Nm of torque available instantaneously, and will get you to 100 kph in 3.6 seconds, for less than $70,000. To get even close to that performance with an ICE car you would be spending closer to $200,000. But the Volvo is not a sports car and the level of performance is not really necessary.
EV Ownership - Personal Experience
Plug-in Hybrids have been surging in sales. Basically these cars have a small ICE engine as a back-up and predominantly run on the battery and electric motors. Sales have been boosted by generous tax concessions but these maybe going in 2025.
The Hybrid cars have been around for a while. These run primarily on the internal combustion engine and have a small battery and electric motor to assist that is charged from the engine.
Other options are hydrogen powered cars. Hydrogen fuel cells convert fuel into energy through an electrochemical reaction with hydrogen gas and oxygen. This produces electricity, which powers the electric motor that drives the car. There are a couple of options available in Australia but the technology is not yet really viable.
Full EV's are plug-ins and run only on battery and electric motors. There are many options available in Australia. After test driving a few of these I selected the Mini Countryman SE All4 built by BMW in Germany. I liked all the vehicles that I tested but the Mini won based on size, comfort, driving feel, manufacturer and cost. Strangely an odd issue sealed the deal. The recharge plug was on the drivers side (right for Australia) which made it easy to access. Many of the EVs had the plug on the left and not easily accessible.
Enter My First EV - Mini Countryman
In 2024 came my first EV, a Mini Countryman SE All4, 230 kW, almost 500 Nm of torque and 0 - 100 in 5.6 seconds. Gone are all the switches and buttons. Gone the rumbling exhaust notes and the CO2 emissions. Gone are the clutch, gear shift, gearbox. The car is dominated by a rather large round control and media screen. Multiple cameras can show a 3-D view of the car and the surroundings. You can select from eight different driving styles (Experiences) from Efficiency to Go-Kart. It has built in Ai, responds to spoken commands and can, if you wish, warn you of danger or even automatically avoid it. You can drive it like you would a automatic ICE car with brake and accelerator or go to "one pedal" driving. Pushing down on the accelerator moves you forward and easing off will start slowing and braking the car. Lifting off all together stops the car. To an IT and Car nut like me it's the perfect car.
Connections and Moving People
Perhaps the most profound impact of cars is the emotional connection they forge. For countless individuals, cars are associated with freedom, adventure, and the joy of the open road. They are integral to many of life's significant moments – the thrill (or fear) of a first drive, the pride of ownership, the freedom of a road trip, maybe that first date, bringing your life partner and new born home for the first time, the many family holidays and the list goes on.
Many people just see a car as a tool to get you from point A to Point B safely. Businesses of all types now rely on cars, vans and trucks as work horses that carry the load and support their business.
Cars became a means of community transport. The first motorised taxi in Australia was in Sydney in 1906. Now there are many thousands of taxis and ride share vehicles on Australian roads many are hybrid or full EV. There is a consistent trend to move to hybrid and fully electric vehicles.
Getting Charged Up
Personally and after a couple of months of ownership and driving an EV how does it compare? The three big issues are range, although this is improving, recharge time and charge point availability.
You may have noticed that over the last 30+ years Service Stations (petrol) have been slowly disappearing from around our cities and urban areas. In Sydney where I live there used to be multiple Petrol Stations in every suburb and on many streets around town. Slowly these have disappeared and the space has been used for other developments. But still, the Petrol Station can be found in most suburbs and regularly on the regional, intercity and interstate highways. Because EV charging doesn't need huge tanks of petrol and diesel buried in the ground they can take up less space. So we find EV charging in homes, shopping centers and carparks, and even just on the road side in some places.
Filling an ICE vehicle might take 5 minutes and maybe 15 if you stop for coffee and a break. Filling an EV can take hours on slow home chargers, but with the use of faster chargers typically a recharge can take 15 to 30 minutes. This recharge technology is improving rapidly. Most public charging points in Australia operate at 50 kWh to 150 kWh, typically you will be charged a fee. As an example a charge at an Evie station was 27kWh in 24 minutes and cost $18.00. EV's offer options, charge at home or on the road.
