Electric cars
Some electric cars are already actively promoted in Russia: 1. Mitsubishi i-MiEV, power 49 kW (67 hp), power reserve - 160 km, price in Russia: 1, 799, 000 rubles.; 2. Renault Kangoo ZE, power 44 kW (60 hp), power reserve - 170 km; 3. Renault TWIZY, power 4–13 kW (5–18 hp), power reserve - 100 km. Some electric cars are already actively promoted in Russia: 1. Mitsubishi i-MiEV, power 49 kW (67 hp)., power reserve - 160 km, price in Russia: 1, 799, 000 rubles.; 2. Renault Kangoo ZE, power 44 kW (60 hp), power reserve - 170 km; 3. Renault TWIZY, power 4–13 kW (5–18 hp), range - 100 km
The reason for talking about electric cars was the 60th Bosch international press briefing, where they were one of the main topics. It is assumed that the global production of electric cars by 2020 will not exceed three million units, that is, on a global scale, power from the outlet will remain exotic even after ten years. Nevertheless, the titans of the automotive world are already investing heavily in the development and standardization of electric vehicle components.
Last year, SB LiMotive (launched in partnership with Bosch and Samsung SDI) started production of lithium-ion batteries in the South Korean city of Ulsan (they will receive an electric Fiat 500 and a promising BMW i3), and in German Hildesheim, Bosch, together with Daimler AG, opens an enterprise on the design and manufacture of electric motors.
Electric cars
4. Renault Fluence ZE, power 70 kW (95 hp), power reserve - 185 km; 5. Renault ZOE, power 60 kW (82 hp), power reserve - 160 km; 6. Nissan Leaf, power 80 kW (109 hp), power reserve - 160 km, price in the USA, including all benefits: $ 25, 280 4. Renault Fluence ZE, power 70 kW (95 hp), reserve course - 185 km; 5. Renault ZOE, power 60 kW (82 hp), power reserve - 160 km; 6. Nissan Leaf, power 80 kW (109 hp), power reserve - 160 km, price in the USA, including all benefits: $ 25, 280
In the meantime, electric cars are too expensive for the mass consumer, and even by 2020, according to experts, they will be about 45 percent more expensive than ICE cars with similar dynamic characteristics and equipment. The most expensive component in an electric vehicle’s propulsion system is the battery. Within SB LiMotive, manufacturers expect to reduce unit costs to 6, 000 euros (i.e., about half), but it is still very expensive. The problem with the price, however, is solved by a simple formula: the larger the circulation, the lower the price.
But there are problems that have yet to be solved: this is the power reserve of electric vehicles and their work in cold climates. Current production models of electric vehicles, such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf, can travel no more than 160 km on a single charge. The leader in power reserve at the moment is the Tesla Roadster electric sports car, which promises the owner 400 km of autonomous travel, but, firstly, there is just a very large battery, and secondly, this is only the nominal power reserve in ideal conditions. A friend of mine, a very wealthy businessman, being in the USA, really wanted to buy a Tesla Roadster and bring it to Russia. However, when the seller found out that in winter frosts reach minus 30 Celsius, he began to dissuade him from buying, citing the fact that the machine is not intended for use at sub-zero temperatures …
Electric cars
Electric cars
It is also not clear how to power electric cars at the macro level. Creating a network of charging stations in large cities is a difficult but feasible task (which, for example, is now being successfully solved in Israel). But who will supply electricity there? The same Bosch experts say: “Electric cars only make sense if they draw energy from renewable sources.” While this is only a beautiful slogan, and renewable energy sources on the scale required for the auto industry, something is not visible, and it is not even clear where to look. Why, with such difficulties, is the theme of electric vehicles actively pedaled by manufacturers?
I see two main motives. First: the magic words "zero emissions", for which the Western public seems ready to break into a cake and at the government level stimulates the development and production of electric vehicles. Second: there is no alternative “bright future” yet, and you need to do something for the sake of a green image now, many projects have been launched, a lot of money has been spent, the electric flywheel is untwisted and is gaining momentum.
Electric cars
Who else?
At the end of last year, the Japanese company Sanyo completed the construction of a lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles and plans to capture 40% of this market segment by 2020. Strategic supply agreements are currently concluded with Volkswagen and Suzuki.
Another industrial giant from Japan - Toshiba - in partnership with Mitsubishi relies on the so-called SCiB (Super Charge ion Battery) batteries, which are also capable of working normally at low temperatures. Their main drawback is the low capacity.
Electric cars
Better Place Battery Replacement Station Better Place Battery Replacement Station
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is betting on replaceable batteries. Together with Better Place, a network of stations is being created in Israel to replace discharged batteries with charged ones - thus, owners of electric vehicles spend a minimum amount of time “feeding” them.
