Traction applications have traditionally relied on Lead Acid batteries but the limitations of Lead Acid batteries, together with the high cost of alternatives, have in turn limited the range of potential battery powered traction applications. A typical family car would need a battery capacity of about 40 KWh to provide a one way range of 200 miles and a 40 KWh Lead Acid battery weighs 1.5 tons.

The situation is changing however as new battery chemistries and supporting technologies have brought with them new technical and economic benefits making battery power viable for traction applications that were previously uneconomic or impractical.  The purpose of this research is to develop reliable energy/traction storage components by using a combination of proven, reliable, and affordable proprietary technology that makes current traction batteries more efficient, thus extending both range and related capabilities without involving high cost, high density batteries.

Range Extender

Widespread market adoption of EVs is anything but assured. The migration of vehicle powering technology from the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) to the battery requires accepting a difference in vehicle performance along with a change in consumer behavior.

In May 2010, Deloitte Consulting LLP published a study, Gaining Traction: A customer view of electric vehicle mass adoption in the U.S. automotive market, reporting that in a survey of potential EV customers the most important barriers to the purchase of an EV are price, range and vehicle size. The same study states that while an EV with a 50 mile range would meet the daily needs of most drivers, 70% of drivers expect an EV to travel 300 miles. Most EVs are being designed with a driving range of 100 miles or less.

EVs are clean, quiet and efficient. But at the present, they have a limited range of generally not much more than 100 miles. For EVs to become ubiquitous, it would require some form of range extender technology.

But what kind of of range extender (RE) is best? In order for any RE to be successful, it has to be lightweight, economical and preferably maintenance free.

evHUB's current developmental programs entails concepts of smart regenerative charging systems combined with smart energy storage matter to provide effective extension of range.  We believe the successful integration of range extension modules in EVs will proliferate the adoption of EVs in the mass markets.

The Deloitte study in May 2010 also assessed potential consumer attitudes towards EV charging. Most consumers want to charge their EVs at home; however 61% of those surveyed do not have access to a garage with an electric power source. The report finds that charging time (i.e. the amount of time the vehicle must be plugged-in to go from its minimum to maximum state of charge) is a major contributor to vehicle adoption. Only 17% of those surveyed were willing to charge at home for a period of 8 hours. A reduction in this requirement from 8 to 4 hours doubled consumer willingness to purchase the EV.

evHUB is working closely together with collaborative partners in leading battery manufacturing and research to develop working solutions towards faster and safer recharge cycles for our EVs.