Naturally, there are many questions about electric cars. We will take you through the most common and hopefully shed some light in the electrical darkness!
How clean is an electric car?
The electric car itself does not emit CO2 or harmful substances. This does happen in the production of electricity. The majority of the electricity in the Netherlands still comes from power stations with a chimney. About the car itself, we can say that the production of batteries and electric motors has a significant impact on the environment and that the production of an EV produces more CO2 than when building a car with conventional technology, although the latter also gives a hefty footprint. Furthermore, an electric car produces particulate matter due to wear on tires and brakes. That just ends up on the roadside or in the air.
Do you have to drive in an electric car just like a car with an internal combustion engine?
No that is not necessary. With a combustion engine, parts moving along each other have to “wear” on each other, so rough spots become slightly smoother while the metal surface gets the right structure so that just enough oil adheres for optimal lubrication. With an electric motor, no metal surfaces (except for the bearings) slide past each other.
What does a battery capacity of 40 kWh mean?
40 kWh means that the battery theoretically has the capacity to supply 40 kW of power for an hour. Back to the basics: the current is expressed in amperes (A) and represents the amount of electric charge that flows through a wire or power consumer per unit time. The electric charge of a battery is expressed in ampere-hours (Ah). That charge in Ah of battery is determined by discharging that battery with a constant current for 20 hours at 20 ° C. A battery of 40 Ah can supply 2 amps at 20 ° C for 20 hours, then it is empty. The capacity of a battery with a charge of 100 Ah and a voltage between the plus and minus pole of 400 volts is 40 kWh (100 x 400 = 40,000 = 40 kWh).
Can you really use the total battery capacity?
No. Because of the life of the battery (and when there is no 12V battery on board, also to keep the electronics alive), the electronic battery monitor ensures that the battery never runs out completely. Incidentally, it is also ensured from a lifespan point of view that the battery is never completely capped. When the battery is really empty, it can no longer be charged and when it is completely full, the electrodes are no longer happy. Just a calculation example with a battery with a gross capacity of 50 kWh and a bottom and top margin of 10 percent. For the sake of service life, the electronics ensure that the battery is always charged at 10 percent and never charged at more than 90 percent. The net capacity is then 80 percent (because 100 – 10 – 10 = 80) of 50 kWh is 40 kWh. That is the amount of energy that you as a driver have at your disposal. The battery gauge on the dashboard will indicate that you have a 100 percent full battery when it contains 45 kWh of electrical energy and report that the battery is empty when there is technically 5 kWh on board. At least, when the battery is new. When the battery ages over time and the technical capacity decreases, you will not notice that with some car brands. These will ensure that (based on our fictitious calculation example) even if the capacity has technically decreased to, for example, 44 kWh, you will still have 40 kWh at your disposal by reducing the margins at the bottom and top to 2 kWh. Although the battery has technically “lost” 6 kWh, you practically still have 40 kWh at your disposal. The above numbers have been chosen to keep it manageable, in reality it concerns much smaller margins.
I don’t have a charging station nearby! How do I arrange that?
You will have to inquire with your municipality whether charging stations can be placed or what the future plans are. The policy for this differs greatly per municipality.
What does it cost to load?
FastNed charges € 0.59 per kWh and when you become a Gold Member for € 11.99 per month, you can charge for
€ 0.35 per kWh. Tesla Super Charger: € 0.25 per kWh, but the price may vary depending on location and time. Model S drivers charge for free. With NewMotion you pay 0.34 per kWh (different rates at the various poles). At home with Vattenfall you are at € 0.227 per kWh.
What is the difference between AC and DC?
DC stands for Direct Current, which means direct current in Dutch. That is not only what comes out of a battery (with its plus and minus pole), but also what a fast charger delivers. AC stands for Alternated Current and we know it better as alternating current, as we get it from the socket, for example. At the home, garden and kitchen socket, one of the poles varies with a frequency of 50 Hertz and according to a sine pattern between + 325 volts and – 325 volts. That 325 volts is a peak voltage, effectively it is + 230 volts and – 230 volts.
Can you tow an EV?
Usually not. In many cases the electric motor (via gears) is directly connected to the wheels: a clutch is missing and the gearbox (often with one fixed transmission) has no Neutral position. As a result, the entire drivetrain rotates during towing and damage can occur. Consult the instruction manual on how to move a faulty EV.
What kind of maintenance do I have to take into account for an EV?
An electric car has far fewer parts than a car with an internal combustion engine. No aggregate in the front and no gearbox. So forget oil filters, timing belts and worn clutch plates. An electric car does have an undercarriage that must be maintained. It is the turn of shock absorbers, wishbones and ball joints. There are also the brakes. They are hardly used due to the regeneration of braking energy. It will take forever for the discs to wear out, but they do rust quickly. And if the brake discs are too corroded, they must still be replaced. Because an electric car has a lot of pulling power, the tires are also a point of attention. If you often use the acceleration, they will have to be changed faster than you are used to from your conventional car. If major things break on an electric car, they will be replaced in their entirety rather than being repaired.
Why are electric cars so expensive?
Batteries are expensive parts, mainly due to the expensive raw materials such as nickel and cobalt. There are good price differences between the same EVs with different battery packs.