LEC Team, Author at Learn Electric Cars

Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y Range, Specs, Features Comparison

How Does Polestar 4 Compare Against Tesla Model Y?

Polestar 4 was unveiled recently and it promises to challenge the unprecedented dominance of Tesla Model Y in various markets across the world. After the unveiling of the latest EV by the Chinese-owned Swedish car marque, a Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y comparison is warranted. Polestar 4 was unveiled at the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show and looks promising. On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y features among the highest-selling electric coupe SUVs in the world. Based on the popular Model 3, Model Y offers a stylish coupe-SUV silhouette with a perfect blend of affordability, performance and practicality by being a 7-seater. Let us see how well the new Swedish EV measures up against the American giant. You might also like: Hyundai IONIQ 6 vs Kia EV6 – Specs, Price Comparison Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Specs Comparison Before we commence, we must mention that Tesla doesn’t disclose all the specs of its EVs and hence, we have taken some data from credible digital automobile media houses. In the most aggressive Performance guise, Model Y has an 80.5 kWh Li-ion battery powering two electric motors for an AWD system producing 450 hp and 639 Nm of peak power and torque. The acceleration from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) takes 3.5 secs and the top speed is limited to 155 mph. It has an EPA-estimated range of 330 miles (531 km) in the Long Range trim and 303 miles (488 km) in the Performance trim. On the other hand, the Polestar 4 is underpinned by the premium Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) developed by Geely Holding (parent company of Volvo and Polestar). In its most aggressive avatar, the Polestar 4 will have a 102 kWh battery powering two electric motors for an AWD system capable of generating a mammoth 544 hp and 686 Nm of peak power and torque. This powertrain will propel the electric coupe SUV from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 3.8 secs. The Long Range version will have a WLTP range of 348 miles (560 km). The Long Range single motor version will have a range of up to 600 km (WLTP). Specs Comparison Tesla Model Y Polestar 4 Drivetrain RWD/AWD RWD/AWD Battery 80.5 kWh 102 kWh Range 330 mi (531 km) 348 mi (560 km) Power 450 hp 544 hp Torque 639 Nm 686 Nm DC Fast Charging 250 kW 200 kW Acceleration 3.5 secs (0-60 mph) 3.8 secs (0-62 mph) Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Specs You might also like: Top 5 Mini EVs in 2023 – Future of Urban Mobility? Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Dimensions Comparison In terms of dimensions, the Polestar 4 has a clear edge over the Tesla Model Y. Model Y measures 4,750 mm in length, 1,921 mm in width, 1,624 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,890 mm. On the other hand, Polestar 4 has a length of 4,839 mm, a width of 2,139 mm, a height of 1,544 mm and a wheelbase of 2,999 mm. Apart from the height, the latter is quite large in comparison. Dimensions Tesla Model Y Polestar 4 Length 4,750 mm 4,839 mm Width 1,921 mm 2,139 mm Height 1,624 mm 1,544 mm Wheelbase 2,890 mm 2,999 mm Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Dimensions You might also like: Top Solid-State Battery Companies For EVs Features Comparison Talking about the features and modern tech, both these EVs are filled to the brim. Model Y has a large 15-inch horizontal touchscreen Infotainment System powered by an AMD Ryzen processor that controls all the in-car functions and relays information regarding the powertrain as well, Tesla OS with Smartphone Connectivity, Built-in Dashcam, Animal-Free Interior Materials, HEPA Cabin Air Filter, 13-Speaker Premium Audio System, Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof, and a ton of ADAS features to enhance safety. Polestar 4 also offers impressive amenities including Sustainable Materials for the Interior (Mono-material approach) made from 100% Recycled PET and Animal Welfare-secured Nappa Leather, Glass Roof with Electrochromic Functionality, Camera-based IRVM, a 15.4-inch Landscape Touchscreen, built-in Google Assistant and other Google Apps, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Audio System with 1,400-Watt channel-hybrid Amplifier, Apple CarPlay, OTA, SuperVision Advanced Driver Assistance System using 12 Cameras, 1 Radar and 12 Ultrasonic Sensors, 10.2-inch Driver’s Instrument Display, 14.7-inch Head-Up Display, Drive Modes and more. You might also like: Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements Price Comparison Polestar 4 will launch in China in November 2023 with production to be held at the 100% renewable electricity-powered Hangzhou Bay Plant in China with plans of launching in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific in early 2024. The indicative starting prices are around US$60,000 or €60,000 or £55,000. On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y costs US$53,990 for the top Performance trim.

