Why Is Weight in Electric Vehicles Important ?

Why Is Weight In Electric Vehicles Important ? 

Introduction

Why does Tesla spend so much work into making its electric vehicles lighter? What competitive advantage does it give Tesla over its rivals? Let’s look at what Tesla is trying to reduce weight in their vehicles and see how it compares to the rest of the electric vehicle competitors.

Why Is Weight Important in Electric Vehicles?

EVs are facing a challenge. Yet, there is an exponential tipping point beyond which the effort becomes extraordinary. The problem with EVs is that their batteries are so heavy. And thus the more weight the automobile has…. the more batteries it need. It’s like a vicious loop. Because this is so crucial in EVs, we see Tesla doing such fantastic work with drag Co-Efficient.

Because every little thing counts. You think the Cyber truck Vault is amazing because of its retractable roof; that’s also for aerodynamics. If you have an open bed in your pickup truck, it functions like a sail, slowing you down. There’s a reason the Cyber truck is the way it is. Because the future is electric, and this is how electric vehicles appear.

The Vicious Loop of Weight and Battery Capacity

Because of the drag co-efficient, Ev appears like this. You can attempt to make an electric pickup truck appear like an internal combustion engine, but there’s a good reason why the Cyber truck looks so different. Because pickup trucks are large and hefty, their range will suffer if they are not aerodynamic. But, you may correct this by adding extra batteries. Nonetheless, the weight has grown, necessitating the addition of new batteries. Finally, you’re stuck with these large vehicles with limited range.

However they still use huge batteries, which are incredibly expensive. But a pickup truck is large, so you can fit a lot of batteries inside. Nevertheless, it raises the cost significantly. As a result, Ford will very certainly lose money on the majority of F-150 Lightning sales. Nevertheless, there is no way they can produce them quickly enough to fulfill demand. At least for the entry-level models. So what have Tesla’s weight-loss efforts accomplished?

Tesla’s Efforts to Reduce Weight

Tesla recognizes that the goal is to keep the car’s weight as small as feasible because to the hefty battery packs. Tesla does everything possible to reduce weight at the battery level, but it doesn’t end there. Producing structural battery packs, die cast molds for automobiles, and a variety of other weight-saving measures. Everything adds up. Of course, huge weight reductions have occurred at the 4680 battery level. Given that the battery accounts for around one-third of the car’s weight, it makes logical to do everything necessary to decrease weight here. We’re excited to see how much weight we can save with the 4680 batteries.

Comparison of Fremont, Berlin and Texas Model Ys

I believe that comparing the Fremont Model Y specifications to those of the Berlin or Texas Model Ys will provide the greatest insight. Compare the vehicle’s weight and kWh consumption. This will be fascinating. As Tesla prepares for the next phase of growth, they will be unable to do it without revealing some secrets, such as how good these 4680 batteries are. Of then, who knows, they could even conceal part of the range using software, possibly because they don’t want the competitors, or anybody else, to know how far ahead they are. In any case, Tesla may only need a 70 kWh 4680 battery to get the same amount of power out of the 82 kWh 2170.

The Virtuous Loop of Technological Advancements

Yes! If the new Model S extended range can achieve roughly the same range out of a battery that is 10-20 kWh less, surely the new Model Y can as well? Remember, we’re also talking about front and rear die casting, as well as a structural battery pack. In addition to 4680 batteries. Yet, the technology’s virtuous loop only improves exponentially here. We are now at a stage where, if Tesla can discover further methods to cut weight, they may be able to eliminate certain batteries, as fewer are necessary to achieve the same requirements as previously.

Cost Savings of Using Less Batteries

The more weight Tesla saves via technological advancements, the more weight it may possibly save by requiring fewer batteries. Possibly not everywhere yet, but adequate for many buyers. As more people choose Tesla as their vehicle of choice, the charging networks and service facilities will expand. Increasing the product’s quality. Of course, because batteries are the most expensive component of an EV, using less batteries saves a significant amount of money. Tesla’s 4680 batteries are approximately half the price of the supposedly 2170 batteries.

ALSO READ : 5 Method Of Recycling EV Batteries

Tesla’s Focus on Profit Margins

Now imagine if they also used 15-20% fewer batteries. The net profit is then calculated. To put it another way, putting aside potential supply chain concerns or even inflation, this is the most costly Tesla vehicle to produce in actual terms. As in, things are only going to get better from here as they find new methods to cut expenses and improve profits.

Tesla will not pass on these savings to customers, at least not very soon, because there is just no reason. It appears that they will do everything they can to match supply and demand at the clearing price. When additional plants come online and begin to ramp up next year, supply should be eased slightly. As a result, any cost reduction implemented by Tesla will simply be applied to net profit.

