Moving Forward: What’s New with Electric Vehicles
In the midst of environmental chaos, alternatives to burning fossil fuels are gaining speed. Amongst these innovations is the beacon of hope that comes from electric vehicles; environmentally-friendly replacements for our run-of-the-mill gas guzzlers.
Electric vehicles aren't that recent of a concept. Back in the 1800s, people were already toying with the concept of a car that can run without the use of fuel. Fast forward 100 plus years, and the former dream of the electric vehicle is a reality; one that is only improving with time.
At the steady rate of technological progression we're experiencing, keeping up with all things electric vehicles isn't easy. There are so many new features popping up everyday. To keep you in the loop, here are a few of the most recent innovations in the electric vehicle sector:
Roads to Recharge Electric Vehicles
It may sound too good to be true, but some drivers are able to charge their cars while they drive. In the outskirts of Stockholm, engineers have successfully implemented an electrically charged road. The system works by transferring energy from the road's surface to the cars. At over 1 km long, it can add a nice boost to the battery power of EVs in a short amount of time.
This electrified road promises versatility and many economic benefits. According to a recent report, the technology of this plan can be implemented in existing infrastructure. In theory, this means that roads across the world can transition to this plan fairly easily. Also, electrified roads are non-invasive; they can be driven on by gas cars and heavy vehicles as well.
Electric Vehicles and Self-Driving Tech
Arguably one of the most anticipated innovation topics lately is self-driving technology. When it reaches its peak, this technology will make human drivers obsolete. Vehicles will be able to navigate and conduct themselves in a safe manner, using satellites and laser sensors.
Because electric vehicles are thought of as the way of the future, self-driving tech is almost exclusively reserved for them. Naturally, at the forefront of this movement is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Musk is notorious for his innovations in electric vehicles and self-driving tech as the first person to successfully implement the autopilot feature.
Building off of that, Musk is now promising the release of a new update in his vehicles. This update will expand beyond its current position as semi-autonomous to almost fully autonomous. That being said, it won't let you sit back and relax and be chauffeured around town; you'll still have to be present and alert. As of now, Musk says the technology of a fully autonomous car is available to him, it's just a matter of regulations and ironing out a few bugs.
3-D Printing Meets Transportation
In recent years, 3-D printing technology has really taken off. From printing new housing to edible food items, it's safe to say that 3-D printing has far exceeded our expectations.
With this success comes the opportunity for expansion. A new project called XEV is taking electric vehicles into mass production by using a large scale 3-D printer. This printer is able to effectively print out the individual parts of the XEV model, which is roughly the size of a Smart Car.
A typical conventional car has over 2,000 parts. But, with XEV's model, only 57 parts are needed for a fully functional, 3-D printed electric vehicle. Production will open next year in 2020, with an estimated 20,000 models available in the first year. The first production and sales will take place in Europe, but depending on success, these printed EVs may find their way into the US.
Getting Creative with Charging Points
Just a few years back, charging points were few and far between. Now, grocery stores, apartment complexes, and the workplace are beginning to provide charging points for convenience. In London, street lamp posts are even being converted into convenient EV charging points.
One of the largest hurdles of charging points has been the size of the charger itself. Originally, the charging points required significant infrastructure in order to be installed effectively. To tackle this problem, BMW is rolling out a portable charger for their electric cars. This charger will be roughly the size of a suitcase, weighing about 100 pounds each. However, these little chargers pack a big punch; just 30 minutes of charging time can provide EVs with an 80% charge.
Why Electric Vehicles Matter
Saving money on gas is great and all, but the benefits of electric vehicles expand far beyond savings. The environmental impact of EVs is enormous, especially when it comes to CO2 production. The average passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. And with over 1 billion cars on the road in the world, that number really adds up.
Realistically, driving an electric vehicles doesn't mean cutting emissions completely. Charging an EV still requires energy, but the footprint of charging verses using gas is significantly smaller. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the average electric vehicle produces emissions equal to that of a gas car that would get 75 miles to the gallon.
So while there are still emissions given off from EVs, it is much better than the alternative. Plus, as solar and wind technology improves, so will our charging methods. Within the upcoming years, we can hope for new energy production methods that can charge EVs besides just electricity.
The technological improvements of electric vehicles are ever changing. The impressive rate of innovation and problem solving is creating a brighter, healthier future for our planet. With reduced costs and more effective ranges, EVs are becoming an accessible option for an increasing number of the population, with truly amazing environmental benefits.