Big electric vehicle changes coming

The technology behind electric vehicle (EV) batteries could see significant improvements over the coming years, with companies like Mercedes-Benz and Toyota working on solid-state batteries for future models.

Solid-state batteries offer far better power densities than the batteries used in fully electric and hybrid vehicles today, resulting in significant range improvements.

These solid-state batteries ditch the plastic membrane in conventional batteries for a barrier that also acts as the electrolyte, increasing the power density.

This also helps them charge much faster, resulting in less time spent at EV charging stations.

Mercedes-Benz has been working with Factorial Energy to develop solid-state batteries for future EVs, and it aims to start selling EVs with these batteries by 2030.

Dubbed the Solstice, the solid-state battery has a power density of 450 watt-hours-per-kilogram (Wh/kg), making it nearly twice as dense as the best batteries in today’s EVs and hybrids.

Some new energy vehicles feature batteries with power densities as low as 90Wh/kg, 20% of the density offered by the Solstice solid-state battery.

As a result, Mercedes-Benz and Factorial Energy say the Solstice will enable EVs to travel 80% further on a single charge.

“Solstice’s high energy density can extend EV range up to 80% while significantly reducing vehicle weight and increasing vehicle efficiency,” the companies said in a statement.

The technology should also help reduce the risk of battery fires.

“Its sulfide-based all-solid-state electrolyte system addresses safety concerns associated with more flammable and volatile liquid electrolyte designs, targeting a EUCAR safety rating of 2 and maintaining stability at operating temperatures over 90°C,” the companies said.

They added that this could also reduce the cooling system requirements within battery packs, reducing overall vehicle costs.

Japanese automaker Toyota is also investing in solid-state battery technology. In August 2023, the company announced a breakthrough in EV battery technology.

It said it had developed batteries that would offer a range of nearly 1,200km on a single charge. It aims to build a battery that will give an EV up to 1,450km of range.

The company said it had simplified the production of solid-state batteries, which were previously expensive and challenging to manufacture.

According to Toyota, its first generation of solid-state batteries offers a range of up to 1,183km and will charge to full in roughly 10 minutes.

Its timeline is slightly more ambitious than Mercedes-Benz’s, with Toyota planning to release its first cars with solid-state batteries by 2028.

Dispelling myths about EV range in South Africa

Many South Africans are concerned that the range of electric cars will be too short for their regular daily driving or long-distance travel.

While it is true that EVs are far less efficient at highway speeds, often requiring several pitstops on longer road trips to recharge along South Africa’s most popular routes, the argument that their range isn’t sufficient for daily commutes is illogical for several reasons.

Firstly, EVs can be recharged during periods in which their owner or driver would naturally not be using them, such as at home or their workplace.

Motorists who make this habit won’t require many visits to EV charging stations to recharge during their work weeks.

Moreover, the distances most South Africans cover daily will consume less than a fifth of the capacity of most EV batteries.

According to the Electric Vehicle Database (EVDB), the average consumption per kilometre of travel across more than 400 EV models is around 191Wh or 0.191kWh, and according to Numbeo, the average South African two-way commute is 44km.

Given this, the typical EV would consume roughly 8.4kWh of its capacity during a day’s commute.

The BYD Dolphin Standard is the most affordable passenger EV sold in the country. Its 44.9kWh capacity means it could complete a full week’s worth of commuting and still have around 3kWh of capacity left.