IEEE Electrification Magazine - December 2013 - 77

Viewpoint

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the motor still has to overcome the
energy density of the battery. The newest eVs coming off the line at Ford,
Chevy, nissan, and Tesla have reached
a breakthrough limit of 100 mi per
charge (mpc). The batteries in the lab
right now will be able to deliver an
affordable car with a range of 300 mpc.
when we hit that number within the
next five years,
people will lose
their range anxiety
because they will
know that they can
get where they are
going and back on
a single charge.
while electric
motors are central
to eVs, it is important to remember
that they are not
the total solution.
A diverse mix of
fuels is being used
to power vehicles that have electric
motors at their core. For example,
semitrailer trucks are moving toward
natural gas, which can be run
through a fuel cell or in a modified
conventional engine.
other innovations are propelling
eVs forward. electric motor manufacturers have been ever more clever
in using advanced modeling tools to
maximize the power density in
smaller motors. Advanced permanent magnets also are helping to
increase the efficiency of electric
motors while helping to shrink their
overall size. In addition, improvements in power electronics have
increased the efficiency of switching
and transferring the power throughout the entire vehicle. This, in turn,
enables eVs to travel greater distances on a smaller charge.
So, it is really the incremental
growth in various technologies, which
the Ieee and its members are so adept
at developing, that are refining the eV.

Just as gas-powered cars evolved over
the years, we have already seen eVs
evolve over the past five years.
eVs have been around for a very
long time. Many people are surprised
to learn that they were initially developed in 1917. henry Ford's gasoline
motor pushed eVs aside in the automobile market, but eV technology was
adapted in a very
big way by the railroads. The hybrid
eV motor has been
used by diesel electric trains since the
1930s. Trains would
be much heavier
otherwise.
In addition to
losing the weight of
a vehicle's power
train, today's eV
manufacturers are
becoming very clever at improving
aerodynamics and reducing drag. They
are achieving these improvements,
which enable their eVs to go a bit farther, by doing a lot of three-dimensional modeling that helps keep their cars'
frames strong but light.
Another reason that next-generation vehicles will be more efficient is
that they will be connected with the
highway and other vehicles. There is
a lot of discussion, and standards
are being developed to allow eVs
and fleets of eVs to operate better
together on the road.

Improvements in
power electronics
have increased
the efficiency of
switching and
transferring the
power throughout
the entire vehicle.

education, education,
education
while all of this technology is important, educating consumers is probably
even more critical to the success of eVs.
we as a society, nation, and local
community need to do a very good job
of educating consumers about the pros
and cons of eVs. As the industry
matures, we will continue to build better solutions that enable consumers to

drive home and charge their eVs overnight. In the meantime, consumer
acceptance of new forms of fuel and
transportation is key. overcoming consumer resistance and making them
comfortable enough to buy eVs by the
millions is going to take education and
proof that they work as advertised.
This is because most people only buy a
car every eight to ten years. It is a
major investment, and they feel they
have only one chance to buy the right
car. They need to view the eV as a
direct replacement for what they have
been using all their lives.
The only real technical challenges
that remain are in terms of the electric
power grid. The increased demand for
electricity to "fuel" eVs is something
that utilities can prepare for now in
terms of power distribution, pricing,
and variable rate structures that will
help people save money and maximize the grid's potential.
Fortunately, the batteries in
today's eVs can be charged in 3-4 h.
we are aiming for an average of 1-2 h
in the not so distant future.

Where and When
Today, the United States is one of the
leading countries developing and
manufacturing eV technology. Japan
is very active, and China is coming
on strong under a national mandate
to reduce the pollution caused by
automobiles.
nevertheless, this industry is not
being driven by the top three or four
countries. There is a lot of homegrown
innovation taking place. Students in
Kenya developed an affordable car for
use in their country. India's Tata
Motors is launching its eV next. Tata
has an excellent reputation for producing cars that anybody can afford.
Currently, the people of California
have purchased the most eVs to date.
This is in part because the state gives
people incentives to buy them. Looking across the country, however, many

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Electrification Magazine - December 2013