In the previous module, we saw what an electric vehicle is and what its advantages are. We also looked into the role of EVs in the energy transition and the key role played by business and policy in the uptake of EVs. In this week, we will dive deep into the technology of EVs.

Several questions are addressed in this module. You might have quite often heard about electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles or even about plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. What is the difference between them? What is inside an electric car and how does it work? What is the vital role played by power electronics and the battery in the electric car? How do you charge an electric car and what is the difference between AC and DC charging?

In this module, we attempt to answer the above questions. The main topics covered during this module are :

• • • Main parts of an EV;
    • Working principles of an EV;
    • Types of EV – hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery and fuel cell;
    • Comparison of EV based on emissions, range, fuel type;
    • Basics of EV charging – range, power, voltage, charging time, energy;
    • EV charging  – plug types, power levels, charging modes;
    • Basics of smart charging.

A glossary of the key technical terms used in this module can be found here.