Abstract
Electric vehicles (EV), including Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle
(HEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), are becoming
more commonplace in the transportation sector in recent times. As the present trend suggests, this
mode of transport is likely to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the near future.
Each of the main EV components has a number of technologies that are currently in use or can
become prominent in the future. EVs can cause significant impacts on the environment, power
system, and other related sectors. The present power system could face huge instabilities with
enough EV penetration, but with proper management and coordination, EVs can be turned into a
major contributor to the successful implementation of the smart grid concept. There are possibilities
of immense environmental benefits as well, as the EVs can extensively reduce the greenhouse gas
emissions produced by the transportation sector. However, there are some major obstacles for EVs
to overcome before totally replacing ICE vehicles. This paper is focused on reviewing all the useful
data available on EV configurations, battery energy sources, electrical machines, charging
techniques, optimization techniques, impacts, trends, and possible directions of future
developments. Its objective is to provide an overall picture of the current EV technology and ways
of future development to assist in future researches in this sector.