Electric Cars Archives - Page 3 of 5

5 Helpful Tips To Maximize EV Range In Winter And Snow

Driving EVs in snowy winters can be immensely challenging. Therefore, it is great to know a few tricks and tips to ensure minimal impact of the cold on your EVs. In this blog post, we shall offer 5 crucial tips to maximize your EV range during winter and snow. Driving an EV can be worrisome anyway due to the lack of adequate charging infrastructure and range anxiety. However, things exacerbate further during the peak winter season when the temperatures drop significantly below 0 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, all Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures. You would’ve noticed this with your smartphones and laptops too. As a result, EVs tend to offer considerably lower range on a single charge during adverse weather conditions. Still, there are a few measures that EV owners could adopt in order to minimize the impact of snow or extremely low temperatures on their EVs. You might also like: Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations 5 Tips To Maximize EV Range In Winter & Snow Preheat Battery One of the most effective methods to tackle the issue of low range during winter conditions is to pre-heat the battery. Some modern cars come with a heat pump which ensures that the temperature of the battery remains in an optimal range. Also, while the electric car is plugged in, the battery of the car gets in a perfect temperature range even before the owner commences the drive. In that way, the battery won’t draw additional power to do this task of maintaining its optimal temperature. AC Temperature Yet another way to reduce the power consumption of the EV battery during harsh cold is to use the heat produced by the car to warm the cabin. Most people crank up the blower to the maximum in order to heat the cabin space. However, a slightly more nuanced and prudent technique is to use heated seats and steering wheel to keep yourself warm. That will consume much less power from the battery, in turn maximizing the range. Obviously, your EV needs to have this function from the factory. You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Tires A significantly underrated aspect while calculating the range of EVs is the tires. In fact, we feel that car owners don’t pay enough attention to tires in general. In the case of snow or harsh winter conditions, generally, the tire pressure drops. That leads to a situation where higher power is needed to move the car. Hence, more battery is consumed in the process. Therefore, you must ensure that the tire pressure in your car is appropriate at all times. Also, it helps to use dedicated snow tires. Speed Unlike ICE cars where high speed means high engine efficiency, the range of EVs deteriorates exponentially as the speed increases. This is due to higher wind resistance and drag coefficient. The battery gets depleted at a higher rate at high vehicle speeds. Therefore, driving at moderate speeds can boost the overall range of EVs substantially on a single charge. Eco Mode Finally, if your EV comes with drive modes, it is advisable to use Eco mode to maximize range. In peak winters or snowy conditions, you wouldn’t want exquisite performance and high-speed scenarios with your EVs anyway. Therefore, switching to Eco mode will limit the power produced by an EV, in turn, saving the battery from getting empty quickly. Hence, it is a great way to use the drive modes in an EV. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? Learn Electric Cars Says Extremely low temperatures slow down the reaction inside an EV battery. That is the reason why charging EVs becomes extremely slow, while the battery loses range rapidly. There are many parts of the world where the temperatures get way below 0 degrees Celsius. Arguably, the most prominent market is Norway where around 82% of total EV sales in 2023 were electric cars. Norway experiences one of the harshest winters in the world. Still, due to the aforementioned practices, they are able to navigate their way to ensure that using EVs remains practical and feasible. Hence, it is possible to use EVs effectively even in harsh winters with proper planning.

Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations

11 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

A study by the University of Michigan deep dives into various aspects of EV ownership to arrive at a tangible conclusion. As per the latest study by researchers at the University of Michigan, interesting facts come to light with regard to just how cost-effective EVs can be in comparison to ICE cars. The debate about the ownership costs of electric and gasoline cars has been going on for a while now. Granted, there are a multitude of moving variables in this equation. Still, we can start with a few generalizations to comprehend the entire picture. Now, ownership of EVs is a multi-faceted phenomenon. It consists of myriad factors including the initial purchase cost, fast-charging and home-charging habits, location, incentives by the central and federal governments, cost of electricity, daily usage, climate conditions, driving mannerisms, service costs, battery replacement costs, etc. Still, EVs have been around for long enough to incorporate all these aspects into our calculation to develop an effective hypothesis. Taking all these dimensions into consideration, the researchers at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability achieved some intriguing revelations. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? EVs vs ICE Cars – Who Is More Cost-Effective? This study took into account 14 cities in the United States of America and analyzed the cost of ownership associated with gasoline, hybrid and electric cars. Published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology, their research reveals that while gasoline vehicles are typically cheaper to buy initially, electric vehicles prove to be more cost-effective in the long run due to reduced maintenance, repair, and fuel expenses. Whether an electric vehicle will become financially equivalent to a comparable gasoline vehicle depends on various factors, including the location of vehicle operation, charging and driving habits, as well as the size and range of the vehicle. The key findings were: Role Of Location The study concluded that location can prove to play a bigger role in calculating the actual cost of ownership of any car than you would imagine. In the 14 cities examined, the total ownership cost of an electric midsize SUV fluctuated by $52,000—representing nearly a 40% variation—over the vehicle’s entire lifespan. New York City and Detroit incurred the highest insurance expenses. Among gasoline vehicles, refuelling proved most costly in San Francisco and Los Angeles, while it was least expensive in Houston and Dallas. Conversely, charging electric vehicles proved most expensive in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston, but least expensive in Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland. You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? Vehicle Type And Battery Size The other key aspect of ownership of cars is the vehicle and battery size. In all 14 cities examined, small and low-range electric vehicles are more affordable than gas vehicles of similar size. However, larger, long-range EVs tend to be pricier compared to their gasoline counterparts, while midsize EVs may achieve cost parity in certain cities. Charging Parameters Arguably, the most direct factor to calculate the cost of EV ownership is the charging process. Various charging habits significantly influence the total cost of ownership. When compared to utilizing public charging stations, home charging reduces lifetime expenses by an average of $10,000, with potential savings reaching up to $26,000, even after factoring in charger installation costs. In numerous cities, time-of-use electricity rates are available, providing discounted rates for overnight vehicle charging—a vital aspect for prospective electric vehicle owners to consider. Incentives And Subsidies Finally, many governments across the globe, are lending financial aid in order to promote mass EV adoption. That is the main attraction for the fence-sitters to go for an EV today. In the US, federal incentives, including the $7,500 federal tax credit, play a crucial role in hastening the break-even point between electric vehicles and gasoline vehicles. In certain cities, federal incentives can be supplemented with several thousand dollars in state and local incentives. Senior Author, Gregory Keoleian said, “Our findings show that electric vehicles can be cost-competitive with gasoline vehicles for the 14 cities we studied across the US. In addition to charging cost advantages for electric vehicles over gasoline fueling costs, there are lower maintenance and repair costs.” Lead author Maxwell Woody concluded by saying, “The cost difference between electric and gasoline vehicles depends on many individual and regional factors. Right now, an EV is less expensive for some users in some locations but there are strategies that both users and the government can take to make EVs less expensive for more users and in more locations.” You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Learn Electric Cars Says It is quite obvious that there is still a long way to go before we can truly fathom the EV ownership cost in its entirety. Nevertheless, with EV sales at an all-time high, it makes sense to invest some time to analyze the data which is available to us at the moment. Sure, things are bound to evolve in future. Still, at this point in time, we must consider various scenarios to see if this electric metamorphosis seems feasible and sustainable for the mass public. At least with such studies, many aspects come to the light for everyone to consider and analyze. Hence, the question of whether EVs are more cost-effective than ICE cars can only be answered relatively at the moment.

