So far, the US is right on track in reaching its goals to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2035. Recent data shows that the US electric power sector is already halfway to zero carbon emissions. A significant factor to this decrease in carbon emissions is the increase in usage of electric vehicles (EVs), seeing as EV sales hit an all-time high last year. In the first three months of 2022 alone, EV sales hit 2 million. It is clear that EVs have a positive impact on the environment, and with EV-related technology’s rapid development, there are sure to be more innovations to look forward to.
A Newer Type of EV
The kind of EV that you drive dictates how it is charged. Some EVs, such as hybrid EVs and plug-in EVs, still rely on gas to some extent. Meanwhile, battery EVs completely use electric power as its fuel. These are the most common kinds of EVs that you might encounter on the road. A newer one, however, needs neither gas nor electricity to get it moving.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEV) use hydrogen fuel instead. In a way, FCEVs are like EVs since they use an electric motor instead of a combustion engine. However, instead of needing to be charged, FCEVs convert hydrogen fuel into electricity, making them arguably safer for the environment since they only produce heat and water as byproducts. Being a newer form of EVs though, FCEVs are still rare. As of last year, there are only 15,000 FCEVs on US roads, and all of them are in California.
Better Batteries
Since it was first introduced in the market, what sets the EV from conventional cars is its battery. The earliest models of EVs such as the Prius used nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, but it is the introduction of the Lithium-ion (li-ion) powered vehicle that completely pushed EVs into the mainstream auto market. This is because Lithium lasts longer than Ni-MH, and they also weigh less.
On the other hand, li-ion does have some drawbacks, particularly on the materials needed for its production. These drawbacks, in turn, prompted the race to create better batteries for EVs. Companies such as Ford and Mercedes-Benz have started to explore solid-state technology for their EVs’ batteries. Meanwhile, Lyten, a company that specializes in making composites for batteries, is considering the use of graphene, a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Once a new and better battery for EVs is developed, it will surely follow that the overall performance of EVs will further improve, too.
EVs and the IoT
We are currently in the Big Data era, where information and connectivity both significantly affect various industries. One of the key systems in this era is the Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to a system of complex networks that connect identifiable things that offer services, whether automated or manually operated. In the EV industry, the IoT is starting to gain importance as well.
For instance, a 2022 study showed that the use of IoT in an EV can increase its range by 25%. The IoT can also help in improving the Battery Management Systems of an EV by gathering data regarding its functions ,as well as redistributing energy for maximum efficiency. The use of IoT in resolving the challenges posed by charging station management is also being explored. For example, the IoT can make remote support and maintenance of EV charging stations possible.
EVs are starting to become the new normal when it comes to driving. Existing EV technology already poses a lot of benefits. However, with the rapidly evolving technology surrounding EVs, more innovations such as the ones mentioned here will surely encourage more people to make the switch to electric cars.