A recent survey by social research firm Sifo has shown a pressing need to further expand the infrastructure for electric cars in Sweden amid the considerable rise in EV adoption in the country.
According to the survey, nine out of ten electric car owners desire a longer range per full charge, while an impressive 83 percent of respondents expressed their wish for more public charging points.
The lack of adequate charging options is also discouraging potential electric car buyers. According to Axel Philipson, the CEO of Zaptec Sweden, 15 percent of non-electric car owners cited the long distances between charging posts on roads as the primary reason for not opting for an electric vehicle.
“It should be easy and safe to charge your electric car. The closer you are to a good charger, the more secure you can feel that the car has a charge when you need to use it,” said Philipson.
StoreDot, a prominent battery developer, also plans to introduce batteries featuring XFC (eXtremely Fast Charging) technology. According to the company, this innovative approach will eliminate the need for long-range and large batteries.
In the initial phase, StoreDot aims to develop batteries capable of charging 16 miles of range within five minutes. Looking ahead, the company envisions reducing this charging time even further, with a target of just two minutes by the year 2032.
Fast Charger Payment Solutions
According to reports, a large proportion of EV owners rely on charging provider applications to handle their EV charging requirements.
As the adoption of electric mobility continues to rise, the need for straightforward and user-friendly payment options, particularly card payments, has grown significantly among Swedish electric car users.
Although card payments are already accepted, they often involve using different apps or charging tokens to initiate the charging process.
The survey showed that 56 percent of respondents expressed a preference for a payment method that does not require the use of an app. Many electric drivers and authorities alike are calling for solutions that offer seamless payment processes at charging stations.
At present, Zaptec Sweden is actively collaborating on ISO 15118, an innovative communication standard facilitating interaction between electric cars and charging stations.
Among its advancements is the Plug&Charge technology. This technology aims to allow car owners to charge their vehicles without using an app to initiate the payment process in the future.
Presently, most operators address this issue by using standard card payment terminals or separate payment kiosks that support multiple chargers at a station.
Tesla has also tackled this problem with its Supercharger stations, which boast a simple design without a keypad or display for card payments. Instead, the payment process occurs automatically through a payment card linked to the driver’s profile.
According to reports, Tesla is actively exploring methods to reduce EV charging times for its batteries. The company aims to enhance the convenience of its electric vehicles for a broader range of customers.
However, as Tesla opens up its fast chargers to drivers of other electric car brands, it must adapt to the new card payment requirements as well.
Wireless EV Charging
In another development, Volkswagen has confirmed its ongoing work on wireless electric car charging technology. The company uses its own patented coil and charging pad design with silicon-carbide materials.
The initial prototype achieved a charge rate similar to home Level 2 systems (240 volts), but further trials with a silicon carbide inverter demonstrated a remarkable 120-kilowatt charging capacity. VW’s ultimate goal is to elevate the system to an impressive 300-kilowatt charging rate.
While wireless charging has primarily been associated with home use, there are a few high-power systems in development, mainly targeting larger commercial vehicles. VW’s wireless charging technology holds the promise of making EV charging even more convenient and efficient for future electric vehicle owners.
VW is also collaborating with the University of Tennessee to explore materials that could potentially increase the driving range of future electric vehicles. By creating a frame for EV battery packs using 3D-printed resin-based structures, VW aims to reduce weight by 60 percent compared to conventional steel. These materials offer superior durability and energy absorption capabilities, contributing to the advancement of electric vehicle technology.
Volvo Group Sees Robust Growth in EV Deliveries
The momentum in EV manufacturing remains strong, with the Volvo Group, a prominent Swedish manufacturing company, making impressive advancements in the EV market.
The Volvo Group has reported a surge in electric trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engine deliveries. Following its largest order for electric trucks in May, CEO Martin Lundstedt revealed that Volvo Group achieved its “strongest quarterly earnings ever” in Q2.
The company delivered a total of 759 electric trucks in the second quarter, including 337 Volvos, 417 Renaults and five Mack electric trucks.
The electric bus sector also saw impressive growth. The company delivered a total of 131 fully electric buses, marking a 236 percent year-on-year increase. Electric bus orders for Q2 surged to 317, a 306 percent rise compared to last year.
Volvo Penta, the company’s marine and industrial power solutions supplier, also experienced a 933 percent expansion in electric engine deliveries, amounting to 31 units.
Nine new orders for electric engines were placed in the same period. The demand for Volvo’s electric construction equipment increased by 49 percent in the first half of the year, totaling 464 orders.
According to Lundstedt, maintaining stable earnings plays a crucial role in driving the transformation toward a more sustainable transportation and infrastructure system.
For heavy-duty, high-voltage applications, Electrovaya Inc. announced the launch of its Infinity-HV battery systems. These systems are specifically designed for buses, delivery trucks, construction trucks, hybrid-fuel cell/battery systems and stationary energy storage systems.
The new Infinity-HV systems are available in two versions – HV-90 and HV-180. They have nominal energies of 35 kWh and 70 kWh, respectively, for both 400V and 800V applications. These modular systems can be tailored to meet specific requirements and provide versatility for different use cases.
Electrovaya’s Infinity-HV batteries use advanced lithium-ion ceramic technology and UL-recognized EV series cells. They have an impressive projected lifespan of 25 years, making them ideal for applications with one cycle per day. This advancement makes them the longest-lasting high-voltage batteries currently available in the market.
To prioritize safety, the Infinity-HV packs integrate the company’s proprietary multi-level cell and battery fire propagation prevention technology, offering a higher level of fire protection.
The management of these systems will be handled by Electrovaya’s fifth-generation advanced battery management system (BMS), which is currently operational in over 4,000 Infinity products. The company anticipates delivering pre-production units in Q4 of 2023.