What Are the Special Features of Commercial Electric Lighting?
Demonstrating a commitment to reduce your organizations carbon footprint from commute and fleet vehicles can boost employee engagement, enhance retention, and lower cost of operations. P2 Electrical Contracting can help you achieve these goals.
The future of transportation is gradually becoming electrified. This article will serve as a beginner’s guide to understanding commercial electric vehicles and their benefits.
Electrical Motors
Electric motors are a vital component of many appliances and machinery. They can power almost anything from a semi truck to an electric toothbrush. Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical power by using the force generated by a magnetic field and an electric current. They are used in many different applications because of their ability to produce a large amount of torque at low speeds.
Electric motor systems are designed to convert a high percentage of electrical energy into mechanical power, minimizing energy waste and reducing operating costs. They can also deliver consistent power output at low speed, making them ideal for use in industrial applications. They are often found in machines such as pumps and compressors.
There are many types of electric motors, and they are classified based on considerations like power source type, internal construction, application and type of motion output. They can be brushed or brushless, single-phase or three-phase, and may have axial or radial flux. They can also be air-cooled or liquid-cooled. They can also be rated by frame size and horsepower.
Electrical motors generate a strong magnetic field by whirling a large number of copper coil turns on a soft iron core. When the electric current passes through these coils, it creates a rotating magnetic field that can turn a shaft or drive a fan or propeller. Unlike permanent magnets, electromagnets do not lose their strength until the current is turned off.
In addition to their high efficiency and low operational cost, electric motors are highly flexible and have a wide range of application. They are especially useful in applications that require a large amount of torque, such as conveyors and large compressors.
Another special feature of electric motors is their ability to provide precise control and high starting torque. They can also run quietly and produce minimal vibration, which is a great benefit in a working environment.
Another important feature of an electric motor is its overload protection. Overload problems are responsible for up to one-third of all motor failures. An overload problem can lead to insufficient torque or even damage the engine windings. The overload protection system will disconnect the engine from the voltage source if the voltage drops below its rated value. It will reconnect the engine when the voltage balances back to normal.
Batteries
Battery technology is one of the most critical components of commercial electric vehicles. It has the potential to significantly impact how far people can drive an electric vehicle and the overall market size of the electrified transportation industry.
Batteries come in many shapes and sizes, from the miniature cells that power hearing aids and wristwatches to huge battery banks the size of rooms providing standby power for telephone exchanges and data centers. The batteries used in electrical cars use lithium-ion technology and have some of the highest energy density of any rechargeable battery.
A battery consists of some number of voltaic cells that operate in parallel. Each cell has two half-cells separated by a conductive electrolyte with metal cations and anodes. The positive electrode (cathode) reduces metal atoms, while the negative electrode (anode) oxidizes them. Ions migrate between the half-cells through the electrolyte, completing the circuit that produces electricity.
Li-ion batteries are widely used in portable electronics and electrical transport, due to their high energy densities and long lifespans. They are also among the safest battery technologies, having no flame or explosion hazards when handled properly.
A battery's cycle life refers to the number of cycles a battery can be charged and discharged before its capacity diminishes significantly. The higher the cycle life, the better the battery quality. Lithium-ion batteries have a very high cycle life and are the leading rechargeable battery technology for electric vehicles.
The voltage a battery produces when it is fully charged is the nominal battery voltage. The voltage may be lower, depending on temperature and state of charge. The voltage produced by a battery is also affected by the depth of discharge. Batteries with a shallower discharge are more likely to develop large crystals on the electrode plates, which decreases performance and shortens the life of the battery.
Deep-discharge batteries have special electrodes that can be discharged a greater percentage than normal to extend their lifespan and improve performance. These types of batteries are often used in cordless tools, medical equipment, and other devices that require frequent use of a battery.
Chargers
Commercial electric vehicles are a huge trend and the demand for charging stations is increasing rapidly. These vehicles come in two forms: electric light-duty trucks (eLCV) and electric heavy-duty trucks (eHDV). The former is the kind of van or pickup truck you’ve probably seen cruising around town and the latter is the large, humming vehicle you see on highways transferring goods to warehouses and distribution centers.
With this rapid growth, it’s important for businesses to think about EV charging station scalability from the beginning. As the technology continues to evolve, a fast-charging option today may become obsolete in just a few years.
Currently, there are several different types of EV chargers available and they vary in speed. Level 1 equipment offers charging through a standard 120-volt residential outlet and can take 40-50 hours to charge a BEV or 5-6 for a PHEV. Level 2 equipment provides higher-rate AC charging through a 240V or 208V electrical service and can charge a BEV to 80 percent in 4-10 hours or a PHEV in 1-2 hours.
Many EV charger production companies offer their own software to connect vehicles, chargers & charging sessions. It’s a smart move that can make the process easier for fleet managers to integrate EV charging into their existing business operations. Our own PANION Charging tool does this – it simplifies complexity in energy management, charging stations and fleet EVs with a single API.
While EV drivers can charge their vehicles on the go, depot-based charging is a more cost-effective and convenient solution for businesses. By installing infrastructure at their own facility sites, firms can ensure that their entire fleet can charge overnight and be ready to go for the next day’s work.
Moreover, the infrastructure can help to save on fuel costs and reduce overall operational expenses. As a result, it’s no wonder that more and more firms are opting for this type of depot-based charging. In addition to the financial benefits, it also helps them to be more environmentally friendly and reduce their carbon footprint. For this reason, more and more cities are offering incentives to encourage businesses to invest in EV charging infrastructure.
Lighting
Unlike residential lighting, commercial electric lighting comes in many different styles, outputs, and designs. While some might choose lights based on their style, the majority of commercial lighting is chosen for its functionality and running cost efficiency.
Lighting in large spaces like warehouses and production floors can be quite intense, so choosing LED lighting is typically the best choice for energy efficiency. Additionally, LED lighting often has a much lower initial cost than older halogen-style light strips, making it the more affordable choice for facilities looking to cut down on energy costs.
In smaller workspaces, such as offices or gyms and rec centers, lighting is a vital component in creating an aesthetically pleasing environment while also increasing employee productivity. In fact, lighting makes up the largest proportion of electricity usage in the smallest category of buildings, accounting for 17% of total site electricity use.
For rooms that may be accessed only on an infrequent basis, such as utility rooms, the lighting needs to be cost effective and easy to install. Shop utility lights are the most popular style of fixture used for these types of rooms due to their low initial cost and minimal energy consumption. In rooms where moisture is a concern, such as walk-in coolers and refrigeration units, vapor tight fixtures are the preferred choice to ensure the integrity of the electrical system.
Demonstrating a commitment to reduce your organizations carbon footprint from commute and fleet vehicles can boost employee engagement, enhance retention, and lower cost of operations. P2 Electrical Contracting can help you achieve these goals. The future of transportation is gradually becoming electrified. This article will serve as a beginner’s guide to understanding commercial electric vehicles…