The State of EVs, HEVs and the Charging Infrastructure

­The electrification of transportation is moving along as states consider new public policies related to electric vehicles, from funding road repairs to providing multifamily home charging. Although the same challenges confront today’s U.S. EV market as when it first emerged, thanks to government funding and new technologies, solutions are increasingly available.

In addition to obvious environmental benefits, EVs offer consumers lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. However, potential EV buyers are still inhibited by slow charging times and the uneven distribution of EV charging stations throughout the country. Not only do they need more places to plug in when on the road, when they do find an EV station, they often encounter overcrowding and out-of-service chargers. They are also challenged by standards and compatibility issues that can lead to a proliferation of different types of connectors.

Meanwhile, the EV charging network is growing slowly, despite a $5 billion government investment. The high demand for electricity from EV charging stations can strain local power grids, necessitating infrastructure upgrades. Moreover, too often the charging infrastructure isn’t environmentally friendly. Wind and power generation offer sustainable sources of electricity. But when electricity comes from burning coal – not so much.

To solve the “range anxiety” issue of relying on all-electric battery EVs (BEVs), consumers are increasingly gravitating towards hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs. Traditional HEVs use the internal combustion engine (ICE) to recharge the battery. Plug-in HEVs (PHEVs) use both the ICE and plug-in charging. Although HEVs and PHEVs do not achieve the zero tailpipe emissions of fully electric BEVs, they reduce tailpipe emissions while also addressing charging concerns.

Another EV challenge is that, over time, EV batteries lose capacity, which affects vehicle range. Advances in battery technologies offer a solution. New and emerging battery chemistries (like solid-state batteries) result in higher energy density, faster charging and longer lifespans. These advancements are making the practical use of both EVs and HEVs more widely accepted by more users in more use cases.

Battery development and charging systems are intertwined. A promising solution for the charging network is vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology that enables EVs to return electricity to the grid. The V2G charging approach aids grid stability while improving energy management.

Another emerging EV solution is the ongoing development of autonomous EVs. Integrating self-driving technology with electric powertrains, driverless electric cars offer the potential to transform mobility services.

Today, funding from government policies and incentives, subsidies and regulations are driving the adoption of EVs. But more EVs means that the development of a U.S. charging infrastructure must keep up. All the necessary solutions are being provided by power electronics engineers now working on EV system advancements.