Electric Car Self-Charging: Can Electric Cars Self-Charge?
Are there any self-charging electric cars?
Self-charging electric cars in the UK do, technically, exist – but the name is misleading. In actual fact, self-charging electric cars are simply hybrid electric vehicles (sometimes referred to as HEVs, or full hybrids).
What makes these hybrids self-charging, then? Well, they have to self-charge due to the combination of an electric motor and a traditional gasoline engine, eliminating the ability plug in to an external power source. Since no EV charger is needed, the smaller battery in the hybrid can, and does, recharge itself through the process of regenerative braking.
How do self-charging electric cars work?
As mentioned before, self-charging is possible due to regenerative braking systems. But what is this?
When you lift your foot off the accelerator or press on the brake pedal, your electric car harvests. The motor instantly flips its role, turning from consumer to generator, capturing the car’s kinetic energy and feeding it back into the battery. Recycling, if you will: what would have been wasted heat on brake discs becomes clean electricity.
In technical terms, regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction, with efficiency rates often between 60–70% depending on speed, temperature, and battery state. The stronger the deceleration, the more energy you recover. Though note, never all of it, because friction brakes still handle the heavy stops.
Imagine slowing down at a corner or going over a bend – at this moment, energy is captured and is used to recharge your battery – by itself.
This process, however, is not special. All electric cars use regenerative braking. But, while hybrid electric cars use this process to be self-charging due to the backup engine and the small size of the battery, the energy recaptured is not enough to charge a fully electric car. If you own a BEV, you need to charge up properly using the correct equipment.
What are the benefits of self-driving hybrid electric vehicles?
1. Never plug in
Forget hunting for a public car charger or untangling cables in the rain at home. Hybrid electric cars trickle charge their battery themselves, capturing energy every time you brake or slow down.
Of course, you do still have to visit the petrol station. This, arguably, could be as painstaking as locating and charging at a public charging point for those on the fence about buying a fully electric car. EV charging can be as quick as topping up at a petrol station, with the help of ultra-rapid chargers, too.
In our opinion, plugging in at a home EV charger is more convenient than scouting out a petrol station.
2. Cleaner air, lighter conscience
A hybrid self-charging electric car emits lower CO₂ emissions than fully petrol and diesel vehicles.
While obviously not as environmentally friendly as battery electric cars due to the fuel consumption, it’s a greener choice to help cut your environmental footprint without cutting convenience.
3. Reduced range anxiety
Wherever the road takes you, range anxiety is squashed by the knowledge of a backup engine. If you’re one to fret, a self-charging hybrid may be the solution.
What are the cons of self-charging electric cars?
1. Not the greenest option
The clue is in the name: hybrid. A combination of two things. There’s no escaping it – while self-charging hybrid cars have the electric motor, they still heavily rely on petrol. Of course, the electric motor assists, but the engine does most of the heavy lifting, and still emits (lots) of carbon dioxide.
Short distances can be done in electric mode, but to power the car will mostly be from the engine.
While a greener choice than ICE vehicles, it’s not the greenest choice.
2. The “self-charging” element is universal
Self-charging hybrids don’t magically make power out of thin air. It isn’t unique to hybrids, too. In actual fact, all electric cars use a form of self-charging through the process of regenerative braking.
So, it isn’t special, per se. Nor revolutionary.
3. Lacking the complete EV benefits
Battery electric vehicle benefits are abundant. But drivers who choose a hybrid electric car over a battery electric car actually can’t plug in. It’s not possible. With this, hybrid drivers miss out on one of the best perks of electric cars: drastically lower running costs.
For example, self-charging cars are unable to recharge at home with cheaper, greener electricity through EV tariffs and smart chargers. According to the AA, charging your electric car can cost as little as 5p per mile.
You’re always tied, at least partly, to petrol – and miss out on essential savings with electric battery cars.
4. Double parts
While electric cars, in general, have fewer moving parts, hybrid electric cars still have two power systems, leading to infinitely more car parts.
What does this mean? Pricier repairs. Frequent maintenance. Double the stress.
Self-charging hybrid electric cars: the verdict
Self-charging electric cars, or hybrid EVs, are the ideal middle ground for those wanting to make greener choices but are riddled with range anxiety.
While the advantages of fully electric cars are stronger than those of hybrids, self-charging electric cars are perfect for those who want to take the next step to an electric world, without committing fully, acting as a stepping stone to the future.
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