Powertrain Comparison
Evaluating the different Powertrain options: Petrol, Electric, Hydrogen and Hybrid technology
Each powertrain option offers pros and cons for the future of the automotive transport industry, but which one would help reach the zero emissions target by 2050?
Pros | Cons | |
Petrol & Diesel | · Cheap to buy · Easy to refuel · Lots of different models to choose from, including second hand · Can travel long distances before refuelling · More powerful engines · Easy to get fixed (Skilled Mechanics) | · High GHG Emissions · Noise pollution · More expensive to run and tax · Lose their value more quickly · More expensive to service · Fuel prices fluctuate & likely to increase as oil reserves dry up · Complex design |
Electric Battery | · Minimal pollution · Cheaper to run and tax · Quiet and easy to drive (automatic) · Charge them from a normal plug at home or a public charging station · Government grants are available · New engineering sector focusing on electronics · Good for short journeys · Fast acceleration · High power density · Renewable energy sources (charging) | · Can be expensive to buy · Can take hours to charge · Less choice of models, especially second hand · Limited travelling range · Lack of charging infrastructure · Lithium-ion batteries unethically mined and if containing cobalt is highly toxic · Infrastructure costs and availability · Losing the skilled techniques of engine mechanics · Moving car when out of charge (turning wheels against motor) |
Hybrid | · Better fuel economy than a petrol car · Instant electric power · Save money on fuel · Environmentally friendly · Quiet to drive · Does not require power from the grid | · Unable to use regenerative braking on long journeys/ motorway driving · The electric battery is heavy · Generally, more expensive to buy · Maintenance can be expensive · They still produce fossil fuel emissions |
Hydrogen fuel cell | · Abundance of hydrogen · Can be made from renewable energy · No vehicle emissions · Excellent fuel economy | · Expensive technology · On board hydrogen storage · Very limited refuelling infrastructure · Hydrogen is very expensive to transport · It is made with non-renewable sources · No infrastructure |
Full analysis of all 4 powertrains. What I think should happen and why.
Analysing the 4 powertrain options above, the most positive solution for the future hints towards electric batteries however, it currently has noticeable drawbacks. If we directly compare the severity of the cons between petrol and electric batteries, petrol is toxic and a high pollutant whereas the EV’s main flaw is simply the cost of the vehicle and charging infrastructure. Since 2010, the price of an electric battery has dropped remarkably [1] and hence within the next 10+ years the price of the vehicle and its corresponding infrastructure will be considerably cheaper. Production and recycling of the lithium-ion battery is still a big issue but expectantly a renewable battery option will be developed in the near future to combat the polluting issues associated with lithium-ion.
A good steppingstone between petrol and electric cars is the hybrid model. The hybrid has both a combustion engine and an electric motor. This will have significant effects on reducing CO2 emissions as the combustion engine will be switched off when travelling at low speed (through the city). The point of the hybrid car is to mainly use the electric function of the car and the petrol engine acts as a backup in case of range complications. The hybrid uses complex engineering to get the electric battery and combustion engine to work in harmony. The electric battery is recharged when in combustion engine mode and can be topped up in small amounts through regenerative braking, it does not need to be charged through the grid like EV’s.
Range anxiety plays a huge factor in people’s decisions when choosing a new or old electric car, and therefore the hybrid model could reduce this issue. I do believe these types of cars would be a good steppingstone, nonetheless they are not the answer and they will not solve our carbon emission crisis and therefore is not the best option. Hybrids have the positives of the electric battery, but they also bring the negatives of the battery and the emissions of the combustion engine and therefore, I would advise against the continuation of the hybrid model in future production.
Hydrogen is an abundant element and could be made from renewable energy sources however, the technology and transportation of the fuel is very expensive. It does not seem feasible to propose hydrogen vehicles as the way forward, as realistically to install charging infrastructure all across the country would be deemed impossible, because the cost to produce and transport the hydrogen is so inflated.