Boffins invent EV ‘power shell’ for increased range and performance
It’s a power suit, but for EVs
What does the suit bring to the table?
The first thing the tech claims to offer is increased range.
The composite material is lightweight — less heavy than steel and even aluminum — which reduces the vehicle’s weight and thus improves its range. (Don’t forget: the lighter the vehicle, the longer its range).
Plus, the suit can feed the stored energy to the electric motor, working as a “back-up battery” itself.
Specifically, the tech can extend its range by 25%, according to the researchers, meaning that a 381km-rated EV could get an extra 80 kilometers.
As a supercapacitor, the special shell can improve the electric car’s performance,providing it the extra power it needs to go from zero to 60mph in three seconds.
And despite the lightweight nature of the structure, the materials have significant impact and bending strength, enabling it to withstand a collision. They’re also nontoxic and nonflammable, which is crucial for passenger safety in case of an accident, Thomas says.
To showcase the tech’s application in EVs, the team fabricated a power suit for a toy car, which is able to operate using only the energy stored in its special body panel.
You can check it out in video below:
The suit is currently at a technology readiness level five, meaning it’s been tested in a relevant environment before being moved to a real environment, which constitutes level six.
To reach a commercial environment, it would need to pass the last stage, level nine, which would require further development and testing focused on commercial applications.
While it’s difficult to put a precise date on that, I still dream of a world where my EV becomes even more of a superhero.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili(show all)Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
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When can we suit up our EVs?
The suit is currently at a technology readiness level five, meaning it’s been tested in a relevant environment before being moved to a real environment, which constitutes level six.
To reach a commercial environment, it would need to pass the last stage, level nine, which would require further development and testing focused on commercial applications.
While it’s difficult to put a precise date on that, I still dream of a world where my EV becomes even more of a superhero.