Mercedes-Benz EQG Electric G-Wagon Concept

Mercedes Electric G-Wagon (EQG) to Get Silicon Battery Material

33 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

Mercedes-Benz has invested in the battery materials startup Sila in 2019 which will supply the newly-developed material for the Li-ion battery for the upcoming Mercedes electric G-Wagon (EQG). The upcoming Mercedes electric G-Wagon (EQG) is set to come equipped with a range-boosting silicon battery material engineered by Sila. Mercedes invested in Sila back in 2019 with the aim of getting access to future technology to be used in the electric versions of its popular and next-gen EVs. The time has come to reap the benefits of that investment as the new ‘Titan Silicon’ will replace the graphite anodes to boost range, increase the charging speed, and reduce battery weight without sacrificing the cycle life or safety of the battery. You might also like: Are Stricter Emission Norms Right to Push Mass EV Adoption? Mercedes Electric G-Wagon (EQG) The electric G-Wagon has been spied testing in Europe as the plans to launch the iconic SUV are near. Reports suggest that we might see the eco-friendly G-Wagon sometime by the end of 2024 with deliveries set to commence in the first quarter of 2025. The silhouette of the concept and spied versions reveal the oh-so-traditional and orthodox boxy pattern with an imposing and rugged build. Sure, there will be tons of modern EV design cues including a sealed front grille, aerodynamic alloys, plenty use of LED lighting and more. You might also like: Here’s How Ferrari May Still Sell ICE Cars Post EU Ban of 2035 Titan Silicon However, the biggest talking point with the electric G-Wagon has to be what lies under the floor. By using Titan Silicon instead of Graphite for the anode of the Li-ion battery, the G-Wagon will boast a charging time of 20 mins for 10-80% which will go further down by the time the manufacturing of the EQG commences. Additionally, the weight of the EV battery will come down by 15% while saving 20% more space. Sila has developed this technology for 10 years with 55,000 iterations taking into consideration optimal battery performance, safety, large-scale manufacturing, long range and improved charging times. Most importantly, EV-haters would be glad to know that Titan Silicon generates 50% to 75% less CO2 per kWh than graphite during production significantly reducing the EVs’ environmental impact. Sila aims to produce enough material to power 1 million EVs in the next 5 years starting with the EQG. Titan Silicon-powered batteries’ 800+ Wh/L will be the world’s highest energy density cell which will be on offer in 2025 in the electric G-Wagon. You might also like: 5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG said about the startup, “Sila has come a long way since we established our strategic partnership in 2019. Delivering such a high energy density is a true game-changer and allows us to think in completely new directions when developing future electric cars.” All this makes us hugely excited about the Mercedes EQG.

