AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
Page-Roberts aims to revolutionise the EV landscape
DISRUPTINGEV DESIGN
Mark Simon introduces a novel design that overhauls the traditional ‘skateboard’ battery arrangement for EVs
U
ntil now, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have placed car batteries under the floor as a convenient way to package
sufficient battery energy for an acceptable range.
Tis has resulted in the traditional
‘skateboard’ layout of EVs. Te drawbacks of this arrangement are the added height, increased weight and body structural complexities that have led to EVs becoming increasingly large, heavy and expensive whilst reducing their range. Page-Roberts is looking to drastically
upscale EV efficiencies with its new engineering solution and design, which the company believes overcomes some of the many obstacles facing the industry. Te design delivers a smaller, lighter and
The battery is between the front row seats
more efficient vehicle with a considerably enhanced range for an equivalent battery size.
THE PROBLEM Tere are four key barriers to widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the UK. Tese are: a lack of EV charging infrastructure; low usable range; price premium compared with combustion engine cars; and time required to charge. All four challenges are in one way or another related to vehicle efficiency. Te key reason for EV efficiency is that despite the rapid push towards electrification of the auto industry, the design and layout of our cars has stayed the same, with manufacturers seeking to sell large, luxurious and therefore profitable versions of their legacy designs.
Our lives and family dynamics have changed. Covid-19 has changed the way we work. Te average car journey in the UK includes just two people and most people don’t want overly large cars. But the car industry has not responded and continues to make increasingly large, expensive vehicles that price a great proportion of potential car buyers out of the EV revolution. For those who can afford a new EV, range-anxiety continues to be a concern, stalling uptake.
THE SOLUTION Te Page-Roberts innovation positions the battery between the front row seats and a second row of rear-facing seats. Tis arrangement is far more compact than standard electric vehicle designs on the market and offers the potential for a lower, more aerodynamic vehicle with a standard wheelbase. Te resulting vehicle would be lighter and more streamlined (with 20% less drag), offering the potential either for an extended range of up to 30%, or the ability to use a much smaller battery to achieve a similar range. Manufacturing costs, meanwhile, could be cut by up to 36% as a result of the unique arrangement, requiring less expensive aluminium or composite structures to compensate for the additional mass and poor structural complexity of the skateboard platform.
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www.engineerlive.com
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