EV Tech Beyond the Powertrain
Today’s electric cars are marvels of technology. While people focus on their propulsion, this isn’t the only cutting-edge part of these vehicles. Even the suspension systems in EVs feature next-gen technology.
What Makes EV Suspension Different?
At first glance, it may not seem like EVs need any unique suspension. These systems do more than improve the ride and handling, though. And EVs need all the advantages they can get because of their unique weight shift from heavy batteries.
Probably the biggest challenge EVs face is convenience. Electric cars need to go farther on less power for them to be viable for most people. Since proper suspension keeps wheels from bouncing off the road, it improves mileage, improving EVs’ range.
EV suspension doesn’t stop at taking advantage of these mileage benefits. Some technologies go as far as generating extra power.
Regenerative Suspension Technologies
One of the most groundbreaking EV technologies is regenerative suspension, which recovers energy through the car’s shock absorbers. MIT students designed the first regenerative suspension system in 2009. Since then, several engineers and automakers have made their own versions.
In 2014, German tech firm Intertronic Gresser patented a suspension system that claimed to increase range by 50 percent through regeneration. Two years later, Audi unveiled a system that could generate 100 to 150 watts on an average road. While this technology has yet to move past prototypes, it could soon make its way onto the road.
More recently, scientists have designed a regenerative shock absorber that could generate as much as 526 watts and 224 watts on average. These systems are becoming more efficient all the time, paving the way for a bright future for EVs.
Other EV Suspension Technologies
Not all EV suspension systems are regenerative. Many recent EV advancements have integrated suspension, motors, braking, and even steering into a single system. Housing all of these technologies within the wheel itself is only possible with smaller electric motors and improved control and performance.
In 2020, an Israeli startup revealed a skateboard-like platform that houses all of these systems. This all-in-one platform can serve as the basis for a broad range of different EVs. Consolidating everything gives automakers more freedom of design as well as a headstart in building the vehicle.
EVs Drive Technology Forward
EVs have revolutionized the way we think about vehicles, and not just in their fuel. Their departure from traditional ideas of how cars function paves the way for unbridled innovation. From suspension to body design, EVs are changing transportation far more profoundly than people could have expected.
Story by Martin Banks.
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