Wireless Charging For EVs Could Be Revolutionary Technology

26 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Revolutionary ideas and technologies like wireless charging for EVs are being discussed and developed on a daily basis making this a great time to be an automobile aficionado. Wireless charging for EVs is slated to become the next step in the ongoing electrification revolution. Electric mobility is barely past its nascent stage and we are witnessing quite innovative and practical solutions for some of the most challenging aspects of EV adoption. While there are tons of prominent and well-documented issues with EVs, perhaps a not-so-popular aspect is the problem with handling and maintaining the charging cables. Just like in smartphones, wireless charging could address that point. You might also like: 5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium You might also like: Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements Wireless Charging for EVs There has been a significant amount of work done in this space. However, not many players have emerged that are doing this on large scale. But every technology with EVs is new and in the testing phase. Wireless charging is no different. There are companies like InductEV that have rolled out some work in this space and are already operational. They are targeting the commercial vehicle space for some specific reasons. InductEV has developed this technology wherein they will install charging pads in the floor of a parking lot or any other public place. There could be 1 to 6 charging pads. Depending on the kind of EV, the charging speed will vary. The charging equipment will be installed underneath the body of an EV. In fact, there are already 2 EVs in China and 1 in Korea that have been launched with this technology. Other mainstream OEMs are working toward integrating this in their upcoming cars. Note that these will be limited to premium EVs in the beginning. You might also like: Are Stricter Emission Norms Right to Push Mass EV Adoption? Advantages There are tons of advantages of using wireless charging for EVs. This includes the prevention of a scenario where the EV owner has to deal with wear and tear of the charging cable, no need to install poles and chargers at the stations, the charging pads are integrated into the floor on which the EV could simply park and commerce charging within seconds of arrival, commercial vehicles likes trucks could get charged while loading and unloading without the fear of the workers getting tripped over or stepping on the cables, etc. Wireless Charging for EVs – Efficiency The key point to discuss with this technology is efficiency. As per a report by McKinsey while talking to the Chief Commercial Officer at InductEV, Bob Kacergis, it was established that a wireless charging system is 1-2% more efficient than a DC fast charger at the same power level. This is due to the fact that the highly coupled inductors don’t radiate into free space while operating in a near-field system. Furthermore, the charging rate is similar to the regular chargers. You might also like: Toyota CEO Koji Sato’s Shocking Statement on EVs Makes Sense Cost Contrary to popular belief, the ownership cost of wireless charging would be significantly lower compared to traditional cables. In fact, it would be comparable to installing a Level 2 charger. Long terms cost-saving benefits are there including eliminating the need to maintain the health of cables. However, the cost benefits for private passenger EV owners still needs to be much lower which will take some time. Challenges Needless to mention, this new technology, as is the case with every new technology, has its own set of challenges. This includes the cost for private EV owners, at least in the beginning. Until the production is on large scale, it would be nigh impossible to install this tech on mass-market EVs. Then there is the issue of many automakers still not believing that wireless charging systems will be able to achieve high power and are only suitable for home garages and not public places. In any case, people at InductEV are positive that they will be able to launch their first OEM product as early as 2026. Until then, they are retrofitting their components in commercial vehicles like taxis or at homes. The potential of this technology in conjunction with automated parking is infinite.

Stricter Emission Norms For Mass EV Adoption

Are Stricter Emission Norms Right to Push Mass EV Adoption?

30 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Governments, in many parts of the globe, are planning to suggest stricter emission norms in a bid to push mass EV adoption. We are witnessing a historic transition to electric mobility as the sales surge with every passing year. Needless to mention, it is the case exclusively in some of the top countries in the world with regard to the market size of the automobile industry while most nations are still struggling to get to terms with this metamorphosis. You might also like: Here’s How Ferrari May Still Sell ICE Cars Post EU Ban of 2035 You might also like: 5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium Stricter Emission Norms to Push EV Adoption? As per recent online reports, the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) in the USA is proposing stringent emission norms for the existing and upcoming ICE-powered vehicles so that the carmakers have no other option but to embrace electrification rapidly. Emission regulations across the world already get more demanding with each passing year. As a result, it becomes expensive to keep developing the existing diesel and petrol powertrains to abide by the requirements. We have seen diesel fizzle out just in the last couple of years due to this very reason from many global markets. The cost to upgrade diesel engines to meet the latest vehicular pollution limits was simply too high to make business sense. Hence, the companies started ditching the diesel powertrain altogether. But if governments across the world start imposing high demands from the existing IC engines, it will become difficult to keep upgrading the petrol engines so frequently too. Essentially, the government is forcing the hand of the car marques to voluntarily and swiftly adopt EVs. You might also like: Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements Challenges with this While such measures have a positive aspect wherein the car marques will need to invest heavily in the development of EVs and charging infrastructure, we are not sure how the auto companies will react. The prices of EVs still continue to be high putting them out of the reach of a vast majority of the populace, the charging infrastructure is far from abundant in most parts of the world, range anxiety is still prevalent, a few fires have caused people to be a bit apprehensive about the safety, the use of rare earth elements and metals like cobalt poses serious environmental and human rights challenges, lack of battery recycling opportunities, increased use of semiconductors in EVs are some of the key challenges still associated with electric cars. Therefore, while the intention might be correct, governments across the world must first ensure that the general public is in a position to buy EVs on a large scale and the infrastructure is there to eliminate the issue of range anxiety. Most countries are on board with ambitious carbon-neutrality plans in the next couple of decades but there is still a lot of groundwork to be done to make it a reality.

