Date: 07/11/2023

What are the advancements in battery and electronics driving EV Cars?

Electric vehicle technology is not new. Automotive engineers have tried designing electric vehicles even before gasoline powered vehicles. Due to severe disadvantages compared to gasoline vehicles, electric vehicles failed.




Over the years Electronics technologies in controlling electric power have evolved from simple discrete transistor-based control to highly compact, light, highly efficient converter and inverter systems to convert AC voltages to DC voltage, and from one level DC the level of DC.

And most important is development of new battery chemistries such as Lithium ion offering extremely dense power storage at far lesser weight compared to lead acid batteries. In terms of safety also, Lithium ion batteries were continuously improved to make them as safe as lead acid. Electronics also help in ensuring higher safety of batteries.

So the combination of Advanced electronics and advanced battery chemistries drive the possibility of renewable electric power driven vehicle technology as an alternative to fossil fuel powered vehicles.

More than the technology, cost per kilometre advantage offered by electric vehicle technology makes a economical option. Though there are controversies over environment sustainability achievement using electric vehicles, but much of the study points they reduce carbon footprint by using renewable energy source for charging electric vehicles.

Let's compare the performance of lead acid battery lithium ion battery in terms of weight, density, life, safety and other battery related parameters:




Source: NORSK Lithium

In terms of advancement in electronics, today's inverters and converters switch at high-frequency making the transformer quite small, reducing the weight and size of the system.

A new kind of discrete semiconductor devices called Silicon Carbide transistors delivered two to three times performance improvement in terms of switching speed, heat dissipation, power handling, and size.
The availability of latest sensor technologies and advanced processes systems, monitoring and controlling the performance of the vehicle is more easier and reliable compared to gas powered vehicles.



Source: st.com (STMicroelectronics)

Another important factor driving the growth of electric vehicles is fast charging technology, where 80% of the battery can be charged within 20 to 30 minutes.

All these factors enabling exponential growth of electric vehicle market in this decade, where it is estimated to outperform smart phone and PC market in terms of consumption of semiconductor devices by automotives.

What is still a big issue with EV is affordability. So much of technology going in to the vehicles, the performance and cost is rising And is seen as a bit of luxury compared to traditional vehicles.

The new advancements include: Connectivity, enhanced digital infotainment, and ADAS Systems.

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