Latest Advances Helping to Usher in an Electric Future

Developing precise and cost-effective battery grading processes can help drive battery technology innovations.

FREMONT, CA: The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is gaining momentum, but it can only go so far without the essential infrastructure and technology. As thoughts shift from fossil fuels to all-electric, visions of a brighter, optimistic world come into view. From using ultra-fast wireless charging to helping the developing world by repurposing car batteries, WM g is delivering advances in electrification knowledge and technologies, which will allow the leap to an electric automotive future. So, for now and the future, what do automakers need to consider?

Demand for EVs is accelerating, and registrations of plug-in cars increased. With the electrification sector estimated to be worth over £6bn by 2025, the next decade presents a great opportunity. EVs will remain on the outskirts of the mainstream until consumers are provided something that matches the model of usability, convenience, and affordability that traditional vehicles provide today. The vision is to enhance all aspects of performance and reliability and unearth the possibility of producing a battery solution that matches the performance of traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles, meeting consumers’ expectations, assisting drive the uptake of hybrid and electric transport. The current best-in-class technologies can meet the needs of a small percentage of users, and the requirement to plan an efficient battery charging infrastructure is vital.

Current technology results in large EV batteries with long charging times. Even best-in-class energy means that the battery requires to be comparatively large to attain the desired electric range capability. Because they are large, they are heavy, which means the vehicle consumes more energy. Then, for safety reasons, presently, affordable traction batteries need to have a high level of complexity. So, users have a heavy, inefficient, cumbersome part. The new battery types are efficient with better energy storage, a smaller package, and the potential to fast charge. Researchers want to deliver a solution with a simpler cooling system, a dedicated crash structure for the battery, reduced charging time, and a weight saving of up to 10 percent compared to existing solutions.