Lecture 4: Overview of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Classifications
1. Introduction: The Diversity within Electric Vehicles
• The term EV doesn’t refer to a single design.
• EVs differ by:
o Application type (personal, commercial, industrial)
o Architecture (motor type, battery size, layout)
o Speed and charging mechanism
o Range and purpose (short trips, long haul)
• Classifying EVs helps engineers, policymakers, and end-users make informed
decisions.
Image collage of different EV types – e-bike, e-rickshaw, EV car, e-bus.
2. What is an Electric Vehicle (EV)?
• An EV uses an electric motor powered by electrical energy from an onboard
energy storage system (battery or fuel cell).
• It eliminates or minimizes the use of fossil fuel-based engines for propulsion.
• Core Characteristics:
o High efficiency drive system
o Low or zero tailpipe emissions
o Powered by battery, fuel cell, or external electricity
o Uses motor controllers and power electronics
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Simple block diagram: Battery → Inverter → Motor → Wheels.
3. Broad Classification Dimensions of EVs (Overview Only)
Electric Vehicles can be broadly categorized by:
Criteria Examples
Energy Source Battery, fuel cell, solar (next lecture)
Application Segment 2W, 3W, 4W, buses, utility vehicles
Charging Interface Plug-in, battery swapping, wireless
Performance (Speed/Power) Low-speed, high-speed EVs
Government Recognition FAME-II classified categories
Power Train BEV, HEV, PHEV, FCEV
4. Classification by Application Type
a. Electric Two-Wheelers (2W)
• Most popular EV category in India.
• Used for:
o Personal mobility
o Food/goods delivery
• Examples: Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X
• Typical Range: 80–120 km
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Ola S1 Pro Ather 450X
b. Electric Three-Wheelers (3W)
• Common in Tier-II & Tier-III cities for:
o Passenger transport (e-rickshaw)
o Cargo delivery (logistics)
• Examples: Mahindra Treo, Piaggio Ape E-Xtra
• Battery swapping being adopted for 3W fleets.
Ather 450X
Mahindra Treo
c. Electric Four-Wheelers (4W)
• Used for personal and shared taxi services.
• Range: 200–400+ km depending on model.
• Examples: Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV
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Tata Nexon EV MG ZS EV
d. Electric Buses
• Integrated in smart city and metro feeder transport.
• Operate on:
o Overnight depot charging
o Intermediate fast charging
• Examples: Olectra, JBM, Ashok Leyland EVs
MG ZS EV
Olectra
e. Special-Purpose EVs
• Niche categories such as:
o Golf carts
o Airport trolleys
o Warehouse forklifts
• Low-speed, high-duty cycles
5. Classification Based on Charging Method
a. Plug-in Charging
• AC or DC supply from grid to battery via onboard charger.
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• Most common in all 2W, 4W, buses.
• Requires: Charging station, plug, and compatible connector.
b. Battery Swapping
• Discharged battery is exchanged for a charged one at a kiosk.
• Advantages:
o Instant turnaround time
o Minimizes vehicle downtime
• Challenges:
o Standardization
o Battery ownership and security
c. Wireless Charging (Inductive)
• Still in early adoption or pilot stage.
• Power transfer via magnetic coils.
• Applicable in:
o Parking spots
o Dynamic roadways (R&D trials in Korea, Sweden)
Plug-in charging port
Battery swapping station
Inductive pad under EV
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Diagram showing plug-in charging port, battery swapping station, and inductive pad under
EV.
6. Classification Based on Speed and Utility
a. Low-Speed EVs (LSEVs)
• Max speed: ≤ 45 km/h
• Used in:
o Campus transportation
o Gated communities
o Last-mile urban mobility
• Often exempt from license/registration
b. High-Speed EVs (HSEVs)
• Speed: ≥ 70 km/h
• Fully compliant with safety and traffic regulations
• Equipped with:
o Regenerative braking
o High-voltage battery packs
Golf cart
Tata Nexon EV
Image of a golf cart and Tata Nexon EV to depict speed contrast.
7. Classification Under FAME-II Scheme (India)
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME)
Department of Heavy Industry (DHI)
The Indian government (via DHI) classifies EVs for subsidy under FAME-II as:
Segment Criteria
2-Wheelers ≥ 45 km/h, ≥ 80 km range, 50% localization
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Segment Criteria
3-Wheelers Passenger/cargo type, energy consumption < 0.5 kWh/km
4-Wheelers Fleet use only, ≥ 100 km range
Buses Length: 9–12 m, opportunity or depot charging
• Incentive: ₹10,000–20,000 per kWh depending on vehicle type.
• Encourages domestic manufacturing and public transport electrification.
FAME-II compliance infographic (From DHI website dashboard).
8. Summary and Takeaways
1. Electric Vehicles (EVs) refer to all forms of vehicles propelled by electric motors
using onboard stored energy (mostly batteries).
2. EVs are not monolithic – they can be classified based on application type, charging
method, speed/utility, and policy recognition.
3. Classification by application domain includes:
• 2W (personal)
• 3W (shared/local mobility)
• 4W (fleet/private)
• Buses (urban transit)
• Special EVs (golf carts, forklifts, etc.)
4. Classification by charging mechanism includes:
• Plug-in (most common)
• Battery swapping (growing in 3W fleets)
• Wireless charging (in pilot phase)
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5. EVs are also grouped as Low-Speed EVs (LSEVs) and High-Speed EVs (HSEVs)
based on top speed, regulation, and usage domain.
6. FAME-II Policy Framework in India supports EV adoption via performance and use-
case-based classifications (speed, range, localization).
7. This lecture provided foundational understanding of EV types from a functional and
regulatory perspective.
8. Powertrain-specific categories like BEV, HEV, PHEV, and FCEV will be covered in
Lecture 5 in detail, including working principles and architecture differences.
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