⚡️🔋Current Events 2/6/23: Well-to-Wheel Efficiency Explained
It takes energy to make energy! EVs get to skip a few steps, though.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are exploding in popularity due to their numerous technological benefits, including higher well-to-wheel efficiency compared to gasoline vehicles. So what does well-to-wheel efficiency even mean?
Well-to-wheel efficiency refers to the total energy consumed from when the fuel is extracted from the ground to when it is used to power the car. In the case of EVs, they store energy in the form of electricity in the batteries. In comparison, gasoline vehicles require the extraction, refining, and transportation of fuel, which results in a lower well-to-wheel efficiency.
One of the primary reasons for the higher well-to-wheel efficiency of EVs is the efficiency of electric motors. Electric motors are much more efficient than internal combustion engines (ICEs) in converting energy into motion. EVs can convert up to 70-80% of the energy stored in their batteries into motion, while the average efficiency of an ICE is only 20-30%. Simply put, EVs use less energy to travel the same distance as a gasoline vehicle, resulting in higher well-to-wheel efficiency.
Another factor contributing to the higher well-to-wheel efficiency of EVs is the efficiency of the charging process. When charging an EV, the energy used to power the battery is converted directly from the electrical grid. This conversion is much more efficient than the refining and transportation process required for gasoline vehicles. Many electricity-generating facilities are transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, which are much more efficient and sustainable than traditional fossil fuels.
Furthermore, EVs do not waste energy through idling, as they do not require the engine to run when stopped. On the other hand, gasoline vehicles waste energy and emit pollutants while idling. Additionally, the regenerative braking system in EVs captures wasted energy that would otherwise convert to heat during braking. Imagine you're riding a bike, and you want to slow down. You can use your feet to stop the bike at low speeds by dragging them on the ground. This action creates friction, which generates heat and wastes energy.
Regenerative braking works similarly, but instead of wasting energy as heat, it captures it and uses it to recharge the battery in the electric vehicle. Applying the brakes in an EV allows the electric motor to switch from driving the wheels to generating electricity, slowing down the car. The energy generated during this process recharges the battery, increasing the overall efficiency.
Another advantage of EVs is their ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the world currently generates electricity from fossil fuels, emitting greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. However, as more renewable energy sources deploy and ramp electricity generation, the emissions associated with charging EVs will continue to decrease. Combustion vehicles, however, will always emit pollutants directly from their tailpipes, and the refining and transportation of fossil fuels will also always result in emissions.
In the end, the higher well-to-wheel efficiency of EVs is due to a combination of factors, including the efficiency of electric motors, the efficiency of the charging process, the lack of idling and regenerative braking, and the potential for reduced emissions through the use of renewable energy. As technology continues to improve and more renewable energy sources become available, the well-to-wheel efficiency of EVs will only continue to increase. All this taken into account, there is little surprise to the rapid, accelerating pace at which the mobility market is electrifying.
With love and gratitude,
Renato Amboss
Renato A. Amboss is the Founder and First Pilot of Ronin EV. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are his own. None of the views expressed are intended as investment advice of any kind and should not be taken as such. Cars are not investments, but we would love to show you what electric ones can do! Have a lovely day!