Toyota CEO Koji Sato’s Shocking Statement on EVs Makes Sense

29 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Toyota recently underwent shuffling at the top level with Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the founder of the company appointing a new CEO and making a shocking statement regarding the future of EVs. Toyoda assumes the position of the Chairman at the largest carmaker on earth and the new CEO would be Koji Sato, who was the head of Toyota’s Lexus division since 2020. While the management might have undergone reshuffling, the company’s stance on EVs has not. You might also like: Here’s How Ferrari May Still Sell ICE Cars Post EU Ban of 2035 Former Toyota CEO on EVs Akio Toyoda made a rather unusual statement regarding the future of EVs recently in contrast to where the overall industry seems to be heading. He believes that the future of mobility will not be exclusively electric (BEV to be precise). In order words, BEVs are not the only solution to achieving the ambitious carbon-neutrality plans that most car marques have announced. Furthermore, mass adoption would take longer than what the media leads us to believe. That same ideology has been passed on to the new CEO, Koji Sato too. The company is of the opinion that while BEVs would be a prominent way to achieve eco-friendly mobility solutions, they would take longer than we are expecting. Also, it depends on various markets across the world due to the sheer lack of infrastructure which is likely to be a concern for a long time still. You might also like: Stella Vita Electric Camper Van – Self-Sustaining Mobile House Instead, in fact, future automobiles would be powered by many powertrains including BEVs, hybrids, hydrogen or e-fuels. Toyota has been betting big on hydrogen-powered vehicles for a long time now. Its Mirai is sold in the US for a few years. However, the sales have not been impressive at all. The reasons are quite simple. While it may just take a couple of mins to refuel and the range is decent too, the infrastructure around hydrogen stations is not that great. On top of that, developing it from the scratch needs massive investments too. Similarly, the initial prices of EVs and the lack of infrastructure in most parts of the world is what is concerning Toyota, preventing them to take the plunge full on. But it’s not like Toyota is completely estranged from EVs. On the contrary, it announced plans to roll out as many as 30 new BEV models globally by 2030 in passenger and commercial segments. This includes products from Lexus too. Most of these will be based on Toyota’s e-TNGA (Electric – Toyota New Global Architecture) platform. It is a modular architecture that could underpin vehicles of various sizes and drivetrain configurations (FWD, RWD & AWD). You might also like: Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements You might also like: 5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium Going Forward Assessing the official statements from the outgoing and the new CEO of Toyota, it is clear that the largest carmaker in the world is on its way to a zero-emission target but the methods it aims to adopt are diversified as opposed to streamlined. Toyota believes that there will be many alternatives to ICE-powered cars depending on various international markets. Ultimately, customers will have the option to choose what is best for them. Therefore, Toyota will keep working on all of the aforementioned technologies to power its future automobiles.

