Print this page Print this page

Electric Vehicles 101

John C. Huang, Ph.D, PE, LEED AP

Course Outline

As countries seek to address future energy requirements in a rapidly growing and changing world, achieving sustainable transportation has emerged as a vital mission. Electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, represent one of the most promising pathways to increased energy security and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. In this course, we will review the history of electric vehicles since 1800s, examine their advantages and disadvantages, and discuss main power components and their functions in an electric vehicle. In addition, we will explore the design considerations and trend of the infrastructure for EVs.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Course Introduction

According to a report from Ward's Auto, the global number of cars exceeded one billion in 2010. In the US alone, there are more than 250 million passenger vehicles (roughly a quarter of the global number.) When cars burn gasoline, they emit pollutants and cause smog. Some pollutants are believed to cause cancer and contribute to such problems as asthma, heart disease, birth defects and eye irritation. Emissions from cars also increase the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which leads to global warming. Fortunately, new technologies such as hybrid cars, electric cars and alternative fuels will help.

Besides being considered to be zero-emission, all-electric vehicles (EV) or battery electric vehicles (BEV) offer many advantages: simpler transmission, fewer moving parts (lower maintenance costs) and lower operation costs than their gasoline powered counterparts. The most significant technological challenge currently facing electric-drive vehicles is the cost and performance of the battery. Better battery technologies could lead to lower initial cost, longer battery life, and extended driving range between recharging.

The Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI), a multi-government policy forum, reported that the global EV stock exceeded 180,000 in 2012, which represents less than 0.02% of the total vehicles in operation worldwide. Among all the EVI countries, the United States had the largest share, over 70,000 electric vehicles in stock in 2012. The goal of the Electric Vehicles Initiative is to have at least 20 million electric vehicles on the road by 2020. We all can help by educating the general public about the benefits of electric vehicles and asking people to drive less and combine trips for efficiency.

Course Content

You are required to study the following publications in this course:

A Brief History of Electric Vehicles (PDF)
A Technical Research Report: The Electric Vehicle (PDF)
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 101 (PDF)
DOE - Electric Vehicle Fact Sheets (PDF)

Related Link

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

Electric Vehicles Initiative
Tesla Motors

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.