Battery technology may increase EV use

Advances in battery technology should make switching from petrol-and-diesel powered vehicles to electric (EV) increasingly appealing for the general public, impacting plans for local charging infrastructure.

CATL, the company behind the new Qilin battery, claim the technology will give pure electric vehicles a 620-mile range and allow fast-charging to 80 per cent in ten minutes. The new design, which will be available in mass production in 2023, has reduced the structural components of the battery meaning it weighs less and takes up less space than currently available technology.

Dr Andrew Larner, CEO at iESE, said the Qilin had the potential to dramatically change the landscape for electric vehicles.

Battery technology is one of the main areas of advancement. Once vehicles don’t need as big a battery, they are likely to become a lot cheaper because the battery is the biggest cost component in the car. This means more residents in local authorities will be able to afford electric vehicles and this should then cascade into areas such as community transport too.

While many councils are stepping up their charging infrastructure, some have expressed concerns around whether the National Grid can cope with an increase in electric vehicles. Graeme Cooper, Head of Future Markets at the National Grid, however, has been quoted as saying that the grid can support the demand.

There is definitely enough energy and the grid can cope easily.

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