As a result, automakers are turning to startups that develop technologies capable of meeting demand that is likely to grow in the coming years, such as Volvo Cars and Breathe Battery Technologies.
Maximum 12 hours of charging time for 150 km
To evaluate the charging time of an electric car, several factors must be taken into account:
- weather conditions
- the means of recharging
- the capacity of the vehicle battery.
With a standard socket with a charging power of 1.8kW for example, the charging time for 150 km will be 12 hours. For a 22 kW battery, it will take 4 hours of charging time, according to a graph from Guide EVlink by Schneider.
To go below the waiting hour, you must therefore prefer DC fast charging stations which provide a continuous current of 43kW (30 minutes) or 50kW (20 minutes) always for 150 km.
Reduce charging time by 30%, safely
Although charging can be done at home or at work, it can be considered an inconvenience, especially when users are limited in time or have to travel long distances. And as more and more drivers turn to electric cars, car manufacturers are investing in startups that will enable the development of this sector.
This is the case for the Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo Cars, which announced an investment in the British start-up Breathe Battery Technologies to use its battery software intended, as the two companies announced on Tuesday, to reduce by 30 % the charging time of its next generation of electric vehicles.
Be a priority in action and ideas
According to Ann-Sofie Ekberg, CEO of Volvo Cars' technology fund, “it's really about reducing a pain point for customers.” The goal is obviously to be the first to offer this advantage on the market. “We get priorities and ideas, and good collaboration…so we can be the first to do it”, she explains to Reuters.
To do this, load software “based on the company's algorithm provides greater visibility into the condition of individual battery cells, allowing the electric vehicle to charge at full power while maintaining safety and without altering battery chemistry”, as Breathe CEO Ian Campbell promises.
This technology could be present on new Volvo electric vehicles within two to three years. The amount of the investment was not disclosed.
Source : Reuters