Economical

means using energy efficiently and converting it into pure motion.

Electric vehicles are very efficient and turn much more of the energy they consume  into motion than those with traditional combustion engines. On the other hand, the high weight of the traction batteries and the limited range of the vehicles pose new challenges for car manufacturers. Electric mobility requires the reinvention of many car components. The necessary innovations involved will benefit the entire automotive industry.

Ninety percent of the energy that electric motors consume is turned into motion. In combustion engines, it is less than 40 percent. Furthermore, part of the energy lost during break application can be recovered and returned to the battery thanks to the advanced technology in electric vehicles. This efficiency advantage becomes particularly significant in urban traffic where many break applications and accelerations are the norm.

Electric mobility leads to innovation. In order to further improve the economy – and with it the range, environmental footprint and economic viability – of electric vehicles, their weight needs to be reduced and auxiliaries optimized, among other factors. One way to achieve this is a lightweight mode of construction using materials based on natural fibers. Thermal management, in other words: controlling the heat flows within the vehicles can also still be further improved to increase efficiency. Such innovations can lead to more efficient and durable vehicle designs and can also be applied in cars with combustion engines – to the benefit of the environment and the wallet. 

Technology bridges help with the transition to electric mobility. Among them are different concepts of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) such as range-extended electric vehicles (REEV), which have a hybrid drive but a battery that can also be charged via the power grid. Energy efficient drive components and intelligent operational strategies can ensure that those kinds of vehicles, too, will only generate minimal CO2-emissions. This hybrid form of "traditional" car and electric vehicle can increase the acceptance of electric mobility among consumers who expect their vehicles to have an extensive range. On the other hand, many user have found that for most of their trips the purely electric mode is completely sufficient: More than two-thirds of the cars on Germany's roads drive less than 40km per day.