Electric cars
Need an electric car? Compare the best electric cars, also known as EVs, here. Do you go for small and compact, or rather a big SUV? We have listed all the sustainable EVs for you and show prices with a private lease contract.
Electric cars on NewMobile.com? Surely an EV is not a phone! Well, car stands for automobile in full. And we only limit ourselves to EVs on NewMobile.com. That includes a battery with a display. So they are practically smartphones on wheels.
Electric car brands
The number of brands with one or more electric cars in their range can now (thankfully) no longer be counted on one hand. Almost every self-respecting brand has one or is working on one. Some popular electric car brands are:
EV history
Electric cars are older than most people think. Some of the first cars already had an electric powertrain. They usually used a lead-acid battery for this purpose because it was easy and inexpensive to manufacture. Electric cars were mainly popular in cities where electriceit was easily available. Outside the city, you rarely saw electric cars. Eventually, internal combustion engines running on fossil fuels would dominate the market because of their lower cost and longer range. From 1915, all-electric cars all but disappeared from the market.
It was only after the oil crisis in the 1970s and the realisation that CO2 emissions contribute to global warming that interest in the electric powertrain began to grow again. Meanwhile, there were also plenty of new technologies available including lithium batteries. Toyota capitalised on this trend by introducing the Prius in 1997; a car with an electric motor in addition to an internal combustion engine. This hybrid powertrain significantly reduced fuel consumption. So the Prius was not fully electric.
The GM EV1 introduced the year before was, but only a thousand of those were eventually sold. In that respect, the Tesla Roadster, introduced in 2008, did better, although no more than 2,500 of those were sold either. Still, that turned out to be the starting point of the enormous growth electric cars would experience. Partly because other manufacturers came up with their own models such as Nissan with the Leaf, Renault with the Zoe and BMW with the i3. Not to mention the sales success of the Tesla Model 3.
Functions of electric car
An electric car is powered by one or more electric motors. The energy required for this comes from a battery. By choosing sustainable electricity generated from solar panels or wind turbines while charging, it is possible to drive emission-free. Of course, manufacturing an electric car does release emissions.
Types
There are different types of electric cars, ranging from fully electric cars to partially electric or not at all. The most common types are:
- BEV / FEV - Battery / Full Electric Vehicle (100% electric)
- PHEV - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (fuel car with a plug)
- BAHV - Battery Assisted Hybrid Vehicle (Mild Hybrid, fuel car without a plug)
- FCEV - Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (Hydrogen car)
- ICE - Internal Combustion Engine (Petrol, diesel or LPG powered car)
Different battery types
Most electric cars have a lithium-ion battery. This type of battery consists of a cathode (+), an anode (-) and a liquid electrolyte between which ions can move. The advantage of Li-ion is its high energy density, low weight and long life. The disadvantage is that it requires cobalt for production and its extraction is not environmentally friendly and involves human rights violations.
So the search is on for new battery types. In this respect, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) in particular is bidding to succeed Li-ion. This type does not use cobalt. Solid-state is also a promising technology but has not yet proven itself.
Recharging
An empty battery needs to be charged. The most logical place to do so is at home. This can already be done with a regular 230V socket and a Granny charger (Mode 2). However, that is not fast. This is where a charging station comes in. It can handle more power and has an adapted plug. Which plug you need depends on your car.
Charging on the road can be done at a public charging station or a fast charging station. The latter is usually found on the side of the motorway. These usually work with direct current, are able to deliver even more power and can therefore charge a battery faster. In the Netherlands, a few fast charging station providers operate, including Fastned. Some manufacturers have their own network of quick chargers, the best known of which is Tesla with its Supercharger.
The type of plug your car can be charged with varies from brand to brand but the most common are:
- CCS - Combined Charging System
- CHAdeMO
- Tesla plug
- Type 1 (Yazaki)
- Type 2 (Mennekes)
