3 Major Challenges EV Charging is Facing Today
Electric vehicles have seen a big push when it comes to the mobility of the future. While the focus had mostly been on battery packs and vehicles, other areas in their slipstream are gaining importance.
In this post, Christopher Dickens, Global Market Manager Mobility at Saint-Gobain® Tape Solutions, illustrates current challenges especially for the charging infrastructure that switching to battery powered electric mobility is currently facing and how new materials can help on the road to success and to avoid the immediate stress caused by a little red warning sign saying “battery empty” in the middle of nowhere with the kids in the back seats.
In the past, batteries were a limiting factor, but tremendous progress has been made in recent years to make electric vehicles (EV) safer and reach further and we are not seeing the end of this journey. The power density of battery packs will continue to increase, allowing more lightweight and further reaching vehicles.
But the rapidly growing number of EVs on the streets creates new challenges in other areas like raw material supply, end-of-life management, power supply or EV charging infrastructure.
Standardization and creation of a strong network of charging stations suitable to serve various systems is a major challenge in the switch to battery-powered electric mobility. The fast-growing number of EVs require good availability of charging options not only alongside roads but at parking lots, at home, in cities, rural areas or at work.
This leads to a second challenge as more EVs that need to be charged create new demands for energy creation, transformation, storage and transportation. This is strongly connected to a third challenge: The need for faster charging.
Fast-charging requires higher voltage and current and charging stations, components and grid need to be prepared to withstand high electrical, thermal, mechanical and environmental stresses.
This leads to a second challenge as more EVs that need to be charged create new demands for energy creation, transformation, storage and transportation. This is strongly connected to a third challenge: The need for faster charging.
Fast-charging requires higher voltage and current and charging stations, components and grid need to be prepared to withstand high electrical, thermal, mechanical and environmental stresses.
There are many ways tapes can help solve these challenges. First, they can help optimize performance and safety of battery packs. Such high-end materials reduce the need to charge or allow for new generations of high-performance electric motors, making EVs even more efficient. Transferring this knowledge can have a strong impact in another area: The creation of highly efficient Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in modern energy grids.
When looking at the big picture, special tapes are used in all major areas to improve the entire power supply performance — starting from tape solutions for more efficient renewable energy production, highly resistant tapes to optimize transformer, motor or generator performance to BESS that increase grid stability even when EVs are charged during the day and at high-peak hours by compensating times with less power from renewable energy sources.
Minimizing the time to charge EV batteries is a major challenge as rapid charging puts high electrical and thermal stress on components. Special tapes increase part protection and therefore not only allow the use of higher voltage and current to reduce charging time but significantly improve safety, performance and longevity of EV charging equipment, cables, connectors and sensitive components.
But ensuring optimal functioning with regards to high voltage is only one aspect where tapes can make a difference. Most charging stations are located outdoors, and tapes are key in ensuring reliable performance and reducing maintenance efforts by protecting from moisture, dirt, temperature, chemicals or harsh environmental influences. These materials can help to install charging stations even in challenging environments and thus contribute to nationwide supply and availability.
EVs are changing the landscape of mobility worldwide but there are various challenges to be solved before they can fully replace combustion-powered vehicles. Besides battery packs, reliable availability of EV charging networks, power supply and rapid charging are becoming increasingly important focus areas. Before reading this post, did you think that small pieces like tapes could have such an impact on trouble-free electric mobility and reduced stress levels on your next trip?