PROBLEMS OF “GREEN POWER” AND THE TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

The main stages of creating electric vehicles, tax exemptions issued by different countries to manufacturers and purchasers of these vehicles are presented. The structure of the modern electric vehicle, as well as its main units are introduced. The issue of the traction battery arrangement and the tendency of its price change is also described in detail. The content of metals and minerals in the traction battery, including rare and rare-earth minerals, as well as their world supplies are mentioned. In light of the predicted increase of the number of electric vehicles produced, an analysis of the market is presented and the prospects for the extraction of these metals and minerals are shown. EROEI of various energy sources are considered, their comparative analysis is given. The article indicates the energy densities of hydrocarbon energy sources and modern traction batteries, as well as their comparative analysis.

Based on the collected data, a conclusion is made that none of the alternative energy sources - solar panels, wind farms or hydrogen fuel cells, has reached the energy and power densities that are provided by such fossil fuels as coal, oil and gas or nuclear power. Electric vehicles are environmentally friendly only during operation. But even this advantage is dissipated when one takes into account the problems of production and disposal of batteries, as well as the need to increase electric power capacities and form new transmission networks due to a sharp increase in demand and increased peak loads. It is determined that the average electric car becomes environmentally friendly (in terms of its carbon footprint) in comparison with a car with an internal combustion engine, only after a 100,000 – km - run.

With modern technologies, the global energy sector will not be able to meet the needs of a growing fleet of electric vehicles, not to mention the sources of raw materials for new components (batteries, electric motors, etc.) and the corresponding electric power infrastructure.