Electric vehicles, or EVs for short, have exploded onto UK roads. The vast upwelling of EV technology innovation has borne fruit, in the form of commercially-available EVs that are cheaper to run, useful over long ranges and otherwise outperforming conventional petrol or diesel cars. But what are the specific benefits to owning an EV, beyond the general points about cost and sustainability? What follow are some essential features that many EVs possess, and which illustrate the future of the automotive industry.
Battery Technology and Range
EVs were written off as an alternative to fossil-fuelled transport for decades, on account of a simple issue: range. Older EVs did not have the research behind them to solve for limited range, in turn impacted by the size and capacity of battery cells. Today, though, EVs are capable of several-hundred-mile trips without a charge, while improving charging infrastructure reduces the likelihood of strandings.
New battery technologies are being announced and rolled-out constantly, with automotive giant BMW threatening to lead the EV pack in regard to battery engineering and range. With the projected high value of BMW EVs, BMW gap insurance would make more sense for owners to ensure every penny is protected. But range isn’t the only consideration.
Vehicle Performance
Electric vehicles also exhibit some key performance improvements over the average fossil-fuelled vehicle, where the electric motor and its control thereof enable some dramatic differences relating to power. Conventional internal combustion engines (ICEs) are bulky and complex by design, with various assemblies used to convert and transfer power from the initial piston movement to the final turn of the vehicle’s axle.
Electric vehicles, meanwhile, do away with these convoluted assemblies, where the electric motor directly drives the vehicle’s drivetrain – no pistons, no gearbox, no major potential for loss of energy. The immediacy with which an EV’s motor supplies the drivetrain means torque delivery to the road is effectively instant. This makes for a vehicle which is vastly quicker off the mark than even the most expertly-engineered ICE-equipped vehicles. Even the Tesla Model 3, designed as five-door family saloon, has a faster 0-60 than a Lamborghini Huracan.
Efficiency
The simplified design of EVs and their motors is not just energy efficient with regards to power delivery, but also with regards to the usage of that power in the first place. EV motors are just as capable of harvesting power as they are dispensing it; regenerative braking describes the EV’s ability to generate charge from road resistance, conserving power and extending range.
Convenience
Finally, with EVs at the forefront of a new automotive-technological revolution, the less-essential parts of the vehicle often enjoy the same levels of innovation as its critical systems. As such, EV centre consoles are often stacked with features, making driving a luxury and convenience as well as a means to an end.
Also Read: Why Stable Software and Analytics are the Lifeblood of Electrical Vehicles
