NYT Article: Electric Car Age dawning sooner than expected

ChasingCoral

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Nice article. I completely agree with many of the points and saw some key ones:

His point is that designers should focus on things like aerodynamic drag and weight to avoid the need for big, expensive batteries in the first place. “There is kind of a myopia,” Mr. Rawlinson said. “Everyone is talking about batteries. It’s the whole system.”

That's a place where battery density, which they also talk about, will make a difference.
 

dbsb3233

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Nice article. I completely agree with many of the points and saw some key ones:

His point is that designers should focus on things like aerodynamic drag and weight to avoid the need for big, expensive batteries in the first place. “There is kind of a myopia,” Mr. Rawlinson said. “Everyone is talking about batteries. It’s the whole system.”

That's a place where battery density, which they also talk about, will make a difference.
I've pointed to that before too, especially as the reason why Teslas (except the Roadster and truck) are all so boring and look the same. The low catfish front and low-slope Prius rear are (sadly) probably gonna have to become more common if people want more range.

And that will probably be a sales barrier in the US, where consumers tend to prefer larger, taller vehicles.

Hoping they can find a way to make a bigger/taller/squarer-back vehicle more aerodynamic. But that's probably impossible. Best hope is just that battery density gets WAY better.
 

dbsb3233

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Pretty well-balanced article. Purchase price-parity with ICE would be a huge deal. Although it's not the only obstacle to widespread BEV sales. Charging time needs to shrink significantly, range at high speed grow significantly, and apartment/condo L2 chargers installed widely. And larger vehicles enabled with all of that.

All that's probably coming in time.
 

timbop

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The only thing missing is mention of raw materials (lithium and others) shortages and inadequate battery manufacturing.
 


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Hoping they can find a way to make a bigger/taller/squarer-back vehicle more aerodynamic. But that's probably impossible. Best hope is just that battery density gets WAY better.
Depends upon what you define "More aerodynamic" as. There are things they can do to reduce drag. Door handles, outside review mirrors, windshield wipers etc. Those are, for the most, part reducing parasite drag on the platform. Nothing would make a brick or box truly aerodynamic though.
 

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Depends upon what you define "More aerodynamic" as. There are things they can do to reduce drag. Door handles, outside review mirrors, windshield wipers etc. Those are, for the most, part reducing parasite drag on the platform. Nothing would make a brick or box truly aerodynamic though.
The low hanging aero fruit (and even medium) are already gone. It's why you see no/flush doorhandles, etc., and companies lobbying the government to have the physical side view mirror requirement modified. Plus, if you get too crazy, your vehicle starts to become more like an airplane, lol.
 

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I've pointed to that before too, especially as the reason why Teslas (except the Roadster and truck) are all so boring and look the same. The low catfish front and low-slope Prius rear are (sadly) probably gonna have to become more common if people want more range.

And that will probably be a sales barrier in the US, where consumers tend to prefer larger, taller vehicles.

Hoping they can find a way to make a bigger/taller/squarer-back vehicle more aerodynamic. But that's probably impossible. Best hope is just that battery density gets WAY better.
All cars are starting to look the same due to aerodynamics I think.
 

Kamuelaflyer

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The low hanging aero fruit (and even medium) are already gone. It's why you see no/flush doorhandles, etc., and companies lobbying the government to have the physical side view mirror requirement modified. Plus, if you get too crazy, your vehicle starts to become more like an airplane, lol.
Yes it is, I was speaking in more general terms regarding future developments. And the vast majority of those (as in 99+%) are all gone too. Aerodynamics is Aerodynamics whether it's for a BEV, PHEV, or ICE.
 

ChasingCoral

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The low hanging aero fruit (and even medium) are already gone. It's why you see no/flush doorhandles, etc., and companies lobbying the government to have the physical side view mirror requirement modified. Plus, if you get too crazy, your vehicle starts to become more like an airplane, lol.
Ford Mustang Mach-E NYT Article: Electric Car Age dawning sooner than expected Screen Shot 2020-09-21 at 2.29.16 PM

https://www.aptera.us
 

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Really good article. In the future it will be all about energy density. There will be significant competition for Tesla, as with any company that is first to market. I think the winner will be the consumer who will see more options for less cost and better charging infrastructure.
 

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Yes it is, I was speaking in more general terms regarding future developments. And the vast majority of those (as in 99+%) are all gone too. Aerodynamics is Aerodynamics whether it's for a BEV, PHEV, or ICE.
Agree, articles that mention aerodynamics all get somewhat of an eye roll from me as they all seem to forget that most manufactures have made low drag test vehicles eons ago so its is not some huge unknown. It is just as bad as tesla owners that bang on about an EV with a font grill design seemingly oblivious to the fact that there are similar sizes ICE sedans with grills that have a lower CD than the grill free model 3.

There comes a point where you have to actually create a shape that people can sit comfortably in and hold stuff while using tires that let it stop and go around corners with confidence. You than have to wrap that up in a package that also appeals to people aesthetically at which point compromises have to be made.

As others have stated the big wins are going to come from improved energy density because at the moment we have the equivalent of a 100mpg ice with a 2 gallon tank that you have to fill up with a pipette.
 

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dbsb3233

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All cars are starting to look the same due to aerodynamics I think.
That would be a real shame, but yeah, I suspect many of the early BEVs will look that way until batteries get to the next level and can handle it as well as ICE. But right now, they need extra help to close that gap.

Ideally, nextgen battery tech will be able to power an Explorer or Suburban or Bronco just as well as ICE now does.
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