Weight Reduction in Electric Vehicles Vs. Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles

For example, suppose Tesla’s new motor was also less expensive than their prior motor. They finally put these new engines in all of their cars. With this innovative design, they may save $250 per motor. It is a significant additional profit. But what if the motor also decreased the weight of a twin motor by around 70 pounds? It would imply that the automobile now requires $100 less batteries.

This is not the same as a conventional internal combustion engine. If you want additional range, simply build a larger gas tank. But, when reducing weight in an ICE vehicle, you cannot simply remove a portion of the engine, as you can with the battery pack, because it is no longer necessary for the same specs. At this point, all of Tesla’s technology looks like this.

Impact of new 4680 batteries on Tesla’s vehicles’ handling and weight distribution

Even little improvements now have a significant impact. Especially with the new 4680 batteries, which will be significantly lighter per kWh. And Tesla believes that these batteries will continue to develop in the next years. It will make a significant impact. Although the batteries are heavy, it’s fantastic that all of the battery weight is at the bottom of the car; this provides the car a lower center of gravity and improves handling. Because of this, several sports vehicles feature carbon fiber roofs.

Carbon fiber is substantially lighter than steel, thus the roof is the optimum area to include it to keep the weight closer to the ground. Of course, Tesla has mentioned moment of inertia, which means that if fewer batteries are needed, the batteries on the exterior of the pack will be removed, maintaining the weight closer to the center of the car. This would significantly enhance handling, cornering, and weight distribution. This is why many sports vehicles are mid-engined, giving the impression that the engine is at the back.

Tesla’s cars will become lighter, safer, and better-performing

The Porsche 911 are particularly renowned for this. This will also make Tesla’s continually safer, due to the batteries being closer to the center. Meaning in an incident they are further from any potential impact, and are thus less likelihood of fire. Due to being so much lighter, Tesla’s cars will handle that much better, they will be able to accelerate quicker, have a faster top speed, more range, faster stopping, better cornering. This is just physics. A subject Elon knows well. Physics is the law, everything else is a recommendation, as Elon said. As time goes on, and the technologies improve, there will be fewer, and lighter batteries required in a Tesla.

The impact of weight reduction on Tesla’s cars’ handling and range

Tesla will continue to require less batteries and make lighter cars. You see, simply the better and better you get the weight, then the better the car performs and handles. Not to mention how much more range you can get, or less batteries required to get about the same, and just more profit to Tesla. When there are charging stations everywhere, and charging speed is faster, then larger heavier batteries are probably also less necessary for the majority of people. There is no competition coming any time soon.

If Tesla always has the demand, they can just add any cost savings to their profits rather than reduce the price for the consumers. But all these improvements now, are just so exponential, the 4680s and all associated features have amazing weight savings. That from here on in, any small change has a big impact. It will be very interesting to see how many kWh the Model 2 will require. Although it will likely be using LFP, which is a bit heavier. But with its short-wheel base I can’t wait to see how it handles. Meanwhile the competition are having to find ways of adding more batteries and weight to try and reach Tesla’s specifications.

Summary

One of the most significant challenges that electric cars confront is the weight of their batteries. And the more weight the automobile has, the more batteries it will require. It’s a never-ending circle. As a result, EV manufacturers are forced to produce heavier vehicles with less range. Given that an electric vehicle’s batteries account for around one-third of the overall weight of the vehicle, Tesla is attempting to save weight at the battery level. Yet it does not end there. They are also experimenting with a variety of additional methods to lose as much weight as possible.

Because of the heavy battery packs, they concluded that the key is to keep the weight of the automobile as minimal as feasible. Tesla’s electric vehicles will have better handling, faster acceleration, faster peak speed, greater range, faster stopping, and better cornering since they are lighter. As time passes and technologies advance, Tesla believes that reasonable improvements to their batteries will be made over the next few years, making a significant difference for its EVs.

FAQ On Weight In Electric Vehicles Importance

Q1. Why Is Weight In Electric Vehicles Important ?

Typically, the greater the weight of an electric vehicle battery, the greater its energy storage capacity and power output potential. However, this correlation is not always linear, as a bigger battery can improve the vehicle’s range while also demanding more energy due to the added weight.

Q2. How does weight affect electric vehicles?

The additional weight carried by electric vehicles is mainly attributed to the larger size of their batteries. In order to attain a range of 300 miles or beyond (480 kilometers or more) per charge, EV batteries need to weigh several thousand pounds. However, there are ongoing developments in battery chemistry that offer the possibility of storing more energy in a lighter package.

Q3. Does weight affect electric car range?

Similar to how adding weight, carrying loads on the roof, or towing can reduce the efficiency of a petrol or diesel car, they can also affect the range of an EV. Likewise, a heavy right foot and aggressive acceleration can consume more energy, similar to how it can increase fuel consumption.

Q4. What is the weight of an electric car?

Few List Of Car And its Weight :