ICE vs EV - IN-DEPTH comparison of BATTERY ELECTRIC and INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE vehicles

In this video we're doing something we haven't done on the d4a channel before, and that is to talk about battery electric vehicles, and we're starting this topic BIG, with a giant 30+ minute video that goes deep into the differences between ICE (internal combustion engine) cars and EV (Electric Vehicles) aka BEV (Battery electric vehicles). We're going to talk about performance, torque, weight, transmissions, maintenance, running costs as well as the future aspects for car enthusiasts. We're even saying a few words about the prejudice that seems to exist in the two opposed camps behind EVs and ICE cars.

But before we can get EVs and ICE vehicles clashing head to head we first must get a bit more familiar with EVs. Interestingly enough, to do that we can rely on the familiar concepts behind components in ICE vehicles, namely the battery and the starter motor, which is an electric motor we'll be using to better understand the electric motor driving EVs. If we contrast the starter motor to the EV motor we can see that the EV motor is a three phase induction motor (or permanent magnet or IPM synRM motor in newer Tesla cars, or the Porsche Taycan, or even some entry-level EVs) which needs three phase alternating current AC to run. In contrast to this the starter motor is a DC motor with brushes and commutators that must make direct physical contact to operate. The AC motor in EVs doesn't need any direct physical contact. It relies on a rotating magnetic field generated by three phase AC in the motor's stator to drive the rotor. This means no brushes or commutators and it also means the AC motor is a lot more rugged, reliable, maintenance free and has a longer life expectancy compared to DC motors. But most importantly for the sake of our comparison AC motors have rotation in their core.

The engine on the other hand needs to convert reciprocation into rotation. This is the arduous task of the connecting rods and crankshaft and where a lot of the weight, complexity, vibration and losses of the ICE come from. That being said, modern engine really do vibrate very little and configurations like the inline 6 or the v12 are essentially vibration free. A common misconception that occurs here is that ICE is heavier when compared to EVs. Yes, an ICE electric motor by itself weighs less than a fully assembled engine, but to run the engine only needs fuel, fuel tank and transmission (100-250kg), compared to this an electric motor need batteries (500kg on the Tesla model S for example). On top of this batteries make DC power which isn't suitable of an AC motor, so EVs also need an inverter to convert DC into AC and to vary the speed of motor. This is why on average EVs are as a whole heavier than ICE vehicles. For example, the 2018 and newer BMW M5 weighs 1990 kg compared to the 2200 kg of the Tesla model S.

Another interesting aspect that must be explored are the torque curves. The reason why electric cars can operate with just 1 gear in their transmission. The Tesla model S P100D for example has a max motor RPM of 18.000 rpm and makes usable torque for most of that rpm range. The BMW M5 does make 750 Nm of torque starting from only 1800 rpm, but it redlines at 7000 rpm which is why it needs multiple gears. With just 1 gear it would be redlining at 60mph. But the 1 gear thing is a compromise, you must choose between acceleration and top speed. This explains why Tesla cars are so fast from 0 - 100mph, but are outrun by equivalent ICE cars from 100 to 150 mph. Tesla chose to favor acceleration with their gear ratio. This is also why the Porsche Taycan is currently the only EV with a two speed transmission. To avoid the compromise between top speed and acceleration it has a second gear into which it automatically shifts at 60mph. The reason why it outruns the Tesla even if it has less power and is a bit heavier.

What about running costs? Surely owning EVs is cheaper as there is less maintenance? Well EVs still have brakes, coolant pumps, transmission oil pumps, radiators and much more. They are definitely not maintenance free. The running costs vary across the globe and depend on electricity prices as well as the local taxation, registration and EV incentive policies in the country.

So are battery electric vehicles the future? Your guess is as good as mine. Are they amazing? Definitely. Do they have ways to go? Yes, but that's a good thing.

A special thank you to my patrons:
Daniel
Peter Della Flora
Daniel Morgan
William
Richard Caldwell
Pepe
Brian Durning
Andrew Ruud
Brian Alvarez
Holset90

#d4a #enginebootcamp

00:00 A Bet
02:43 AC vs DC
09:01 Engine vs Motor
14:40 Gears and Torque
22:53 Costs
26:24 Future and enthusiasm

[snap_oversteer]

Ah yes, starter - the forbidden EV motor :D

[jkwroblewski]

This actually saved my life once. My fuel system died while crossing train tracks.

[timessix]

I really, really like your balanced, curiosity driven and engineering based approach to this subject. Thank you. I myself have worked with ICE:s all my career and would also describe myself as a petrolhead. I have 5 cars in my garage. HOWEVER, one is an EV and it's a car I really appreciate to drive. It works very well for most missions, and where it doesn't, I just pick one of the other cars. No big deal and there's is as you say no reason to cathegorically "pick sides" and start hating.
Also, a subject you might want to cover: The ICE itself is not "the enemy", it's what we put in them... I think synthetic fuels presents a really interesting future and I hope development picks up dramatically. Again - thanks!

[rinadulislamchowdhury]

Omg! this is probably the most comprehensive EV vs ICE video on the internet.

[Excepticus]

Even tho this is more of a petrolhead channel i like, that this was really non biased. and that you give both sections their good attention.

