Enhanced range electric vehicles
Flexible electromobility with temporary batteries
Enrev technology
The energy storage system of the vehicle is based on a permanently-installed battery, supplemented with temporary batteries. The permanent battery fulfills the energy needs of usual trips, whereas temporary batteries are installed when additional capacity is required.
Temporary batteries are accommodated in compartments located under the car floor with a modular configuration. In a battery swapping operation, temporary batteries move horizontally and are handled from the sides of the vehicle, either manually or automatically.
Enrev develops technology that enables electric vehicles to employ temporary batteries. This entails performing tasks such as: sizing and design, programming, simulation, and basic prototyping.
The know-how generated by Enrev includes industrial property relating to temporary batteries and their housing withing the vehicle, tools for battery swapping, and vehicle energy management.
In addition, Enrev analyzes economic aspects of the exploitation of auxiliary resources, ranging from the deployment of battery swapping networks to the services provided by temporary batteries.
The electric car for everyone
It provides consumers with all that they need, they pay only for what they really use. The permanently-installed battery meets their usual mobility needs, minimizing the investment. When they need additional capacity, they can use temporary batteries, with a cost proportional to the actual utilization. But temporary batteries take electromobility further, providing energy immediately: no dead times, no limits. They also take breakthroughs in storage technology to the user, with the same car. And, whatever other drivers do, the behavior of the car depends on its permanent battery, whereas temporary batteries feed energy seamlessly to every user.
Efficiency in operation, widespread use. Users who have a charging point where they can charge daily—either at home or at work—are able to commute employing only the permanent battery, extending money savings from purchase to everyday use. Additionally, the vehicle weight is thus reduced, and so is its consumption—especially when these regular trips take place in urban areas. Besides, temporary batteries open the door to electromobility for those users who do not have regular access to a charging point. In fact, these batteries can be kept installed as the vehicle energy source for extended periods, replacing them when they are exhausted.
A large market is not the only advantage
Design minimizing risks. The permanently-installed battery is no longer crucial to have a long range. Therefore, the automaker can choose a more conservative design aimed to provide an adequate performance throughout the vehicle’s life, applying proven technologies and extending the life cycle of the corresponding investments.
Opportunities for battery development. Temporary batteries can incorporate improvements that will quickly reach all kinds of users. This facilitates analyzing the behavior of new storage technologies in real-life conditions, and does not require any car adaptation. Thus, development can be accelerated at a reduced cost.
For any car model, with room for distinction. The car behavior depends on its permanent battery. This favors temporary battery standardization without constraining the vehicle performance, so different car models can employ them. At the same time, automakers can still make a difference through the permanent battery.
Beyond building cars
The investment in battery swapping stations can be adjusted to their actual demand, benefiting from the fact that battery swapping can be manual or automated. In addition, these stations are free to choose when to charge their batteries, optimizing their energy costs and utilization factor.
The impact of electromobility on the power system is reduced because battery charging can be scheduled and adjusted taking into account the state of the grid. Moreover, batteries managed by swapping stations can easily provide the power system with ancillary services in order to guarantee its stability.
The optimal utilization of energy storage systems contributes to reducing the use of global resources. In turn, this demand reduction allows more drivers to go electric at a lower price. Besides, the flexible electricity consumption of temporary batteries facilitates the use of cleaner energy sources.
Enrev technology, especially by means of temporary batteries, fosters new business models for automobile and battery manufacturers, gas and charging stations, and energy providers. These business models also bring benefits to electric vehicle users and society as a whole.