Apple Calls It Quits For Electric Car Development

12 Comments / EV News / By LEC Team

The tech giant spent billions of dollars on developing a luxury electric car division. In a shocking turn of events, tech leader Apple decided to pull the plug on its ambitious electric car dream. This extravagant project was partly under wraps for most of its decade-long existence. The special car team was part of Tim Cook’s Project Titan. Apple finally disclosed internally that around 2,000 people were working on this project. The decision to give up on the endeavours comes from the Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Vice President Kevin Lynch. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? Apple Shuts Down Its Electric Car Project As per multiple news reports, some of the 2,000 employees who were a part of this team (called the Special Projects Group) are now shifted to Apple’s Generative AI division. Clearly, the American tech giant recognizes the immense value this space holds in times to come. The Cupertino-based tech firm was planning to launch an EV with fully autonomous driving functionalities without the steering wheel and pedals. However, this project faced delays numerous times. As per the latest news reports, the release date for the Apple electric car was slated for 2028. Also, these reports mentioned that instead of going for Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities, it will have Level 2+ tech. Intriguingly, the price point would have been around the $100,000-mark. That would’ve put it at par with what the Tesla Cybertruck (in its top Cyberbeast trim) costs. Clearly, it was aiming to cater to the opulent consumers. You might also like: All Finalists At 2024 World Car Awards – BYD Seal To Kia EV9 Other Apple Projects Apple is focusing its energy and resources on multiple domains which are likely to be the core of future technology. This includes Generative AI and Vision Pro VR Headset. The Generative AI smartphone market is touted to be in the vicinity of 500 million units by as early as 2027. Hence, the premier tech giant aims to invest in that space to remain at the top of the technology race of the future. Learn Electric Cars Says This huge news just goes to prove how difficult it actually is to create a car company. Even a technologically advanced organization like Apple struggled to bring it to fruition. Apart from that, it further highlights the uncertainties associated with the development of EVs with future tech like autonomous driving capabilities and connectivity functions. This would be a lesson for various newcomers who are planning to enter this space in the near future.

Finalists 2024 World Car Of The Year Awards

All Finalists At 2024 World Car Awards – BYD Seal To Kia EV9

15 Comments / EV News / By LEC Team

The prestigious 2024 World Car Awards are slated to be announced on March 27, 2024, at the New York International Auto Show 2024. The finalists in multiple categories of the 2024 World Car Awards have been announced. This is a prestigious recognition in the automobile industry. The jury consists of more than 100 expert journalists and car experts from over 30 countries. They bring diversified experiences and measure cars on specific parameters to ensure that they pick up only the best of the lot. Interestingly, the top 3 finalists for the Car of the Year Award this year are all EVs. We are sure you won’t be surprised to know that this award has been bagged by EVs in the previous three iterations in 2021 (VW ID.4), 2022 (Hyundai IONIQ 5) and 2023 (Hyundai IONIQ 6). Let us take a look at the top 3 finalists across all categories this time around. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? 2024 World Car Awards 2024 World Car Of The Year To commence this list, we take a look at the contenders for the overall 2024 World Car Of The Year Award. This is the ultimate accolade an automobile can receive from the critics. The nominees are: 2024 World Electric Vehicle Car Of The Year This category is potentially among the most exciting since it contains the vehicles of the future. We have seen a massive boom in EV sales across the globe in the past couple of years. It is looking imminent that EVs are here to stay and become the norm. Sure, there are various challenges but a lot of work is going into R&D of EV technology including EV batteries. This year, the EVs which are competing for the crown are: 2024 World Performance Car Of The Year Next up, we discuss the contenders for the 2024 World Performance Car Of The Year Award. It is a thrilling category which highlights the top-engineered vehicles on the planet. Driving enthusiasts often look past most things in favour of performance. This year, the rivals fighting it out for the top spot include: You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? 2024 World Luxury Car Of The Year The next category on the list of the 2024 World Car Awards is the World Luxury Car Of The Year. This would interest those celebrated personalities from across the world, who want opulence from their automobiles. These include elite stars from various sections of society. Here are the finalists: 2024 World Car Design Of The Year For a vast majority of potential car buyers, the design plays a crucial role. For those who are not into the technicalities, the way a car looks is often the deciding factor in purchasing a car. In all honesty, it can be irresistible to hold oneself back when some of the most strikingly beautiful cars pass by. Therefore, we understand the importance of design in automobiles. This category encompasses: You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? Learn Electric Cars Says This celebrated award ceremony acts as a stamp of validation for the carmakers to confirm that they have created something truly remarkable in some way. Various categories ensures that different aspects of vehicles are taken into consideration for this accolade. The fact that EVs are dominating these awards might well be the signs of things to come. What are your predictions?

EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along?