[ptilrem]

Privately I drive and A3 e-tron hybrid. The possibility to drive electric on the short distances I normally drive, is great. Low cost for the electricity here in Norway. On longer trips, it uses 4.5 liters/100km.
The government has the wild idea that by 2025, we can't buy ICE anymore, only EV. That's stupid IMHO. We have winter here with down to -30 to -40°C and long stretches between towns. The amount of charging stations are pitiful at best, and using them costs more pr km than using petrol.
In 2 years time, I'm getting an EV van for work. That's bonkers. Tests have shown that the Maxus e-Deliver 3 manages around 240km on battery, without interior and tools, with 10°C outside. I drive 100-150km each day at work. Spending 1 hour each day at a charger sounds like fun… Usually I fill up the tank one time pr week. That takes 3-4 minutes. 4 minutes of working time each week, or 5 hours each week. What's best for the company?
If you have the ability to charge at home, and doing small trips, EV's are great. But for longer commutes and cold weather, diesel/petrol are the best.

And just for giggles, this will be the result if all goes electric.

[methodprimary]

m8 I want you to know, your videos are just spectacular.
I fell into the car culture rabbit hole only about a year ago, but I've become practically consumed by it since. I'm considering formal training to pursue the interest but in the meantime, your videos have been the greatest source of comprehensive and well-explained information I've found on the subject to date.
Anyway, thank you for the work you put into these vids! It's a privilege to be subscribed to the channel <3

[gethinjones]

the fast and the furious transmition 😂😂😂😂 shows 20 gears 😂😂😂😂 that cracked me up 😆 if you take away the gear changes thats a quarter of the film 😂😂😂😂

[MrNordsturm]

A German here: normal Gas price is here around 1, 35- 1, 40€(E5) in so it´s about 1, 65$. And a KWh is also a bit chaper. 0, 25€/0, 3$. But if you wait a bit, the prices will be correct. Next CO² tax is comming. no doubt.

Additional: I think booth propulsion methods have their own field to work. ICE for long range and heavy duty. EV for the city and short range.

[dcvariousvids]

From an EV fan - thank you for an excellent presentation!

[almitov]

Great video as always! Thank you!

Now a few comments on the content, mainly regarding maintenance:
1. Brakes on EVs are not an important consumable. If you use the regen-braking properly, you will fiddle more with rusty rotors than with worn out ones (and brake pads too).

2. There is a huge investment in EV maintenance post-warranty. Only a few places can service EV-specific parts and also when you have to exchange the battery, you will likely need to pay as much as the (used) car costs itself. Hopefully this will change, but at the moment that's how it is.

3. Corrosion on EVs can be a real b*tch. On an ICE vehicle seeing rust can be annoying, but it will usually last decades before it becomes dangerous. On EVs however, corrosion can leave you stranded (rusty terminal) or even lead to a fire hazard (rust can cause water ingress into electrical parts). This needs to be inspected periodically and can be costly even just for a check-up (lots of parts need to be removed and then put back on). Let's not forget this also requires specialist labour.

[sleepwalkerbg]

As an electronic pro and EV lover i sadly admit that end of this video really explains it all. WE ARE I.C.E driven and since that technology matured so much, it is really usable and reliable. EV era is in front of us and battery technology needs to improve much further to be usable for offroad/high range / power demands. Patience, everything has its own pace .
Wonderful and in-detail approach , thank you D4A .
(i veliki pozdrav za Sarajevo iz BG, ovo mi je jedan od omiljenih kanala 😎)

[awesomeminecrafter]

Another thing is that liquid fuel engines have a much longer range than EV. EV batteries drain really fast when you run the heat in one, whereas ICEs are just bleeding essentially a waste product of ICE engines. Going outside the engines of these vehicles, EVs are not better for the environment in many places because fossil fuels are used to create power for the electric cars. Even in places where "environmentally friendly" power is generated (i.e. wind, and solar power) the energy infrastructure is hardly adequate as it is, adding a ton of EVs on top of that would be detrimental to those places. Mining and refining lithium for EV batteries is very bad for the environment. As for technological advancement, electric motors and batteries have been around longer than internal combustion has, so I don't believe that will come as far as internal combustion engines have. I just don't think EVs will ever be better for the average person than internal combustion, and internal combustion surely will never be phased out entirely.

[Shakshuka]

One thing that will keep ICE around as long as people can drive themselves: motorcycles. Nobody wants a silent, heavy, jerky, expensive motorcycle when a petrol one is already very efficient and economical.

[DrumToTheBassWoop]

13:41 universal sound of being late for work, I love it, so true. 😂

[Bruno-yinb]

Will you talk about IPMsynRM in the future?

[El_Chompo]

I'm super exited to see the future of electric hot rods. Massive copper busses, advanced frequency drives, so much potential for awesomeness. I love ICE stuff too but like you said after over 100 years we have the hot rod formula pretty refined, whereas electric is wide open for development and ideas. Maximum output will probably be highly dependent on cooling too

[rogersgonc]

I really enjoy your manners and open minded thinking. Sometimes I read some comments put in your videos and I think people just forget that this is a very big Planet with so many differences, and most this people simply ignore different taxation, or street conditions that vary a lot all across the globe, and so many other things... But keep it on with your great videos! The great majority here is amused with the passion and knowledge you bring on them. Love your videos and those frame by frame sequences of your engine remembered me the beginning of this nice journey. Keep it up!
Regards from Brazil

[seanroland]

You have quickly become my favorite YouTuber. Absolutely amazing amount of knowledge and great production!

[BrianVillegas]

I'm in the same pigeon hole as you, my friend. Still a petrol head, and I have a Tesla, and I'm converting a '53 Hudson Hornet to EV power... Keep up the great work! Keep the faith!