GlobalData, a global provider of business intelligence, has released a new report titled “Technological Developments Reducing Range Anxiety for Electric Vehicles.” The report states that many governments are pushing for reduction in carbon emissions through use of electric cars.
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The transportation sector is hugely dependent on fossil fuels, leading to increasing environmental concerns due to green house gas (GHG) emissions. Such scenario necessitates changes in present-day generation technologies. Presently, 98% of the transportation sector relies on fossil fuels, and the resultant CO2 emissions comprise 23% of the total global emissions.
In an effort to promote adoption of electric vehicles (EV), many governments, policy makers and automakers are taking significant measures. Governments are offering incentives, and EVs are being offered at prices that turn out to be more economical than conventional vehicles in the long-term.
However, fear of running out of battery power, is a major deterrent to the purchase of EVs. Present day batteries possess limited energy and power densities. Further, charging infrastructure is not widely available, restricting EV usage to city use. In order to address this issue, manufacturers are adding solar panels to the roof of the cars, so that the vehicle can run on gasoline after the battery gets exhausted. Rapidly charging EVs are also being developed.
Superior Lithium-ion batteries may offer a range of 300-500 km per charge, while the present day NiMH batteries last for 200 km per charge. Improvements in EV charging infrastructure, including a network of battery switch stations for swapping depleted batteries may lead to improved adaptation of EVs.