These Major Vehicle Tech Sectors Will Be Revolutionized By Electric Vehicle Adoption
Last updated on July 19th, 2024 at 03:46 am
The total number of EV sales worldwide is expected to rise to 26.8 million units by 2030, according to Platts Analytics. Despite this, it may turn out that we need to sell more than the projected amount in order to reach the dream of carbon neutrality in a timely manner. Fortunately, EV tech improves every day, and some of these improvements are likely to appear in 2023 EV models. It may also revolutionize other sectors of tech, from mining and manufacturing to vehicle design. Let’s take a look at all of the technologies EVs are going to boost on the road to full-scale adoption.
Mining and Manufacturing may Become much more Sustainable
Currently, EV adoption is fraught with controversy, from the exploitation that the lithium supply chain is involved with to the issue of their initial carbon footprint being bigger than that of gas cars right out of the factory. But all of these issues are being addressed, partly thanks to all of the public outcry against these kinks in the campaign for an electric future.
The high demand for lithium has brought about great strides in sourcing, mining techniques, and manufacturing efficiency that will let the EV market meet its ever-rising need for the mineral. Meanwhile, vehicle and OEM plants are being subjected to more stringent carbon-abatement standards, suppressing their carbon footprint while more sustainable production methods are still in development.
Electric Vehicles may Fundamentally Change how Cars are Designed
As much as EVs will drastically change supply chain and manufacturing practices, it will also overhaul how we design automobiles from the ground up. One of the more literal examples can be found in the concept of electric in-wheel motors. While by no means new, first having been invented in 1900 by Ferdinand Porsche and his partners, it is no less revolutionary now that it’s poised for mass adoption more than a century on.
In-wheel motor schemes would drastically reduce the size of the engine, increasing space for other things and making the car lighter overall. This also subsequently raises fuel efficiency, increasing the range of EVs by many times its current amount. We’re already seeing designs being drawn up for both everyday and heavy-duty usage. And since EVs don’t use combustion, they’re going to use completely different engine oils and fluids, maybe even ones that could last for life.
What Comes after Full-Scale EV Adoption?
The success of EVs is highly likely to revolutionize other parts of the transport sector as well. One of the main things that the public eye is fixated on is eVTOL, or electric vertical take-off and landing technology. This is likely to be humanity’s best bet at finally achieving the dream of flying cars, though many push back against it, citing impracticality. But while many counterpoints to electric flying cars are reasonable, supporters remain faithful that compromises could be found, from mass transport options such as air buses to quieter and more powerful electric flight engines.
If nothing else, learning more about electric engines could lead us to developing the first solid-state electric airliner, which would reduce the carbon cost of air travel to near-zero once fully implemented. There remains a very pressing use case for electric flying vehicles: congestion. Even with enthusiastic initiatives to develop public transportation, it may not be enough to combat the inevitable congestion that would arise from our ballooning world population.
As it turns out, all of these improvements are among people’s reservations towards EV adoption. Although it’s been an uphill battle, EVs indirectly changing these sectors for the better will only make EV adoption a bigger benefit to mankind.