24 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Many legacy automobile companies are backtracking on the ambitious plans to go full electric either toward the end of this decade or sometime in the coming decade. The ‘electric’ plans of legacy car makers to have a 100% EV portfolio in the coming years are beginning to look overstated. In the heat of the moment, the last couple of years witnessed auto giants jumping onto the EV bandwagon without any reservations. They wanted to transform their entire production facilities and portfolios to strictly offer electric cars in the coming decade. However, Toyota was never convinced about this idea. In fact, it has been receiving a lot of flak for it in recent times. The Japanese auto giant has been immensely bullish on hybrid and hydrogen cars. Interestingly, many legacy car marques initially thought of skipping the hybrid powertrains, citing them a waste of resources and time when the end goal was to ultimately go for complete electrification. But in just a couple of years, car companies are beginning to think that the sales might not keep rising exponentially for a sustained period. Mercedes-Benz is the latest legacy luxury carmaker to join this fray and announced that it might continue to offer its ICE cars for longer than previously thought. You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Plans Of EV Makers Too Ambitious? According to the latest Reuters report, Mercedes-Benz announced it’s pushing back its plan to switch to electric cars by five years. It promised investors it will continue to improve its traditional petrol engine cars. This makes Mercedes-Benz the latest car company to admit that people aren’t buying electric cars as quickly as expected. Now, Mercedes-Benz predicts that half of its cars will be electric or hybrid by 2030. This is five years later than what they said in 2021. Back then, they wanted half of their cars to be electric by 2025, with most of them being fully electric. Ola Källenius, Chairman and CEO at Mercedes-Benz said, “It is almost like we will have a new lineup in 2027 that will take us well into the 2030s.” This is a clear indication that the German luxury carmaker had overestimated the popularity and mass EV adoption. You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? Carmakers Who Are Reconsidering Their EV Plans There are some eminent names on this list. For instance, Ford had been cutting the production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Moreover, reduced interest from the customers and dealers for the famed Mach-E has been detrimental in Ford having to reconsider its EV production plans. Another American auto giant, GM has also been re-assessing the situation. GM CEO, Mary Barra is also acknowledging that hybrids might be the way forward, at least in the near future. She remarked, “Deploying plug-in technology in strategic segments will deliver some of the environmental benefits of EVs as the nation continues to build its charging infrastructure.” Automobile giants like Volkswagen also wanted to skip the entire hybrid route to offer EVs directly. Recently, even Volvo announced that it will be pulling future investments from its popular EV company, Polestar. It was only firms like Stellantis, Toyota, Hyundai Motor Group (including Hyundai, Kia and Genesis), who are incorporating hybrid cars into their portfolios across many international markets. They feel that the path to complete electrification will pass through hybrid powertrains. You might also like: Top Reasons For High Interest Rates On EV Loans Learn Electric Cars Says These news reports might be a bit confusing since the overall EV sales in 2023 has been significantly higher in contrast to 2022. However, we must understand that while the overall sales is increasing quite rapidly, the long terms goals are looking bloated and over-ambitious. It is not like electric cars are not selling. In fact, with the constant development of EV charging infrastructure and enticing incentives from governments all over the world, EVs are gaining prominence. With time, even the prices of the electric cars are going doing due to the mass availability of Lithium-ion batteries and huge volume production. But the anticipated sales figures for the end of this decade or the middle of the next decade might not come to fruition. It would be intriguing to witness if hybrid cars provide a better intermediary foundation to facilitate mass EV adoption by the end of the next decade with revised plans from auto makers.

