Take a Glance at E-Cigarettes Evolution and Types

The invention of e-cigarettes has pushed the boundaries of the tobacco industry in the past decades, or we could say that, without the emergence of e-cigarettes, the tobacco industry would be quite different from what it looks like today.

E-cigarettes, known by many names, like e-cigs, vapes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), have taken the world by storm ever since they hit the market by opening up a new way of nicotine intake.

Although e-cigarettes come in various forms and brands, these innovations generally operate by heating a liquid solution(e-liquid) with an electronic device to generate a vapor for users to inhale.

Today, let’s discuss something about the evolution and types of e-cigarettes.

The evolution of e-cigarettes

E-cigarettes were first created to help quit smoking by a Chinese pharmacist called Hon Lik in 2003.

Hon, whose father was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer, invented e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes with the hope of helping with smoking cessation.

Hon’s first e-cigarettes entered the US and European markets in 2007. This modern innovation soon became a phenomenon and changed the tobacco industry.

Nowadays, e-cigs are prevalent recreational items and remain at epidemic levels.Due to its growing popularity, there are hundreds of e-cigarette brands coming onto the market.

To meet wider needs, industry players for years have been expanding their abilities to explore new possibilities, making e-cigarette devices evolve many times, resulting in a wide variety of innovations available to choose from.

While e-cigarettes vary in shapes, sizes, designs and performances and more, they can generally be classified into four categories, namely cigalikes, vape pens, vape mods and pod vapes.

All of them basically consist of a container to place e-liquids, a heating element to heat liquids to produce a vapor, a mouthpiece and a rechargeable battery, though many products boast extensive features to offer more sophisticated vaping experiences.

Cigalikes

Cigalikes, also called vape sticks, are the first generation of e-cigarettes. They tend to replicate the look and feel of traditional tobacco cigarettes, making it easy for smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, though some may look like a cigar or pipes.

There are two types of cigalikes, which are disposable one-pieces cigalikes and rechargeable cigalikes. The disposable one-pieces don’t feature a cartridge, tank or pod and are not rechargeable or refillable. They are thrown away after being consumed.

Rechargeable cigarlike devices consist of a rechargeable battery, a USB cable and a cartomizer. Compared with disposable one-pieces, they generate larger volume vapor, while both of them are considered as entry-level to vaping.

Having been developed with vaping newcomers in mind, cigalikes come with small, neat and convenient-to-use designs. It is easy for users to assemble, and to start a cigalike, one simply inhales to activate the vapor.

Cigalikes offer similar sensation and satisfaction to tobacco cigarettes whilst producing less hazards associated with tobacco cigarettes.

As they are mini in size, they don’t deliver a larger volume of vapor and full flavor compared with later innovations, but anyway, they are cost-effective.

Vape pens

A vape pen, as its name suggests, is a compact and pen-shaped vaping device. Also known as ego vape pens and tank systems, a vape pen device includes a refillable tank to place an e-liquid, along with a mouthpiece.

Vape pens are designed to be used multiple times. Users need to refill the tank with e-liquid when it gets low or runs out. This kind of refillable tank offers vapers the versatility to use various types of e-liquid.

Besides, vape pen devices feature a long, cylindrical battery that is more long-lasting than that of cigalikes, as well as replaceable coils, which need to be changed every 1-2 weeks.

To start a vape pen device, one usually needs to press a fire button to activate it, which is also beginner- friendly.

Some vape pens may boast more function settings, such as adjustable power settings and airflow rings to offer more enjoyable vaping experiences.

Vape mods

Vape mods are referred to as modified and modular vaping kits and are also known as box vapes or box mods since their mods shape like rectangular box.

Mods are modifiable devices offering users an opportunity to assemble a variety of components, such as atomizers and batteries, which may appeal to experienced vapers.

This kind of mod device works the same way as vape pens, which means users should change the coils regularly and refill the tank with e-liquid when the amount is limited.

The tank can be interchangeable so that users can replace it with a new one in a different look and design or swift between different brands.

What makes mods differ from vape pens are their shape and look, as well as their more complicated technological elements. For instance, mods contain a tank sticking out the top of the mod and have a battery with larger capacities.

Vape mods also have more customizable settings, like variable power output, enabling users to adjust the amount of power going to the coil. Besides, many vape mods feature temperature control, allowing users to adjust the temperature to heat the e-liquid.

In all, vape mods offer users with a more tailor-made, sophisticated vaping experience compared with other vaping devices.

Pop vapes

Pop vapes, also called pod mods, pod starter kit, pod vape pens or pod system vapes, are the latest innovations to the e-cigarette family. Pop vapes usually come in flat and sleek pen shapes, though they can also vary in shape and size.

A pop vape kit contains such components as a rechargeable battery and a pod or cartridge. The pod consists of a coil, a mouthpiece and a tank that houses e-liquid.

There are two types of pop vapes, which are open vape pod vaporizer systems and closed vape pod vaporizer systems. The open vape pod vaporizer system contains a refillable tank and replaceable coils, which are designed to be used multiple times.

In contrast, the closed system contains pre-filled e-liquid and should be disposed of after the e-liquid runs out. It is more convenient compared with an open vape pod vaporizer and ideal for those who don’t want to refill the pod vaporizer or replace atomizer coils.

When vaping a pop vape device, users need to charge up the battery and pop a pop onto the device, and then simply inhale straightforwardly on the mouthpiece to vape.

With the advances in vaporizer technology, there are a wide range of cutting-edge pop vapes on the market, among which some popular pod mod brands include JUUL , Suorin and more.

E-cigarettes vs heat-not-burn tobacco

E-cigarettes can sometimes be confused with another hot alternative to tobacco cigarettes, which is heat not burn tobacco(HNB). Heat not burn tobacco, also called heated tobacco products(HTPs) or tobacco heating products (THPs), have swept the market in recent years.

Like e-cigarettes, heat not burn tobacco products involved in an electronic device, which is a heating control system to heat tobacco to release an aerosol for users to inhale. However, when it comes to raw materials, they are different from each other.

E-cigarettes heat liquid solution, which contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, as well as flavorings such as fruit, bubble gum, and candy, and more. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is usually a botanical extract made from tobacco plants, though some may be tobacco-free nicotine.

In contrast, heated tobacco products are formulated with compressed tobacco leaves and flavorings, which means the nicotine is delivered directly through tobacco leaves.

As both e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products don’t burn tobacco and don’t produce tobacco smoke and its residues, like ash, tar and carbon monoxide, which are major causes of tobacco-related diseases, they are promoted as less harmful alternatives to tobacco cigarettes.

Heated tobacco products have gained public attention since 2007, when PMI introduced its IQOS heated tobacco to the Japanese market.

Moreover, some industry players take the lead in developing new alternatives to heated tobacco products.

For example, Neafs, a Europe-based company, boasts a variety of tea-based heated alternatives, which are suitable for those who are seeking for something new and refreshing.

Neafs offers nicotine and nicotine-free choices, and the nicotine-containing products allow users to enjoy the nicotine hit without tobacco.

The flavors are rich and available in menthol, coffee, blueberry, strawberry, and mojito to suit every kind of user.

In summary

Again, it is important to note that tobacco alternatives, whether it is e-cigarettes or heated tobacco, or other innovations, are designed for adult smokers who prefer tobacco substitutes with less toxicants associated with tobacco cigarettes.

These alternatives are not risk-free since nicotine is highly addictive and can have side effects on teens, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and vulnerable people such as people with heart disease and the like.

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