All-electric vehicles (EVs) are available right now. So, what’s keeping you from buying one? Of course, the answer is travel range—the range of even the best of the EVs is around 200 miles on a full charge. That’s roughly half of what the typical internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicle can do. That limitation is going to put off potential EV buyers until something better comes along.
Better batteries are the ultimate answer to that problem, but it hasn’t happened, yet. For now, the real solution is more charging stations and faster and easier charging methods. You will be glad to know that progress is being made, and superior electronics is making it happen.
Transportation of the Future Already in Sight
We’re now on the path where we’re evolving from ICE vehicles to full EVs. It will be decades before all ICE vehicles abandon the roads, but the world is moving more quickly to make EVs the primary transportation appliance.
For example, the UK has banned ICEs by 2040, and France will end sales of ICEs by 2040. Germany is more aggressive, saying only zero-emissions vehicles will be sold by 2030. China mandates at least 5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2020. India has stated that there will be only EVs for sale by 2030. No U.S. policy has been stated yet, but there will be one. Most expect the U.S. to adopt a more conservative and extended transition from ICE to full EV.
In the meantime, hybrid vehicles provide a middle ground for the development and testing of the electrical systems that will lead to full EV nirvana. A total EV state will certainly improve the environment. However, some projections indicate that the existing electrical grid may not be able to support the massive power requirements of recharging. It’s expected that an extensive electrical grid infrastructure update will be needed. The question is will the inevitable increase in power station emissions offset any reductions gained with the all EV condition?
To achieve the desired zero-emission state with optimized vehicle safety goals, the average vehicle is experiencing a massive increase in the number of electronic systems and components. This is happening now with the roll out of the popular advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
Further development of hybrid vehicles and full EVs has revealed the need for an upgrade of the vehicle electrical systems from their current 12-V-only configuration to hybrid 12- and 48-V systems. Next is a full EV system powered by a 200- to 800-V battery system. A major focus today is on four key goals: improving batteries, enhancing vehicle battery-management and charging systems, aggressively building out the charging station network, and making sure the electric power grid can handle the tidal wave of power needed to support an all-EV paradise.