Why Are Interest Rates on EV Loans Higher

Top Reasons For High Interest Rates On EV Loans

8 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

While there are numerous reports regarding the promotional government policies for mass EV adoption, the financial institutions are not exactly on the same page due to some specific reasons. If you ever went to a financial institution to apply for EV loans, you would know that the interest rates are generally high. In fact, they are not just higher than the on ICE cars, but the repayment tenures are also shorter. An intriguing report published in SSRN dives deep into the specifics on how the terms and conditions of EV loans compare to the loans for regular cars. This study analysed the data of 15 million car loans in 11 European countries between January 2010 and August 2021. The findings are surprising, to say the least! You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? High Interest Rates On EV Loans This report is co-authored by Jan Bena (University of British Columbia), Bo Bian (University of British Columbia) and Huan Tang (University of Pennsylvania) and titled “Financing the Global Shift to Electric Mobility“. The financing patterns that are present in this report are valid for Europe but the authors found the same trends in the USA as well. The crux of the findings was that, “compared to non-electric models in the same car family, EVs are financed with higher interest rates, lower loan-to-value ratios and shorter loan durations. That “financing gap” occurs because lenders price in the risks they perceive in obsolescence caused by rapid advances in EV technology.” The chief reasons for this are: You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? Learn Electric Cars Says The findings of this thoroughly extensive report are quite surprising. It helps us perceive different challenges to mass EV adoption than the ones we are often used to hearing. Interestingly, not much is being discussed about the financing side of adopting EVs apart from the initial prices, running costs and the battery costs. This report brings to light the challenges associated with getting a new EV financed. With more such information coming out, we hope that the governments will look into the economics of owning EVs from this perspective too.

Top 5 Reasons Why EV Sales Are Rapidly Rising

12 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

All of the biggest global markets experienced a massive surge in EVs sales in 2023 in comparison to the year prior to that. While it might seem obvious, but we shall dive deep into the 5 prominent reasons why EV sales are rising globally. There are various aspects to decipher this situation. EV technology is still in its infancy. Therefore, a natural progression is meant to be there. Also, there are hardly any other feasible mass market options available to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce dependence of coal-burning fossil fuels. Electrification is the widely accepted norm to reduce vehicular pollution and create a positive impact on the environment in the mobility domain. Now, there are innumerable challenges associated with it. Despite that, it looks like the only viable and widely applicable solution out there at the moment. Therefore, we understand both sides of the argument regarding the mass adoption of EVs. But the following points have worked in favor of electric cars. You might also like: Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars? 5 Reasons For Rising EV Sales Development Of Charging Infrastructure Charging infrastructure is the single biggest concern among potential EV buyers today. In fact, it has been the point of contention since the inception of this EV revolution. However, in recent times, carmakers, private players and governments have been working in tandem to create the entire ecosystem around charging infrastructure rapidly across the globe. That has boosted the EV sales significantly as people get more comfortable driving on long journeys knowing that a charging station will be in the vicinity at most times. Still, one must plan ahead! New Models From Carmakers In comparison to just a couple of years ago, there are substantially more EV models on sale today. Again, that is true for all major international markets. There are primarily two approaches car companies are adopting – converting the existing ICE cars into EVs without charging the architecture and other components, OR, creating new EVs from the scratch on a dedicated bespoke platform. In any case, the EV portfolios of major car marques are much more diverse today, than a couple of years ago. Hence, the potential car buyers have much more options at their disposal. That is a huge reason why EV sales are rising lately. You might also like: Nyobolt Battery Can Charge Fully In Just 6 Minutes Affordability Another critical factor hindering mass adoption of EVs is, and has been, the price. EVs are typically 1.5 times more expensive than a comparable ICE car. This is due to the high costs of the batteries, which constitute around 40% of an EV’s total cost. As per the data from Statista, EV batteries used to cost an average of $780 per kWh in 2013. This has drastically reduced to just $139 per kWh in 2023. Hence, one could evidently witness such a huge drop in battery price in a matter of a decade. We can only assume what would happen in the coming decade. A price of under $100 per kWh will be ideal for mass adoption. Tackling Range Anxiety With every new technology, there is an initial hesitation in mass adoption. That is particularly true with EVs since they are the medium of transportation. If anything goes wrong, EV owners can potentially be left stranded on the road. Hence, most people thought that extremely long range is needed in electric cars. However, as people get more used to living with EVs, their behavior and habits change. They now understand that fast charging times and availability of charging stations can be a great substitute for colossal batteries offering astronomically long range figures. New EV Battery Technologies Finally, another notable reason why EV sales are rising so sharply is the introduction of new EV battery technologies. Now, car companies and battery manufacturers are investing heavily into making the batteries better in terms of efficiency, charging times, cell chemistry (components) and energy density. All these combined, modern EVs are significantly more efficient in contrast to the EVs of, let’s say, a few years ago. With the passage of time and more R&D in this space, future EVs promise to be even more efficient. You might also like: Silicone Anode Holds Immense Potential For Next-Gen EV Batteries Learn Electric Cars Says In spite of the challenges with the mass adoption of EVs, more and more people are embracing them. With many large economies already announcing ambitious plans to reduce their carbon footprint and get rid of internal combustion engines in the coming decades, electrification of mobility looks like the only alternate path. The prices of gasoline and diesel are constantly rising too. At the same time, the EV battery prices are getting lower. This is bound to result in a wider EV adoption across the board in times to come.

