Architectural Changes In Auto Wiring With The Arrival Of Electric Cars
Electric cars are expected to occupy bigger shares of the automotive market every year. Around 2040, 100% of vehicles sold in the world will be electric. This tendency is not just due to legal regulations that ban petrol and diesel cars in many countries globally. New exciting technologies that are arriving in the car market are almost exclusively linked to electric cars. Automatic vehicles, the next big thing in the auto market, are also solely made on the basis of electric cars.
The dominance of electric cars on the market means huge changes in the wire and cable industry when it comes to autowiring because electric cars no longer use traditional auto cables. Read this blog to find out what the electric vehicle revolution means for the wire and cable industry.
What components make up an electric car?
In an electric car, the power source is the battery. The battery packs are your standard lithium-ion used in most modern devices. What is more, there is the inverter used to transform the battery DC power into AC power that is three-phased. This power is used to turn on the induction motor, which later activates the drive wheel.
Just like in petrol cars, the induction motors of the electric cars need cooling. There are several cooling systems in electric vehicles, including air cooling, fan cooling, and liquid cooling. Liquid cooling is the most efficient and cost-effective solution on the market.
What cable is used for electric cars?
The cable used in electric cars is the EV cable, which means electric vehicle cable. This is the cable used to charge the batteries of the electric cars. The cables are used in charging stations, homes, and all public locations where the electrical cables may be charged.
When choosing a cable for an electric vehicle, there are two essential characteristics to consider, which are actually intervened. These are the charging type and the type of plug.
The charging of an electric car can be fast, slow, or rapid. Slow charging is suitable for homes and workplaces and can take between 10 and 14 hours to complete. Fast charging is what is offered in the majority of the urban stations in the cities. The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle in this type of station is about 4-6 hours. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers can get your battery full in less than an hour, even though it is not as common as basic fast chargers.
There are different types of plugs that support different chargers, and the cable has to be compliant with the type of charger to work.
In the United States, all of North America, and Japan, the dominant plug is J1772 for 120V and 240V charging. This type of plug is not really consistent with rapid and ultrarapid charging. In Europe, the dominant type of plug is Type 2, which is now accepted as the European standard. This type supports rapid charging in addition to fast and slow ones. Tesla has their own type of plugs consistent only with its cars. When choosing an EV cable, make sure that it fits the desired type of plug and the predominant plug you will be using, as well as the standards in your country.
Modern manufacturers make it a goal to produce universal EV cables that are good with both residential and commercial applications. However, it is still important to have clear specs in mind before buying cables for your electric vehicle.
What type of insulation is used with EV cables?
When it comes to insulation, XLPE is the most popular choice for the electrical car battery cable because it is flexible, light, small, and has the appropriate temperature rating of 150°C. TPU, TPE, and PVC cables are also used with cheaper EV cables and present a good solution overall. Generally, light weight and flexibility are factors that matter the most when it comes to EV auto battery cables.
Innovations in Electric Autowiring
The number-one challenge in the modern electric vehicle industry is to make batteries more efficient so that faster charging is a reality. This will allow for more comfortable use of electric vehicles not just in cities but during cross-state and cross-country traveling.
While this is not the easiest goal to achieve, the innovations in auto cables also help to make electric cars more efficient. Various companies are working on technologies that would help EV low-voltage cables to occupy less space and be less heavy. One of the ways to do this is to replace round car battery cables with flat car battery cables.
While there are some challenges in the electric vehicle revolution, one thing is clear: the future is here, and it is electric for sure. Modern and efficient auto wiring will for sure constitute a big part of that future.
