Rapid growth in the number of people purchasing electric cars can be attributed, in part, to the decreasing prevalence of range anxiety. BloombergNEF estimated two years ago that 400 million passenger EVs will be on the road by 2040. New research raises that estimate to 700 million. This expansion is being fueled by a number of factors, including increased investments in EV charging infrastructure, decreased EV pricing, increased vehicle range, and a steady stream of new EV models.
Meanwhile, development and investment in the EV charging sector persist. While some developments are still in the works and won’t materialize for a few years, others are already making EV charging more convenient right now.
Here are 5 cutting-edge technological advancements that are either already on the market or on the horizon:
Intelligent Electric Vehicle Charging
While also catering to the demands of drivers and local grids, smart EV charging supplies EVs with energy that is dependable, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective. It is dependent on high-end back-end software that can collect information from electric vehicles, networked chargers, and the grid. This information is utilized to improve EV charging, including electricity from storage and renewable sources, and lessen the load on the grid. Energy requirements at the facility or fleet level are also considered. Modern algorithms strike a compromise between these factors to deliver the cheapest energy where and when it’s required, without jeopardizing either local energy demands or EV charging.
Electric Vehicle Charging Management Using Self-Healing Algorithms
Electric vehicle owners are putting pressure on charge station operators and e-mobility service providers to improve the reliability and consistency of charging infrastructure. Up to 80% of software-related operational difficulties that render EV chargers useless to drivers can be remedied by self-healing algorithms embedded into a charging management platform. Maximizing charger uptime and improving the charging experience for EV owners through real-time fault detection and automatic self-repair.
Technology for Electric Vehicle Batteries
Without discussing EV batteries, a blog on advances in electric vehicle technology would be lacking. The search for a replacement for today’s lithium-ion batteries that can last longer, charge more quickly and use less of the world’s finite natural resources continues. New chemistries, such as sodium-ion, show promise of gradual improvement. In the pursuit of massive improvements, pioneers are looking at novel form factors including blades and solid-state batteries. A radical technological revolution is what the sector needs now. Can we expect quantum batteries that fully recharge in three minutes?
Large Vehicle Megawatt Charging System
Present ultra-speed charging systems, such as 250kW and, soon to come, 350-500kW DC fast chargers, are swiftly recharging cars and light trucks or vans. Charging the battery may add 60 miles to the car’s range in just five minutes, and a full charge can be achieved in 20-30 minutes, depending on the model.
More horsepower is required for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. After four years of research, the worldwide EV standards non-profit CharIN has released a fast-charging connection for heavy-duty cars that adhere to industry standards and is called the Megawatt Charging System. Because it supports DC charging at up to 3,750kW, vehicles may gain around 200 miles of range in only half an hour. That’s almost as far as an electric vehicle needs to go on a single charge, which is 500 miles.
Managing Batteries Intelligently
Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are made up of thousands of individual cells that are grouped together into modules and then wired together to function as a single battery. Smart battery management technologies can repurpose batteries that have degraded to the point that they can no longer power electric vehicles. As a result of its ability to be “racked and stacked,” a group of electric vehicle batteries may function as a single, massive battery that stores energy generated locally or from the power grid. The software, sensors, and hardware that make this possible can detect and replace defective cells, charge efficiently, and exchange data with smart EV charging and energy management systems. When the weather is favorable, renewable energy may be collected, stored, and then sent back into the grid or used to charge electric vehicles.