Accelerated growth towards electrification:

Currently, the global demands for mobility and progressive EV policies have created new market opportunities for manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs). The global electric vehicle market is expected to grow at a rate of 26.8% from 2021 to 2030, from a current size of 4,093 thousand units (Research and Markets, 2021). Electric vehicles are now available in nearly every country because of factors such as rising consumer demand for low-emission transportation and government subsidies, tax breaks that encourage the use of zero-emission vehicles over long distances. Increased government funding for EV charging stations and hydrogen refueling facilities, as well as incentives for buyers, provide OEMs with new opportunities to grow their revenue and geographical reach.

The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow steadily because of the high demand for low-cost and low-emission vehicles, while the North American and European markets are rapidly growing markets because of government initiatives and the growing high-performance passenger vehicle segment.

COVID-19 Impact on the Electric Vehicle Market:

The automotive industry has high capital intensity and relies on frequent financing to maintain operations. And due to the outbreak of COVID 19, all new vehicle production and sales have been put on hold around the world. As a result, automakers were forced to change the volume of their production. Component production was also halted. Small Tier II and Tier III manufacturers were having financial difficulties.

The demand for EVs has risen dramatically since the post-lockdown period, as governments around the world have pushed people to switch to cleaner fuels. Many countries have also increased the number of EV charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations in their states. This increased the market’s need for BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles), and FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) from June to December 2020 and in the first few months of 2021.

Challenges with electric vehicles:

1. Availability of infrastructure

Electric vehicles must be charged at electrical outlets rather than being refueled at conventional gas stations. Many EV owners charge their automobiles in their garages at home, using a special wall-mounted charger.

There are two significant obstacles to overcome. To begin with, parking garages in apartment style buildings rarely have charging infrastructure for residents’ cars. Adding this infrastructure could be prohibitively expensive. Second, if EVs are to be used for long-distance travel that necessitates several charging stops, a larger charging infrastructure is required.

2. Need to increase power generation capacity

Millions of people will become more reliant on the electric grid, if gasoline-powered automobiles and trucks are replaced by an electric vehicle fleet. This will accelerate the need for increased power generation capacity, putting additional stress on the grid.

3. Charging station financing and ownership

Installation and “soft costs” such as navigating the permitting procedure, laws and connections with utilities are not included in the pricing ranges. These prices raise the issue of who is responsible for financing the building of these charging stations.

4. Environmental concerns and infrastructure needed for battery recycling

The lack of companies offering recycling services poses an increasing difficulty as the demand for EVs grows. The most environmentally friendly alternative is to recycle electric vehicle batteries at the completion of the product life cycle. Damaged lithium-ion batteries can also release toxic gases that are extremely dangerous to people. Lithium and cobalt, which are required in the manufacture of these batteries, are becoming increasingly scarce, and their laborious extraction pollutes the environment.

Simulation and EV:

Simulation aids in determining how the battery could perform, and predictive analysis and testing to evaluate various functionality parameters. For instance, we can conduct the experimental investigation of electric vehicle and battery behavior during charging, or arrive at conclusions about quantitative definition of potential energy losses in battery set-up. Multiple simulation workflows can be established to limit the discharging, and measure the charging procedure to around 20% and 80% accuracy.

The maximum charging power, recharging duration, and charger curve shape are all important factors that influence the impact on the electric grid. To build better plug-in infrastructure while taking battery behavior into account, simulation procedures are implemented. Integrated models that combine a traffic simulator with power flow studies or another energy grid simulation model have been developed focusing on battery optimization.

You can calculate the impact of EV behavior on both transport and electric power networks using an equilibrium modeling framework that captures the interactions between different entities in these EV environment. Simulation nowadays is detailed and considers even energy transmission networks while doing combined PHEV simulations.

Simulations are becoming a dependable tool to optimize the development of electric vehicles and provide greener solutions. It has the potential to lower the time and cost of creating electric drives by up to 33%, as well as the battery development cycle in half.

DEP’s electric vehicle design and development services:

DEP services have a significant impact on total product performance and efficiency with its extensive range of simulation solutions for sophisticated EV/HEV powertrain design. The Complete Modeling method is determined by refining the electric motor operating map, battery charge/discharge maps, and vehicle dynamics model. Our eMOD is a set of structural and CFD modeling tools, as well as a BIW design and development tool for battery, power electronic, and electric drive unit models, as well as whole vehicle models. DEP’s exclusive portfolio of services includes the following:

  • Meshing, assembly, and connection tools designed specifically for batteries, EDU, and inventors.
  • Optimization and parameterization of electric powertrain models.
  • Rapid conversion of a conventional vehicle body to an electrified vehicle body.
  • One-of-a-kind workflows and modeling tools.

Conclusion – Changing minds about electric vehicles:

The global environment appears to favor electric vehicles, and the world appears to be taking electric vehicles more seriously over the course of the next few years. OEMs are progressively concentrating on eradicating concerns like steep pricing, limited battery technology, and a lack of infrastructure. Thus, the demand for EVs is projected to rise as legislative policies supporting the industry become more favorable.

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