Improvements in battery technology are generally understood to be the future underpinnings of electric cars moving from their current minority status, writes Brian Byrne. But there are other elements which might also help extend travel distance beyond range anxiety.
These include further savings in weight, which every carmaker is pursuing diligently. But a recently-shown 3-speed transmission designed for electric vehicles might also be important.
It was revealed by UK automotive engineering firm Antonov Plc at the IDTechEx conference in Stuttgart, and won a Technology Award for the most significant EV technical development.
Traditional internal combustion engines use gearboxes to keep engines running in the most efficient torque/power bands. But electric motors achieve maximum torque from the time they begin spinning, so EV makers don't use multi-step transmissions with them.
But, depending on conditions and the motor design, they can actually be working at as little as 60 percent efficiency at lower revs even though pushing out maximum torque. Antonov say their 3-speed transmission in development can improve efficiency, and thus the all-important range.
No timeframe is available for when we'll see the gearbox in EVs.
