It is hard to deny that electric vehicles (EVs), are now a reality. EVs will soon dominate the market, as the sale of petrol- and diesel cars is banned starting in 2030.
Already there has been a shift of public mentality. In 2020, 186% more EVs were sold than in 2019, indicating a clear rise in consumer interest. But, there are still issues that EVs could bring, says Steve Hughes, managing director at REO UK.
Boris Johnson’s ten point green plan, created to get the UK carbon neutral by 2050, was the catalyst for a rise in EV adoption. While EVs can reduce carbon emissions because they don’t use petrol and diesel, they could be problematic due to the amount of electricity they consume. There are many challenges to overcome, including consumer fears and the increased demand from the grid, which can have an impact on vehicle components. These electric problems, despite the positive intentions of Boris’s plan should not be ignored.
With so few charging points, consumers fear that they may not be able to charge their electric vehicle reliably or run out of power while driving. Most people don’t travel long distances without stopping. Although charging ports are necessary, they are not required in the way that many people believe. This fear is largely a result of uninformed hypersensitivity, not a real problem.
Many have expressed concerns about EVs putting too much stress on the grid. This could cause disturbances and disruptions. Graeme Cooper (transport decarbonisation director at the National Grid) has said that the grid is capable of handling this extra demand. The grid can handle the extra demand because of renewable energy and preparations to change to electric vehicles, he says.
The grid may be ready for the demand surge, but there are additional electrical challenges due to the increased frequency of charging EVs. These include harmonic currents. Harmonic currents are caused by changes in frequency within the electrical distribution system, which can lead to voltage variations and current variations. These distortions can happen when charging EVs, and can cause problems in the grid as well as the vehicles.
Harmonic distortions can increase the root means square (rms), voltage, and peak value of the waveform. This in turn causes an increased demand for electricity from a grid. An increased current can lead to greater losses and accelerate the damage to grid components. Components can become permanently damaged by the heat from thermal losses caused by harmonics. This can lead to faults in the components and a power outage.
Harmonic distortions can also cause damage to the vehicle’s power electronics. This is a serious concern considering that potential buyers of EVs are often put off buying because they fear that the car might break more easily. This could lead to public distrust and hinder adoption.
Knowing the potential problems of harmonic distortions allows us to think about solutions before they occur. There is an easy solution to harmonic currents.
The protection of capacitors is a key component in a typical EV. They can be damaged by repeated harmonic distortion. The REO UK range of Harmonic filters [SH1] is particularly effective at protecting capacitors because of its low tolerance to induction and linear behavior even with higher-than-rated currents. We can make it easier to hand over EVs in nine years by preparing for their practicalities.
EVs can cause serious problems to electric vehicles and their networks, but there are ways around it. We can reduce carbon emissions by planning ahead, even without any of the potential problems that EVs might cause.