Range Anxiety
Range anxiety is a term that describes the fear of an EV running out of battery power before reaching its destination or a charging station. Taking a long trip in an EV can take a bit more planning to locate the recharge points. Then it might be hidden in an underground car park or be in use by another vehicle. All of these factors are being improved albeit slowly. Introduction of networked charge stations, faster charging technology and higher capacity batteries all work to alleviate range anxiety but we are not quiet there yet.
Mostly I do city driving and short trips. Both ICE and electric vehicles suffer reduced efficiency on short trips and in traffic. My car averages around 19kWh/100km but with longer trips that can improve to 15kWh/100km or less. In the month of September my EV was on charge for over 35 hours (mostly at home 1 amp single phase slow charger) and received 96 kWh of charge. That was enough for the car to travel about 500 km. The estimated cost was less than $30.00, the real cost was $0.00 as it was done 100% from home solar. The cost to refuel my previous VW GTI for the same distance would have been more than $200.00 (average fuel cost $1.96/litre). In my old VW a full tank of fuel would get me close to 500km while my EV will do around 400km on 100% charge. The recommendation is to run the EV between 20% to 80% battery charge for longevity and efficiency.
EV Servicing and Integration
I have yet to get my EV serviced or have any issues that need fixing. The service interval is 1 year and will cost around $300. There are fewer moving parts and therefore less potential issues. The car overall has a 5 year warranty but the battery comes with a 8 year warranty. The expected battery life is between 10 - 20 years. Some EV manufacturers have also introduced monthly plans that support provided software and apps that are installed on your iPhone or Android device. The Mini for examples had a Mini Connected Pro plan (not mandatory) that provides access to certain advanced features and costs about $9 per month (or $90 annually). Regular updates are provided for new devices and features.
Most service issues and discussion that can be found with EVs are around the operating software that manages the car. The software is downloaded to the vehicle and manages all features, battery and functions. Software is updated online from time to time with fixes, and new options and features. But like all software it may also have bugs, errors in the code or incompatibility with other software like mobile phone integration or the firmware in some accessories like cameras.
The apps that integrate the car to your mobile device are generally free but may vary in functionality if a higher level paid plan is in force. Access and starting the car has changed dramatically over time with EV's, Hybrids and ICE vehicles. Mobile apps can be used to access the car using Near Field Communication (NFC), meaning it connects to the car when it is in range, normally a few meters. For some cars NFC can be used to setup features, start and stop environment controls like heating and cooling, remotely view the car and it's status, even move the car in some situations without being in the car. Sounds a bit like James Bond. Most, if not all EVs, also come with a key or card to operate the car. The Mini, for example, has a key with NFC, a card with NFC and also an app for a mobile device, most mobiles have NFC. All can be used to access and operate the car.
Environmental Consciousness
The 21st century has seen cars evolve further, intertwining with technological advancements and environmental consciousness. Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids are transforming the landscape, driven by a growing awareness of climate change and the finite nature of fossil fuels. The increase in availability and performance of EVs has not only made eco-friendly transport a reality but also a statement of environmental responsibility and forward-thinking.
Moreover, the integration of technology has transformed cars into connected, interactive spaces. Modern vehicles come equipped with advanced navigation systems, internet connectivity, and infotainment platforms, Artificial Intelligence, voice recognition and more, making the car an extension of our digital lives. The advent of autonomous vehicles, while still in its early stages, promises to redefine the very essence of driving, potentially turning cars into mobile living spaces.
Cars and Culture
The influence of cars extends beyond practicality into the realm of culture and art. Films, music, and literature have immortalised cars as symbols of freedom, rebellion, and romance. Car shows, races, and clubs foster communities where enthusiasts share their passion, preserving and celebrating the heritage of automotive history.
Transport Machines or More
Cars have transcended their role as mere transport mechanisms, becoming integral components of our personal and cultural identity. This doesn’t apply to everyone and not everyone will be a “rev head”. In some situations, cars reflect our aspirations, innovations, and values, mirroring the evolution of society itself.
But there is always a downside and cars can change people for the worse when they become weapons. As technology and environmental considerations continue to reshape the automotive landscape, it's clear that cars will remain a significant part of our lives, albeit in continually transforming ways. The journey of the automobile is far from over; it is evolving with us and with technology and environmental changes, adapting to our changing needs, desires, and challenges.
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