Mechanical Engineering Wiki / BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle
BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle
BEV is the abbreviation for Battery Electric Vehicle, which has now also become established in German. Alternatively, it is often referred to as a battery electric vehicle or battery electric car. This always refers to a purely electric vehicle that operates entirely without a combustion engine and obtains the energy it needs to run exclusively from a battery installed in the vehicle. In contrast to other electric vehicles, such as the HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) or the FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), BEVs are therefore often referred to as "pure electric vehicles".
What is a BEV?
A battery electric vehicle is a vehicle that is powered exclusively by battery electricity. Accordingly, it stands in contrast to other so-called electric cars, such as hybrid electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which often run on a mix of energy sources.
The BEV, on the other hand, only has an electric drive motor that receives the energy it needs from a powerful battery. This in turn is charged externally - for example at an energy filling station or at a wallbox at home. Some of the energy provided by the battery is also generated by the vehicle itself: When braking, so-called energy recovery (recuperation) takes place, which ensures that the battery is recharged a little each time the brakes are applied. However, this effect cannot be used to operate the BEV using recuperation alone.
What advantages does the BEV offer?
Fully battery electric cars offer a whole range of advantages. For example, a BEV is emission-free because it runs without a combustion engine. If you also run your battery electric vehicle on electricity from renewable energy sources, you also save large amounts of CO2. Over their entire life cycle, battery electric vehicles have a significantly better balance sheet in terms of greenhouse gas emissions compared to cars with a petrol or diesel engine.
In addition, BEVs require much less care and maintenance: there are no more spark plugs or engine oil to change, the brakes are less stressed and a gearbox is also a thing of the past with purely electric vehicles. Another plus point: electric motors not only produce less exhaust fumes, but also a lower noise level. This can contribute to a better quality of life, especially in cities, but also in rural residential areas.
What are the disadvantages of BEVs?
Although battery electric vehicles offer a number of advantages, they are also repeatedly criticized for various aspects. For example, there are the high energy costs and the consumption of valuable resources involved in the production of the batteries required. In addition, many BEVs still have the problem of their limited range and the temperature susceptibility of the batteries. The long charging times and the sometimes inadequate infrastructure in terms of available charging stations are also repeatedly criticized.
However, most of these points of criticism are due to the fact that the development of BEVs is still in its infancy. Experts assume that the already impressive environmental friendliness of the vehicles can be further enhanced by future developments.