The internal combustion engine has served society very well for over 100 years. Many people who worked for automakers, oil companies, dealerships, parts suppliers, and a host of other supportive companies have earned sufficient income to move into the middle class and higher.
It has been very profitable for the status quo of this aging technology. Nevertheless, moving into the future, vehicles using the internal combustion engine does not lend itself to manufacturing vehicles as economical as electric vehicles.
Manufacturing Economics
How can building vehicles using traditional methods compare with building vehicles using current new technology and automated processes? Craftsmanship has its place in a niche market; however, producing vehicles in mass numbers profitably will require doing so with the least amount of workers while maintaining design tolerances and production goals. Automated manufacturing combined with fewer moving parts in the vehicle makes electric vehicles attractive to the reduced cost of manufacturing a vehicle.
Research and Development Economics
The engineering expenses required to meet federally mandated emissions and fuel economy standards for the internal combustion engine are enormous. Many labor hours and expensive equipment are necessary to meet these goals of which electric vehicles do not have because they are zero emission vehicles and have no fuel economy standards to meet. This reality can inspire automakers to produce more electric vehicles to reduce manufacturing cost-per-vehicle. Eliminating the research and development costs of the internal combustion engine can increase profitability.
Internal Combustion Engines vs. Electric Vehicles
In addition to the savings from research and development and manufacturing costs, electric vehicles are more efficient in utilizing their source of energy and related components.
Let’s take a look at comparing the efficiencies and carbon footprints of the internal combustion engine and electric vehicles.
Internal Combustion Engine efficiency –
When an engine takes in fuel, it is converted into usable energy through the combustion process which turns it into mechanical energy. However, less than 30% of the potential energy from the fuel is used for the operation of the vehicle, 70% or more is wasted as heat energy which the vehicle has to get rid of through the cooling system.
It is noteworthy to note that diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines.
Nevertheless, additional losses for both gasoline and diesel engines are through certain components of the engine, transmission, driveline, differential, etc. As a result of these losses, the overall vehicle efficiency drops to less than 20% from the fuel to actually turning the wheels.
Furthermore, internal combustion engines require the use of fuel, oil, coolant, belts, hoses, filters, tubes, exhaust pipes, and a host of other engine parts combined with periodic maintenance.
Last but not least are the processes required for oil companies to locate oil deposits, extraction, refining, storage, and transportation to retail fuel outlets.
Electrically operated vehicle efficiency –
The only physical parts required to turn the wheels of an electric vehicle is a battery pack, an electric motor which operates at all speeds over 90% efficiency and related electrical control parts. In addition, a liquid may be used to cool the batteries.
To be fair, there are some small losses in efficiency during the charging process which uses AC current to charge DC batteries which must be converted back into AC current for the motor. Even still, efficiency is over 70%.
From a carbon footprint perspective, current materials for lead-acid batteries are already used and in the case of lithium ion batteries, rare earth materials must be mined. Nevertheless, the risk of hazardous waste spills is minimized compared to petroleum, notwithstanding waste spills from accidents.
Electric utility companies already produce electricity; therefore, electric vehicles’ charging needs do not require the building of new facilities.
Conclusion
The virtues of electric vehicles are many, some of which has been previously stated. However, some of the negative aspects cannot be ignored such as the lack of charging infrastructure, range limitation, initial costs, etc.
Concerning charging infrastructure, there are government agencies, automakers, electrical utility companies and others that are committed to developing the charging infrastructure. Automakers are improving driving range and reducing initial vehicle costs.
The future for electric vehicles is promising and it does not mean the end of vehicles that use the internal combustion engine. It simply means that economics, efficiency, and simplicity will drive increased electric vehicle production. As a consumer interested in owning a car on the cheap, electric vehicles are something you may want to consider in your next vehicle purchase if it can meet your transportation needs.