Here’s How Ferrari May Still Sell ICE Cars Post EU Ban of 2035

23 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

EU was amidst passing the law that would ban the sales of new fossil-fuel-powered combustion engine vehicles after 2035 in a bid to achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. However, Germany and Italy have raised objections to this law by urging the EU to exempt e-fuels from this ban. This includes e-fuels like e-hydrogen, e-methane, e-methanol or e-diesel. If that were to happen, we will still be able to experience the throaty growl from the legendary Ferrari engines post-2035. You may also like: 5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium Carbon Neutral E-Fuels E-fuels are developed using carbon (airborne or from biomass) and synthesizing it with green hydrogen (produced from renewable sources). These could be e-hydrogen, e-methane or e-diesel. The aim of these fuels is to make the entire combustion process carbon neutral by emitting as much (ideally less) CO2 as used in the production of the fuel at the beginning. Therefore, at least in theory, a carbon-neutral vehicle is obtained without going electric or significantly changing the engines. You may also like: Stella Vita Electric Camper Van – Self-Sustaining Mobile House Which Carmakers are in Favour? Porsche has already invested heavily in this technology which is being developed by a wind-powered plant in Chile. It has used this fuel in one of its petrol-powered 911 sports cars to demonstrate the application. This company is backed by Porsche and produced 550 million litres per year already since 2021. Another company is Norsk e-Fuel from Norway which is set to commence production in 2024. Lamborghini has also supported the use of synthetic fuels as one way to keep the performance and sound of a combustion engine alive, which is a major reason why people opt for Lambos in the first place. Automobile ancillaries like Bosch, ZF and Mahle are already members of the eFuel Alliance, which is an industry lobby group. BMW has invested US$12.5 million in e-fuel startup Prometheus Fuels. Ferrari has already announced that it aims to electrify 80% of its portfolio by 2030 but this technology and amendment in the law could make them explore some new avenues. Talking at the Reuters Newsmaker event, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said, “The good news for us as a company … is that on top of electric cars, we’ll also be able to go on with our internal combustion engines ones.” He adds, “We don’t want to tell clients which car to use. We want to make three kinds of propulsion available for them — hybrid, electric and ICE — and they will choose.” You may also like: Why Electric Cars Catching Fire Must Concern You EU Ban 2035 Initially, all stakeholders had agreed to this ban by the EU on the sale of new fossil-fuel-powered ICE vehicles after 2035. However, the recent objections from major economies like Germany and Italy have raised concerns regarding this ban. But it must be mentioned that the ban may still be valid with an exemption for e-fuels. That is being contemplated upon and might soon be brought in with proper guidelines and policies.

Stella Vita Electric Camper Van – Self-Sustaining Mobile House

32 Comments / EV News / By LEC Team

Stella Vita electric camper van (RV) is a self-sustaining mobile house that is aimed at those who like to live on the road. The trend of RVs in many parts of the world is well-established since decades. But there has been scarce development when it comes to electric RVs even though the EV wave in terms of passenger vehicles is more prevalent than ever. The Stella Vita is a project developed by 22 students from the Eindhoven University of Technology. You might also like: Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements Stella Vita – European Tour This one-of-a-kind electric camper van was able to successfully complete a 3,000 km trip from Eindhoven (the Netherlands) to Tarifa (Spain) (also called the southernmost tip of Europe) primarily using solar energy. The initial days witnessed bad weather which is why the team had to plug it in 2 times. The rest of the journey was completed just using solar power. The fact that the last leg was in Spain (a sunny country) was a positive as well. You might also like: Why Electric Cars Catching Fire Must Concern You Specs and Technology Stella Vita electric camper van has a 60 kWh Li-ion battery pack. Since the focus is just on efficiency, the design takes care of the aerodynamics which is why the RV looks the way it does. As a result, a 600 km of combined range is offered by the electric RV which extended to 730 km on a sunny day. The roof has a retractable surface where additional solar panels are installed making the total area to be 17.5 m2 from 8.8 m2 when the roof is folded. In regular settings, it would take 2-3 days for it to be fully charged when standing still. There is an aluminium chassis and glass fiber shell to maximize range. It has 4 doors and can carry 2 passengers. The top speed is capped at 120 km/h. Stella Vita Electric Camper Van Specs Powertrain Solar Battery 60 kWh Range 600 km Solar Panels (max area) 17.5 m2 Charging 2-3 days Top Speed 120 km/h Specs of Stella Vita You might also like: 2024 Cadillac Lyriq is Brand’s Foray into the Electric Future Stella Vita – Dimensions Being a quintessential RV, it is 7.20 m in length, 2.05 m in width (w/ folded roof panels), 4.40 m in width (w/ open roof panels), 1.83 m in height (w/ folded roof panels) and 2.54 m in height (w/ open roof panels). The electric RV weighs just 1,700 kg and even some standard EVs are heavier than that. That is achieved using lightweight materials for the interior cabin, kitchen, etc. Stella Vita Dimensions Length 7.20 m Width (w/ folded roof panels) 2.05 m Width (w/ open roof panels) 4.40 m Height (w/ folded roof panels) 1.83 m Height (w/ open roof panels) 2.54 Weight 1,700 kg Dimensions You might also like: Canoo Electric Pickup Truck Could Be The EV You Really Need Interior and Features The main attraction of the Stella Vita electric camper van is the spacious inside. In fact, the layout is perfect to make you like you are sitting in the living room of your house. There is a full-size double bed, kitchen, wash basin, seating, TV, shower, toilet, sofa, and anything that you would typically find in a home. The electricity requirements are taken care of by the system itself which keeps charging with the sunlight all the time. It is designed keeping in mind that the owners could choose to live and work from their RV for days on end. The team has successfully completed the 3,000 km tour in it. Now, they are waiting for some big automotive player to take it to the masses with its resources. Therefore, it won’t be unfair to say that we might not see it out on the road anytime soon. Nevertheless, innovative projects like these reflect the kind of future in electric mobility that we are heading toward. We shall keep an eye out for more such interesting developments.

5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium

36 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

New EV battery technologies are being developed vehemently all across the globe. The traditional and upcoming electric carmakers and traditional battery and tech companies are collaborating to develop future batteries as the electrification wave grips the mobility industry. The need for zero tailpipe pollution-emitting vehicles is a priority as the warnings from the scientific community about environmental degradation are unequivocal. As a result, R&D in battery technology has been underway for almost a decade now. Here are the top 5 relatively viable options that might make it into mass-production before the decade-end (some of these are already being tested in production vehicles starting this year (2023)). You might also like: Top Solid-State Battery Companies For EVs You might also like: Does the Future of EVs Rest on Sodium Ion Batteries? 5 New EV Battery Technologies Sodium-Ion Batteries We have already covered the details of the principle, advantages and disadvantages of Sodium-ion batteries previously. Just for recap, this battery type uses Sodium (instead of Lithium) to carry ions from the cathode to the anode and vice versa enabling the charge and discharge process. Sodium is the 6th most abundant element found in the earth’s crust, is non-inflammable, has a wider temperature range of operation, has low production cost, etc. These are the benefits over the existing Li-ion batteries. However, the issue is their low energy density and almost equal charge-discharge cycle counts compared to the Li-ion batteries. Also, mass production has only just commenced by CATL and BYD. You might also like: Are Chargers at DC Fast Charging Stations Bad For EVs? Solid State Batteries The next crucial and interesting EV technology is called a solid-state battery. As the name reflects, the electrolyte solution that is found between the cathode and anode of an electric car battery (or any other Li-ion battery used in other electronic gadgets) is in solid/gel form. In Li-ion batteries, this is in a liquid state which is what causes fire. But with solid-state technology, this electrolyte is in solid or gel form. Hence, the size and weight of the battery are reduced leading to increased range and faster charging times. However, more research is needed to produce these on a large scale. Lithium Sulfur Batteries Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) batteries use sulfur instead of complex, toxic, fast-diminishing and difficult-to-source elements like Cobalt or Nickel in their construction. This makes the batteries slightly lighter increasing their energy density which could be as high as around 500 Wh/kg compared to around 300 Wh/kg for regular Li-ion batteries. These can have around 1,500 charging cycles. However, the issues with these include polysulfide “shuttle” resulting in leakage of cathode material. You might also like: Tesla Battery (4680) vs BYD Blade Battery – Comparison Aluminium Ion Batteries Another interesting and potentially disruptive EV battery technology is the use of Al-ion. In this construction, Aluminium ions are used as charge carriers between the cathode and anode. Aluminium can exchange 3 electrons per ion which makes its energy density around 50 times higher than Li. Having 3 electrons has its advantages and disadvantages. The latter include relatively short shelf life and issues with heat, rate of charge, overall electrical behaviour and energy capacity. Niobium Batteries Finally, there are the exciting Niobium batteries that take 1 minute to recharge due to their layered molecular structure. Cambridge-based Nyobolt is working on this unique technology that uses Niobium anode reducing the charging time drastically. Even under severe temperatures, these batteries are less prone to catching fire. Their temperature gradient is just 8 degrees Celsius compared to around 27 degrees Celsius for regular batteries. While there has been significant development in the first two technologies with BYD and CATL having commenced the production of Sodium-ion batteries in mass-market EVs, the others still are in various stages of development and testing. It would be interesting to see which out of these (if any) dominates the space by the end of this decade. Also, chances are that these might co-exist or new technologies might also crop up.

