We are at a critical moment in the automotive sector. Two trends come together that go hand in hand even if they are not identical. On the one hand, we have connected cars, which bring an experience to vehicles that we previously only had on computers. This is something similar to what happened with the transition from mobile phones to smartphones.
Almost all automobile brands are offering new functions in their cars that imply they need an internet connection, either via Wifi or via a data SIM card. Some brands even offer rates for their cars, so that they have a connection at all times. Even artificial intelligence has reached certain models.
The other trend is much more known and controversial, the arrival of electrification in a world that hasn’t radically changed propulsion engines in over 100 years. This has sparked a lot of criticism from users and engine enthusiasts who don’t see electrification as a plausible future, for many reasons.
Loading speed
One of the arguments put forward by critics of electric cars is How long does it take to charge their battery? travel fewer kilometers than with a full tank of fuel. Currently, average charging speeds involve a wait that varies from an hour on the highway sometimes to much longer when slow charging at home.
It is obvious that slow charging, so-called unattended charging, is carried out at times when we do not need to pay attention to the car, for example when we are sleeping. However, When charging on the road, on the move, the time spent charging the vehicle is much greater.since there won’t be any long breaks, at least not normally.
Iberdrola charging station with several cars charging at the same time.
That is why Major manufacturers are working to create very fast charging protocols, which allow you to continue marking in just a few minutes. Of course, this requires technologies previously installed in cars and very high power chargers. Come on, the same thing that happened with phones in recent years.
The 240 W and 500 KW
Chinese manufacturers distance themselves from Korean and American manufacturers by focusing on much higher loading speeds. We’re talking about cell phones, but also cars. Brands like OPPO or Realme have presented smartphone models with charges of up to 240 W, which allows you to recharge a cell phone in around 10 minutes.
Xiaomi SU7 charging on a branded charger
In comparison, charging a Pixel, an iPhone or a Samsung takes much longer, up to 6 times longer depending on the cable chosen and the model analyzed. Companies that do not support fast charging report that it is to preserve battery capacitywhich would deteriorate much more pronounced if speeds were higher.
In the automotive sector we see something similar, with brands like Tesla rely on loads of 170 and 250 KW but Chinese brands push these figures much further. Xiaomi confirmed at MWC that its Xiaomi SU7 was capable of charging the battery needed to travel 200 km in 5 minutes. In addition, in 15 minutes, it exceeded 500 km of autonomy.
The loading speed of the @Li_Auto_ MEGA is brutal! pic.twitter.com/dauii12s85
– Alejandro Pérez (@Alejandroperez) March 5, 2024
Another brand that has gone viral in recent days is Li Auto with its Mega model, a sort of minivan capable of exceeding 500 KW charging speed, which is reflected on your screen with a charge percentage that increases in real time. This model is currently only available in China, but it is only a matter of time before these manufacturers make the plunge into Europe like competitors like IM or BYD are doing.
The importance of the charging network
There is one aspect in which cell phones are not like cars, and that is that in the case of the former, the only thing necessary to fully charge the device is to use the charger provided in the purchase box. In the case of vehicles, the existence of an infrastructure allowing rapid charging is necessary. in all the countries where it circulates.
Ionity charging station.
In China, some companies are developing their own charging network, and in other countries like Europe, companies like Ionity or Zunder occupy many positions with chargers with a charging speed of 300 KW or more. They are still not enough to charge cars at the speeds observed in China, but Little by little, we can expect this network to become more and more dense. and that cars increasingly have better loading speeds.
Again, this is only important if you are traveling with them, because On a daily basis, a slow charging station is more than enough leave the vehicle unattended and hope that in the time it is not in use its battery rises enough to pick it up when we need it.
The evolution of battery technologies will also be key, as it will enable smaller size, longer battery life, lower weight, faster charging speed and lower price in the future. Solid-state batteries will be one of those options and it looks like they will be a reality in 2025.
