When Henry Ford made the model T at the tail end of the 19th century, he probably did not predict the impact it would have. Beyond creating a vehicle with a motorized engine, he also created the production line. Both of these entirely changed the world we live in. The motor vehicle has to be one of the most important inventions in modern human history. With an engine in the front, seats in the middle, and a trunk in the back, you were now able to cover large distances with passengers and luggage. 

However, motor vehicles burned fossil fuels which were producing harmful greenhouse gases. As time went on, millions and millions of cars, trucks, and motorcycles added to this environmental damage. In the decades that followed, emissions from motor vehicles have wreaked havoc on the entire planet. They have heavily contributed to global warming and this has pushed for change. The answer? Electric vehicles (EVs). As promising as they are, EVs are still not as widely accepted as internal combustion engines are. 

Challenges for Electric Vehicles

Despite a rocky start and a few gimmicky iterations, EVs have now established themselves as a viable solution to combat the global emission problem. In 2021, EVs saw a monumental 80% increase in sales which shows that the industry is headed in the right direction. 

Moreover, governments around the world have introduced initiatives to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the coming years. Industry juggernauts such as Volkswagen and Toyota have planned almost $170 billion in investments toward EVs in the future. This shows their faith in EVs and proves that it is the future. 

This is all exciting news for EVs however despite all of this, there are still many challenges that prevent their widespread acceptance. As of 2021, EVs account for only 7.2% of car sales across the globe which shows that more work is needed. What are the challenges that EVs face when it comes to wider acceptance? 

Infrastructure

ICE vehicles are so incredibly common due to a system that accommodates them. You have gas stations everywhere and when you compare the two, you can easily see that there is a vast difference. There are around 145,000 gas stations in the US compared to around 15,000 EV charging stations. Moreover, installing a gas station costs less than an EV charging station so, from an investment point-of-view, it isn’t good for business. 

Beyond installing EV charging stations, it isn’t too easy to get them in homes, apartment buildings, or office towers. You have to deal with issues that range from multi-tenant buildings that make installing chargers difficult to slot availability and most importantly, management of grid connections. 

Overload

In 2022, power grids have come under immense stress due to a rise in usage, a reduction in energy production, and an aging grid system. After you add the power that is used in homes and industries, there is not enough to go by for things such as EV charging stations. As clean and green as it is, EVs require electricity to work. This electricity comes from chargers in charging stations or through home wall box chargers. In order to satiate the demand for these vehicles, an additional burden will be placed on the already strained power grid.

To counter this, renewable energy has taken off to an encouraging start; most notably solar power. With much wider adoption, solar power leverages the greatest energy source we know – the sun. It is quite literally endless and does all the work on its own. Moreover, the Federal solar tax credit dictates that anyone who installs a solar energy power system in their home is eligible for certain tax credits. For 2020-2021, it was a 26% tax credit. From 2022 onwards to 2032, it will be a 30% tax credit. This shows the government’s willingness to push for clean energy. 

Carbon Grid Profile

If you are using traditional infrastructure to charge your EV, you are relying on the power grid to get the energy needed. In order to power this grid, you need to burn fossil fuels thereby reducing the effectiveness of using an EV over an ICE vehicle. Grey electricity grids burn coal and oil to run turbines that generate electricity which contributes to greenhouse emissions that destroy the environment. 

If we want EVs to do their part to prevent further damage to the environment, we need to decarbonize the power grid. There needs to be a departure from fossil fuels and a push towards renewable energy which uses the ever-present elements as opposed to finite non-renewable fuels. 

Rare Earth Metals 

It is often said that the hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist. EVs and renewable energy might seem like the perfect replacement for ICEs and fossil fuels but in reality, this isn’t the case. It is estimated that there will be around 145 million electric vehicles on roads by 2030. This translates to a rise in demand for the materials needed to build these vehicles and their batteries. 

According to reports, there are no immediate shortages of these metals. However, there is a grave concern regarding their extraction. Most of the materials that go into EV batteries are mined out of the ground and mining is one of the main reasons for damage to the environment. There are major concerns regarding whether this extraction will be sustainable. If these metals are mined irresponsibly, the damage would be profound and counterintuitive from start to finish.  

Forging the Way Forward

All of this begs the question, how do we fix this? 

EVs are the future of transport. Right now it is gaining momentum on land, very soon it will go to sea and maybe even to the skies one day. In order for this to happen, we need to create an environment where EVs are allowed to flourish. 

Smart Charging

For the most part, our cars sit idle in our garage. After we are done with work, school, or errands, our cars remain parked. During this time, EVs are plugged in to ensure that they are at 100% when needed. Moreover, EV charging systems are incredibly intelligent i.e. they can be programmed to operate in different ways. For instance, during peak hours, you can reduce charge hours to save on your bill and reduce strain on the grid. Peak hours are published and EV owners can set schedules on chargers to only charge after peak hours. 

The Ford F-150 Lightning, Fords electric offering for the best-selling vehicle in North America, can power your home with surplus power in the event of an outrage. Their website claims it could do so for up to 3 days depending on usage. Similarly, during peak hours, the power from cars can be fed back into the grid in certain amounts to reduce strain on an already congested network.

EV Load Management 

An energy management system works to use power generation assets and the corresponding demanding assets on a digital platform. It essentially acts as a single place where all of these components can be operated and monitored. Most modern EV load management systems leverage the Internet of things to make it all work. Sensors that provide real-time information make it easier for users to know how things are going. This allows for more efficient usage and also brings down the cost of using an EV. 

Using an EV load management system, you can monitor the health of your system to ensure there is nothing wrong. System health is important because if batteries begin to deteriorate, so does their performance. Moreover, the last thing you want is for a battery system to fail on you while you are on the highway. It isn’t the same as an ICE where a mechanic can replace parts, EVs are a lot more complicated. 

EV load management systems essentially act as a liaison that helps mitigate power more efficiently. For instance, let us assume you have a 100-amp electrical panel and four 30-amp chargers installed. If you were to use all four chargers together, this would overburden the panel and could result in a short circuit. With an EV load management system, your chargers would ‘communicate’ with each other and this would divert an equal amount of power to each charger within the 100-amp limitation. Every charger gets power and the system isn’t overburdened. 

Monitoring Analytics

Many charging systems now come with mobile applications. Using these, you can keep an eye on your systems usage, on and off-peak hours, and also how long your car takes to charge among many other options. Moreover, the IoT has made it easier for real-time information to be provided when needed. This allows for more efficient usage and better maintenance. If you know how the system is doing, you can take care of it accordingly. 

Most times, all you need for this to work is an internet connection. AT&T has an incredible offer and if you want to get internet that is rapid, reliable, and robust, you can visit their website to learn more! If you’re still stretched for choice, you should get Spectrum deals!

Conclusion

Electric vehicles are the future of transportation. Clean, green, and efficient energy will dominate the future to combat climate change and do its part to reverse climate change. The tide is in their favor and it is only a matter of time before they become the new standard. 

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *