Stable’s software will support Enel X Way’s charging network expansion across North America by helping customers take a data-driven approach to infrastructure deployment
When people think of electric cars they generally think of the futuristic, battery-powered offerings of the last decade, however, the first electric vehicles were a far cry from the technological marvels of today. Here is a brief overview of the electric vehicles evolution over the last century. The Origins of the Electric Car: In the Beginning During the dawn of the electric automobile, the primary competition to EV did not come from internal combustion engines, but rather an even more environmentally-friendly form of transportation, the horse. Despite horse-powered mobility still being the primary mode of transportation in the late 19th century, the introduction of both electric and internal combustion vehicles forever mechanized personal transportation. Around the turn of the century, inventors from around the globe, most notably a youthful Thomas Edison, began developing battery-powered cars. These early EVs rapidly became popular, especially in densely populated cities, due to their silent operation and lack of noxious exhaust fumes. Other innovators of the electric car include Camille Faure, who improved the design of the lead-acid battery conceptualized by Gaston Planté; Robert Anderson, who invented the first crude electric carriage; and Ferdinand Porsche, who designed the first vehicle with an octagonal electric motor. Over the next decade, battery-powered cars from different automakers began popping up across the U.S and continued to gain popularity. Around the turn of the century, electric vehicles were so commonplace that New York City even had a fleet of more than 60 electric taxis. By 1900, electric cars were at their heyday, accounting for around a third of all vehicles on the road. In the coming years, electric models continued to show strong sales. It wasn’t until the inception of the Ford Model T, offering unparalleled accessibility and affordability, that the internal combustion engine gained significant popularity. As internal combustion engine cars became more accessible and oil prices steadily dropped, electric vehicles fell out of favor and by the 1930s were all but extinct. How Drivers Charged Up Their Electric Cars Surprisingly, these early electric vehicles charged much like the EVs of today (although early chargers lacked some of the more sophisticated features of the JuiceBox smart charger). Charging cables ran from wall mounted charging stations and were plugged directly into receptacles on the car. When drivers were finished charging, the cord would simply be unplugged from the vehicle and you were on your way with a full charge. Another popular method of charging early electric cars was to simply swap exhausted batteries with fully charged battery packs, with the empty batteries then being charged centrally in a ‘battery room’. Electric Vehicles in the 20th Century After the all-electric car fell out of favor with the general public, they would remain a nonfactor in the auto industry for nearly forty years, however, as gas prices began to climb in the late 1960’s public interest in alternative fuel sources began to stir. Around the same time, the first manned motor vehicle to drive on the moon was battery-powered. Like nearly everything involved with early lunar missions, this battery-powered rover garnered significant interest, further stimulating public curiosity in electric motors. Automakers even went as far as to make an attempt to capitalize on this spreading interest and introduced a handful of EV models in the 70’s and 80’s. Most notably the Sebring-Vanguard Citicar which sold 2,000 units, however interest in EVs once again began to wane. It was not until the 1990’s that public interest in electric vehicles began to meaningfully gain momentum. In 1996, GM released the EV1, an all-electric vehicle designed from the ground up that would go on to gain a cult-like following, and a martyr-like image after the program was inexplicably killed. Electric powertrains once again made a splash in the mainstream market a year later in 1997, with Toyota introducing the first generation Prius Hybrid vehicle with a Prius battery. The Prius was a near-instant hit that whet the public appetite for alternative fuel vehicles, prompting scientists and automakers alike to take a renewed interest in EV development, setting the stage for the progress of the early 21st century. Notable Electric Cars Throughout History • La Jamais Contente - The first electric vehicle to go over 100 km/hr. • Walter Bersley's 1897 Electric Cabs - First electric-powered public vehicle with a speed of 9 mph. • Baker Electric Car - Built in 1897, this model is the quintessential vintage car produced by the Baker Motor Vehicle Company. • Model T - Another vintage car model produced by Ford during 1914. • Detroit Electric Model 47 - One of the pioneering electric cars in the 20th century. • Toyota Prius - One of the first hybrid car models released, and put Toyota in the electric car game. • Tesla Model S - The flagship car of Tesla Inc. released in 2012. {loadposition residential} The Future has Arrived In 2006, a new automaker came on to the scene, forever altering the course of electric vehicles. Wunderkin, Tesla, bore little resemblance to the American legacy automakers it sought to challenge. Hailing from Silicon Valley, rather than the Motor City, and offering a single, sporty convertible model, the Tesla Roadster garnered praise in the auto and tech realms alike. With a range of 244 miles and blistering performance numbers, the Tesla contradicted the slow, bulbous archetype of past EVs. As Tesla took the world by storm, 2010 proved a big year for EV momentum as Chevrolet introduced the first-ever commercially available Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), the Chevy Volt, and Nissan released its best-selling Leaf. The Chevy Volt nonetheless acted as a significant stepping stone in the history of EVs, introducing pure battery-powered mobility to the masses. With the added security of a hybrid drivetrain, the original Volt had an all-electric range of around 40 miles, more than enough for a majority of day to day driving. Many early Volt drivers have since moved on and up to fully electric vehicles after realizing the countless benefits of driving electric. There has since been a significant influx in Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle offerings as these early, modern EVs demonstrated to automakers the public interest in e-mobility. The tide is, as a result, beginning to turn against internal combustion vehicles. In 2019, the Tesla Model 3 beat out competitors BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus as the best selling, midsize luxury sedan, outselling the heralded BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-class combined. A Look Into The Future of Mobility As we look back at the long history and recent progress of electric vehicles, it is equally important to look to the future. Facing increasingly rigorous emissions standards and growing consumer support for electrification, automakers have put the pedal down on EV development. Record numbers of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models are set to hit the market in coming years as EV market share continues to rise. These new EV offerings will cover nearly every market segment, from compact SUVs to semi-truck, providing consumers with an all-electric option to fit their exact needs. The range of electric vehicles has gotten longer, too, with the longest range electric car being the Lucid Air Dream Edition Range. The question of, “What is better? Electric or gas cars?” might still stand, but the days of internal combustion engines and reliance on fossil fuel are numbered. Ready to charge faster, smarter, cleaner? Shop Now
Enel X has completed construction of an innovative microgrid that leverages solar energy and battery storage to support the facility and EV charging at Global Partners LP’s Alltown Fresh® service station in Ayer, Massachusetts.