Next-Gen Tesla PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements

Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements

34 Comments / EV News / By LEC Team

Tesla announced that it will make a Permanent Magnet Synchronous (PMS) Motor for its next-gen EVs (electric motors) without the rare earth elements. Interestingly, Tesla started making EVs using AC Induction Motors which didn’t contain any rare earth elements almost a decade ago. Rare earth elements include Lanthanides along with Yttrium and Scandium. PMSM primarily uses Neodymium. Also, most rare earth elements are found in China. However, after the arrival of Model 3, it introduced a new Permanent Magnet Motor which contained rare earth elements. In fact, between 2017 and 2022, Tesla was able to reduce the rare earth elements usage by 25% in the Model 3 drive units. You might also like: Qualcomm Plans to Dominate the Future of Electric Cars You might also like: Kia EV9 Electric SUV Partially Revealed Via Official Teasers Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) As the name suggests, this kind of motor consists of a permanent magnet which creates rotating magnetic fields in the rotor and stator. Both these components of the electric motor are in sync and there is no slip which is where the name comes from. They have high power density, high efficiency (~95%) and need low cooling. But these tend to be slightly more expensive and use rare earth elements. There is also a theoretical danger of demagnetization. You might also like: Does the Future of EVs Rest on Sodium Ion Batteries? However, Tesla aims to completely eliminate the use of rare earth elements in their next generation of electric motors. It has always been at the forefront of technological advancements in the EV space. In fact, its technological superiority for over a decade is what makes it the biggest EV maker in the world. At the Investor Day ceremony, Tesla compared the parameters of the rear earth elements usage in its existing Model Y permanent magnet motor with this next-gen motor on which they are working. While technical details were not revealed owing to the fear of letting the secret out but we suspect that Neodymium, Dysprosium and Terbium are the three rare earth elements that were being discussed during the presentation. You might also like: Top Solid-State Battery Companies For EVs Substitute for Rare Earth Elements Now, the rare earth elements are not only being used in the permanent magnet motors for EVs but also in various other electronic gadgets including speakers, hard drives, screens of smartphones, computers, new-gen light bulbs, flat panel televisions, etc. But there has been research going on regarding the alternatives to these elements for quite some time now. This includes materials like Ferrites (Iron Oxide with Barium or Strontium additives), AlNiCo (Aluminium-nickel-cobalt alloys) and Samarium Cobalt. Most of these materials and techniques are not in the mass-production phase yet. But there are also concerns about the use of Nickel and Cobalt for various reasons which is an issue in the Li-ion batteries too. So, it will be interesting to see how Tesla is able to deliver on this promise of using a PMS Motor without rare earth elements for EVs.

Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis for Electric Cars

Qualcomm Plans to Dominate the Future of Electric Cars

22 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Qualcomm has always been a part of traditional ICE-powered, as well as modern electric cars. All new cars contain extensive use of electronic components. This includes semiconductor chips, ECUs, relays, etc. Essentially, all the mechanical operations in new cars have been substituted by electronic operations to enhance convenience. At CES 2023, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon Digital Chassis software-defined concept vehicle. It showcases the next generation of mobility and automotive solutions. You might also like: Why Electric Cars Catching Fire Must Concern You Qualcomm Snapdragon for Electric Cars There are 4 main components of the Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis that will cover almost all the areas of modern EVs – Cloud-Connected Platforms for Telematics, Connectivity, Digital Cockpit and Driver Assistance & Autonomy. Auto Connectivity – This includes functions related to overall connectivity in any modern car like 5G, LTE, C-V2X, WiFi, Bluetooth, MF-GNSS, DSDA and more. Cockpit Platform – This is perhaps the most practical one of the lot where the drivers will evidently experience certain changes some of which have already arrived in EVs from a select few car marques. This incorporates things like a configurable 3D Digital Cluster, E-Mirrors, 3D Navigation, Natural Language Processing, Streaming Multimedia, Premium Audio and Intelligent UI. Car-to-Cloud – This is perhaps the most compelling aspect of modern cars where most operations will be accessible via OTA (Over-the-Air) updates pertaining to Device Management, Global Connectivity, Integrated Analysis, Service, Diagnostics and more. Ride Platform – This is aimed at enhancing the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and Autonomous Driving (AD) functions using the low-power, high-performance SoC (System-on-Chips) for Simulation and Continuous Learning. All these functions sum up the entire processes of modern cars and a successful firm like Qualcomm is perfectly positioned to leverage its expertise and experience in this field. You might also like: Top Solid-State Battery Companies For EVs Automotive-IT Collaborations Qualcomm has already partnered with the giants of the automotive industry including GM, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Sony Honda Mobility, Cadillac, Stellantis Group (Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen, Dodge, Maserati and Chrysler) and more. The Digital Chassis envelopes the entire automotive software stack including parking sensors, radar for ADAS, smartphone apps, downloadable upgrades and more. Qualcomm has received support from BMW, Hyundai Motor Group, Nio and Volvo for the new platform. Additionally, LG Electronics has established technical collaboration with Magna which is a major global automotive parts supplier and assembles cars for companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar and Fisker. Magna will develop a proof of concept for automated driver infotainment solutions for differentiated customer experiences. A more recent example of the Automotive-IT collaboration is the Sony Honda Mobility (SHM). In fact, its EV called Afeela was a major point of attraction at the CES 2023. This concept car even featured Fortnite and Spider-Man gameplay imagery on a digital display above its front bumper. The PS5 game ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ appeared on the rear seat displays of Afeela. Afeela will also use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis system for ADAS, Autonomous Driving, Interfaces and Telematics. You might also like: Does the Future of EVs Rest on Sodium Ion Batteries? No Semiconductor Shortage Issue Finally, no one is unfamiliar with the severe semiconductor shortage issue that has been plaguing the global automotive industry for a while now. The current cars need a dozen different ECUs for various things like display, parking, driver monitoring, audio, speakers, windows, AC, etc. However, with the Digital Chassis, all these will get integrated into a common platform reducing the number of semiconductor chips, thereby, reducing the overall cost. With almost every aspect of EVs becoming electronic, the future would certainly require automotive companies to collaborate with the giants of the IT and Tech industries. Source

LEC Team

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