Plug in Vehicles-A technology for the future

A plug-in vehicle (PEV) is a motor vehicle that can be recharged from an external electricity source. PEV is a set of all electric vehicles like Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs). Plug-in cars have several benefits compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles with regard to the environment and safety issues. They have lower operating and maintenance costs, and produce little air pollution. Thus, such vehicles are becoming more popular. However, they also have some drawbacks such as the impact of charging these cars on the electrical utilities. The main objective of this paper is to highlight these advantages, the research done in this field. Experiments have been conducted on several smart grids to analyze the impact on the energy distribution, network energy losses, cost etc. This paper reviews the economics, the disadvantages of PEVs, methods to counter them, recent government incentives, the current market trends and impact of PEVs in the future markets.