12 new electric vehicle charging ports available for faculty, student, and public use
It was just a few years ago that EVs were much more expensive than their combustion engine counterparts. However, electric cars are now becoming more popular every year, and you might be starting to wonder how long it takes to charge an electric car and should you consider buying one? The combination of improved battery technology, high-speed charging equipment and economies of scale in manufacturing, and the variety of EV companies have brought us to an inflection point.Here’s why people are joining the EV revolution and ditching their gas-guzzlers. In this article, we’ll highlight why electric cars are better than gas cars and discuss how switching over to energy efficient vehicles can have a positive environmental impact for future generations Zen-like Driving & Torque, Like You've Never Experienced. Perhaps the best selling point of a vehicle with an electric motor is the zen-like experience in the passenger cabin. That’s because electric vehicles are quieter and offer smoother acceleration and deceleration, devoid of the vibrations, gear shifting and sounds of the internal combustion engine. Electric vehicles also have a lower center of gravity, which improves handling, responsiveness and safety. Electric motors also generate instant linear torque, which cannot be matched by internal combustion engines. For that reason, they can easily outperform any gasoline vehicle. $avings. Transportation costs are the second largest expense after housing, for the majority of Americans. Trading in that gas-mobile for an EV can save an average of $770 per year on fuel alone. For example, a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV needs 28 kWh of electricity to go 100 miles, according to its EPA efficiency rating. If the owner drives 15,000 miles per year (~2,000 miles more than the average driver), they will need 4,200 kWh to power the Bolt. Using the average cost of electricity in the US, 12.47 cents per kWh, the Chevy Bolt EV will cost $525.00 per year to fuel. In comparison, the average new ICE car sold in the US today gets 24.7 mpg while a gallon of gas costs an average of $2.72, so driving 15,000 miles per year would equate to $1,650.00 in fuel costs - a lot more than what Bolt drivers will spend to power their cars for a year. That’s thousands of dollars saved over several years of operation. While many of the plug-in electric vehicles available today have a higher initial cost than ICE vehicles, don’t let that scare you away. Federal and state incentives, in the form of tax credits and rebates, are leveling the playing field. Before buying an EV, check out what federal, state and local electric car tax credits you may qualify for. Finally, charge when power is cheap and get JuicePoints rewards or demand response rewards from your local utility. Less Maintenance. Electric vehicles also have significantly less moving parts than conventionally-fueled vehicles, and therefore require much less maintenance. There’s no oil changes, fuel filters, timing belts or mufflers to replace. Over time, that will add up to a significant amount of time and savings. For example, routine ICE vehicle maintenance over a five year period costs: Oil changes every 5,000 miles @$45each (15) $675.00 Engine air filter replacement $50.00 Brake pads $330.00 Fuel filter $100.00 Radiator hoses & system flush $350.00 Total Maintenance Savings: $1,475.00 Then there’s the longer term maintenance items that are even more expensive, like exhaust systems and timing belts. None of these items, with the exception of brake pads, are found on an electric car. The brake pads savings are due to the EV’s regenerative braking system. This system uses the vehicle’s kinetic energy to recharge the battery, and reduces the need to use friction brakes. A typical internal combustion car will need to change its brake pads every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. EV owners have reported driving well over 100,000 miles without the need to replace the vehicle’s brake pads. EVs require such a limited amount of service, there’s little to no regularly-scheduled maintenance recommendation by the manufacturers. {loadposition blog} // Convenience. Does anybody really like going to gas stations? Probably not. Plug-in electric vehicles allow you to charge at home or at work - it is as simple as plugging in your cell phone. Plugging into a home charging station only takes a few seconds, and you wake up with a “full tank” every morning or at the end of each work day. To get the most out of your new electric car, you should find out its driving range (the longest range electric car to date is Lucid Air Dream Edition Range, in case you were wondering). Also, there’s no regularly-scheduled maintenance, so you don’t need to bring the car to the dealer every few months for an oil change or tune up - now that’s convenience! You also don’t have to worry about oil leaks staining your garage or driveway or smell gas ever. Perks. Both the federal and local governments know electric vehicles are a better path forward, and want to provide as many incentives as possible to encourage drivers to make the switch. Additional EV perks include access to carpool lanes, reduced tolls, reserved parking, motor vehicle inspection exemption and free public charging in select areas. Health and Environmental Benefits. Air pollution levels remain dangerously high in many parts of the world. New data from WHO shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. Transportation accounts for roughly 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. This statistic shows that reliance on fossil fuel has immediate consequences. “For all Americans, charging the average new EV produces far fewer global warming pollutants than driving the average new gasoline car. In some of the country’s cleanest regions (including parts of California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest), driving an electric car is equivalent to getting 85 miles per gallon,” according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. And on average, EVs offer 80% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than ICE vehicles. Fortunately, the transition to zero emission technologies in the transportation sector is underway, promising cleaner air, a healthier climate and creating lasting benefits for future generations. If you want to make a positive environmental impact and reduce your carbon footprint, switching over to your first electric car is the way to go. With more electric motor models to choose from, now is the time to replace your gas powered car with an electric vehicle. Ready to charge faster, smarter, cleaner? Shop Now