EVs are more problematic than hybrid and gasoline cars

Are EVs Really More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars?

12 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

A 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study by J.D. Power found that EVs and plug-in hybrids encounter more problems than hybrid and gasoline cars. In an intriguing J.D. Power report, it was concluded that EVs and plug-in hybrids can be more troublesome than non-plug-in hybrid and gasoline cars. However, the reason is not the powertrains but the infrastructure surrounding them. Among various car categories, electric cars, electric SUVs and electric pickup trucks are the least-reliable categories which were a part of this survey. Here are the detailed findings of this report. You might also like: Tesla Cybertruck vs Porsche 911 Turbo S Drag Race – Guess Who Wins EVs More Troublesome Than Non-Plug-In Hybrid Cars This report takes into consideration the ownership experience of the first three years. That is a fairly substantial time period for people to know the intricacies of their vehicles. The results were quite surprising. EV owners reported 256 problems per 100 vehicles, while plug-in hybrid car owners had to face 216 problems per 100 vehicles. On the other end of the spectrum, the non-plug-in hybrid cars scored a relatively better 191 problems per 100 vehicles, whereas the gasoline cars encountered 187 problems per 100 vehicles. Interestingly, infotainment problems and annoyance with driver-assist alerts were among the most prevalent issues with EV car owners. You might also like: Nyobolt Battery Can Charge Fully In Just 6 Minutes Unique Problem With EVs While the issues pertaining to the infotainment and driver-assist functions were well-established even last year, a new problem has appeared which is bothering the EV owners the most. Due to the significantly heavier weight of the EVs, 39% owners reported replacing the tires within the last 12 months which is 19 percentage points higher than gasoline cars. That is the new finding on this report and something that the potential EV buyers should keep in mind. You might also like: Hyundai To Launch New EV Brand In China; Plans 5 EVs In 3 Years Learn Electric Cars Says Even though the sales of EVs across the globe is at an all-time high and the adoption is taking place at an unprecedented rate, we are still at a relatively nascent stage of mass adoption in the long run. As EV owners spend more time with their vehicles, many new aspects regarding the ownership experience will come to light. These could be positive, as well as negative. But it is great to know these prior to making the decision to go electric.

How Is Formula E Helping Legacy Carmakers Build Better EV Technologies

14 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Formula E allows established carmakers to use it as a testing lab for new technologies to make EVs more efficient and powerful, and offer incredible regenerative braking abilities. The Formula E racing acts as a testing lab for legacy carmakers to test their innovative EV technologies. Essentially, the budget that car marques allocate for R&D and testing, can be alternately used to devise technologies for Formula E cars. The races are the actual testing grounds. In fact, it is a bigger stamp of validation than any other road testing. Hence, participating in Formula E could be critical for carmakers to come up with effective ways to create methods to address the concerns in electric cars. You might also like: Stellantis Invests In Affordable Sodium-Ion Battery Technology Formula E EV Technologies Note that Formula E is the first sport in the world which has been Net Zero Carbon since the beginning. As a part of Formula E, there are 16 races across 10 cities in 4 continents. The car used for this race is called GEN3. It is the most efficient race car. The GEN3 car is designed for use in the FIA Formula E Championship. Formula E cars commence each race with a battery capacity of only 60%, necessitating the generation of the remaining capacity through braking. This process aids in the development of more efficient motors, inverters, and software, contributing to enhanced performance and extended range. Therefore, car companies need to develop insanely efficient regenerative braking systems to be able to recoup enough energy to complete the race. That is as challenging an environment as it gets. You might also like: How Do Heat Pumps Function In EVs? Which Carmakers Are A Part Of Formula E? There are some top names on this list including: A few prominent German carmakers have taken the alternative route of regular R&D. For instance, BMW quit Formula E back in 2021. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz is focusing its sustainability efforts on its F1 team. Therefore, we must understand that Formula E is not the only way. Also, it becomes clear that carmakers are adopting multiple techniques to arrive at the same destination. You might also like: Hyundai Unveils ‘Active Air Skirt’ Tech To Increase EV Range And Power Learn Electric Cars Says Car manufacturers are actively pursuing software innovation to develop superior mass-production electric vehicles with improved performance, extended range, and increased efficiency. The recent breakthroughs in motorsports hold significant potential for efficient integration into mainstream models, ultimately contributing to a potential reduction in EV prices for consumers. Formula E founder Alejandro Agag notes that manufacturers view Formula E as a testing ground for technologies, particularly emphasizing the advancements made in fast charging by participating teams.

