Electric Vehicle

Slowly but surely, our means of transport are being electrified. Electric vehicles (or EVs) offer a mature, highly efficient technology that will contribute to reducing consumption of fossil fuels and make our cities quieter, more pleasant places to live in. Furthermore, they now have the full backing of the automobile industry.

The goal: for 10% of all vehicles sold in the Basque Country in 2020 to be electric.

Pure electric vehicles are similar to conventional ones; the only difference is that the engine (or motor) is powered by electricity.

Hybrid models combine a conventional petrol-driven engine with an electric motor.

A pure electric motor is more efficient than a conventional combustion engine; it has fewer energy losses and gives off no gases or noise.

• Highly efficient.
• Fewer mechanical losses.
• Lower maintenance costs.
• The energy used in braking can be converted into electricity.

The first electric vehicles were built in the mid-nineteenth century, well before four-stroke combustion engines.

LEVEL AND UPHILL: The batteries power the motor.

DOWNHILL: The regenerative brake converts the kinetic energy into electricity and charges the batteries.

Lithium-Ion technology, no “memory effect”. Can be charged even when the battery is not completely discharged. Range of up to 200 km – enough to meet daily needs of over 80% of drivers.
In less than 10 years it is expected that this range will increase greatly and prices will fall by 50%.

The introduction of EVs means establishing new habits, such as overnight charging and day-time use of the energy. Electricity industry.
Overnight charging improves the use of energy surpluses and renewable energy sources.
Electric vehicles allow for better use of these renewable energy resources.
Peak hours of power consumption are followed by an overnight drop. At certain points during these off-peak hours, demand for electricity falls below output, creating energy surpluses.

Renewable sources such as wind power produce more during the night; given the low night-time demand for energy, it sometimes becomes necessary to halt production.

Charge managers install charging points that will guarantee safe access to electricity in private homes, shared garages and public car-parks.

Users can use a smart card to access their own private charging account.

• Slow charge (8 hours): For private garages, homes and public car-parks. Preferably overnight.
• Semi-fast charge (1 hour): Allows faster charging.
• Fast charge (6 minutes): Not implemented as yet. Combined with a gradual increase in battery range, this development will allow drivers to drive longer distances with EVs in the future.

The new model of electric transport will reduce fossil fuel consumption, improve energy efficiency in transport and, in combination with improvements in power grids, will lead to better use of renewable energy resources.