Guest Post : Archit K from EternalGreen Innovation
It is clear that Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) are here to stay. With the MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon EV, and several new and exciting announcements this Auto Expo, it is clear that the OEMs are also bullish on EV market. In the first two months of 2020 alone, a large number of MG ZS EVs were booked and over 2000 Tata Tigor EVs were ordered. This puts the total number of electric car sales in 2020 so far at twice that of 2019.
Sceptics of EVs might point to the lower range and long charging times of these vehicles, both of which are improving. Rapid technological developments in the field of battery management systems have improved the energy storage capacity of Li-ion batteries while reducing the manufacturing costs. One such technology that may further revolutionize the field is Ultra-Capacitors (UCs, also known as supercapacitors). Together with the batteries, they form a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS). We know what you are thinking, and it is not THAT kind of hybrid. These systems are fully electrical.
Here’s how it works:
Here’s how it works:
Li-ion batteries are very good at holding charge. However, rapid charging and discharging may adversely affect battery life. This is because storage of charge in Li-ion batteries is done chemically. Current Indian EV batteries have a charging lifecycle of 2k-3k cycles. Current is generated due to the flow of Li+ ions. The direction of the flow determines whether the battery is charging or discharging. This chemical reaction is not fully stable, meaning that Li- ions will flow back slowly over time, resulting in a slight drop in charge, like a phone left idle. Rapid usage will, however embed Li-ions in the electrode, permanently reducing the storage capacity of a battery.
UCs, on the other hand, have a very high power density. This means that they excel at supplying a high range of energy demands over a short time. Because there are no chemical reactions involved, UCs are good for as much as 1 million charging cycles. However, they cannot hold the amount of charge that a Li-ion battery can. By connecting UCs with a battery management system, we have the best of both worlds.
UCs, on the other hand, have a very high power density. This means that they excel at supplying a high range of energy demands over a short time. Because there are no chemical reactions involved, UCs are good for as much as 1 million charging cycles. However, they cannot hold the amount of charge that a Li-ion battery can. By connecting UCs with a battery management system, we have the best of both worlds.
An internal computer decides whether the energy coming in from a charger or regenerative braking goes directly to the battery pack, or is stored in the UC. This ensures that battery usage is not erratic. A converter is used to convert the DC current from the battery into AC current for the motor. When power is required by the AC motor, it can be supplied from the UC, which is temporarily holding the charge. If the UC is out of charge, or low on it, the battery can start discharging again.
What does this mean for your car? A longer lasting battery, greater range, durability and better response times are all benefits from using a HESS in your vehicle.
So far, no manufacturer has started using these new devices in their EVs. This is a field which is much younger than electric vehicles, and talk of their potential has only really been going around since the past 5 years. It is safe to say that the electric car you buy today will not be made irrelevant tomorrow by this new technology. UCs in HESS are simply a window into the future that may be. There are already many advancements in this technology. Already, researchers have developed robust UCs that can store greater charges for longer. These can even replace batteries in small devices like cell phones and laptops.
In a country like India, this technology might turn out to be a game-changer. The first OEM to adopt this new technology will certainly have an advantage over their competitors. These EVs will be able to perform much better without any added weights or costs. They can help maximize the range as well as the life of the battery, making the EVs of the future the perfect purchase for the Indian buyer.
An EV of the future may very well include this technology. Batteries lasting longer means lesser maintenance and lower degradation, meaning that your car will perform the same as it when you bought it three years ago, and it wouldn’t cost you anything extra! No wonder that Tesla shelled out $200 million to acquire a UC manufacturer like Maxwell Technologies.
What does this mean for your car? A longer lasting battery, greater range, durability and better response times are all benefits from using a HESS in your vehicle.
So far, no manufacturer has started using these new devices in their EVs. This is a field which is much younger than electric vehicles, and talk of their potential has only really been going around since the past 5 years. It is safe to say that the electric car you buy today will not be made irrelevant tomorrow by this new technology. UCs in HESS are simply a window into the future that may be. There are already many advancements in this technology. Already, researchers have developed robust UCs that can store greater charges for longer. These can even replace batteries in small devices like cell phones and laptops.
In a country like India, this technology might turn out to be a game-changer. The first OEM to adopt this new technology will certainly have an advantage over their competitors. These EVs will be able to perform much better without any added weights or costs. They can help maximize the range as well as the life of the battery, making the EVs of the future the perfect purchase for the Indian buyer.
An EV of the future may very well include this technology. Batteries lasting longer means lesser maintenance and lower degradation, meaning that your car will perform the same as it when you bought it three years ago, and it wouldn’t cost you anything extra! No wonder that Tesla shelled out $200 million to acquire a UC manufacturer like Maxwell Technologies.
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