How Heat Pumps Function in EVs in Winter Cold Conditions

How Do Heat Pumps Function In EVs?

22 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Heat pumps are getting more common in EVs with each passing day as we take a look at how these aid electric cars during extremely cold conditions. In this post, we shall discuss how heat pumps function in EVs in cold weather conditions. We are certain that automobile enthusiasts and EV owners must have read a lot of headlines pertaining to the extremely cold weather conditions in many parts of North America and Europe currently. Note that Lithium-ion batteries are vulnerable and sensitive to temperature changes. Hence, many EV owners are, unfortunately, stranded at homes or charging stations. While we are still not at the point where the battery technology can overcome temperature dependency, there are decent solutions in place. Heat pumps provide the best shot for EVs to tackle extreme cold environments. Sure, snowy conditions with massively low temperatures will still have an impact on EV batteries, but a large part of that impact will be eliminated by the use of heat pumps. That is the reason why so many modern EVs come with a heat pump from the factory. You may also like: New EV Battery From Zeekr To Offer 500 kW Charging How Do Heat Pumps Function In EVs? Depending on the use case, a heat pump can produce heat from any source, which could then be used anywhere in a vehicle. For EVs, it is generally used to heat the battery and make it operate within optimal temperature range, irrespective of the weather outside. Additionally, the heat produced by pumps can also provide air conditioning to warm the cabin and the passengers. Essentially, any component in an EV which requires heat can be fed via the heat pump. The heat pumps use the temperature difference between the outside air and the refrigerant to create a heating effect. In EVs, it can pull cold air from the outside and create warm air from it. This can be used to heat the cabin, which will reduce the energy consumption of the battery. Alternatively, it could also heat the battery itself, which will prepare it before plugging so that it can charge quickly. This will maximize the range. If the battery is too cold, it will take longer than usual to charge too. In fact, many reports suggest a drop in range between 15% and 45% due to cold temperature alone. You may also like: Edmunds Tests The Fastest Charging EV In Real-World Conditions EVs With Heat Pumps Many modern EVs possess heat pumps from the factory itself. Some of the top EVs include Tesla cars, Jaguar I-Pace, BMW’s latest i-series cars, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kona, Audi’s new e-tron, Kia EV9 and Niro, Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, Toyota Prius, etc. This encompasses electric cars from varied price segments. Therefore, it is evident that carmakers are offering this component as standard across the range. You may also like: How Inductive / Wireless Charging Can Transform The Future Of EVs? Learn Electric Cars Says Recognizing the importance of heat pumps in EVs, car companies will carry on this trend of offering them even on budget EVs going forward. With the kind of predicament we faced with extreme cold in many parts of North America and Europe recently, the need for heat pumps in EVs is evident. EV owners were left stranded at home. Even when they towed their cars to charging stations, the chargers had frozen. They had to wait for hours to get to a charging station. Then they had to wait a lot to charge their EVs due to slow charging speeds. We can only hope that this winter will force the authorities to take this aspect into consideration while developing charging infrastructure going forward. This was also be an eye-opener for EV owners, many of whom were facing such severe conditions with their EVs for the first time ever.

Electric Cars

© Copyright 2022 Learn Electric Cars. All Rights Reserved.