Electric Vehicles and range anxiety One of the biggest challenges that EV manufacturers face is overcoming range anxiety of consumers. Cell balancing and thermal management strategies are imperative for combating range anxiety as well as false safety perceptions among consumers. Learn more about range optimization and safety in EVs in the article "Range Optimization for Battery Electric Vehicles" here: http://bit.ly/W_Hornick_Range_Optimization

1. Range Optimization for Battery Electric
Vehicles
Introduction
Consumers have been reluctant to commit themselves and their purchasing power to electric
vehicles. Despite government incentives and an increased awareness of climate change, geo-
politics and pollution among the general public, market penetration of EVs has been slower than
hoped for. That said, electric vehicles could have a bright future within the automotive industry.
EV sales increased by over 58% in 2013 with 190,000 units sold globally and it is predicted that
sales could reach 2.7 million units in 20201
. In order for consumers to truly accept electric
vehicles, range must be improved and optimized. Doing so requires well-thought-out battery
cell balancing techniques and thermal management strategies.
Range Anxiety
One major concern inhibiting the current line-up of electric vehicles is range anxiety. Electric
vehicles are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations and as not all EV consumers are located
in California, climate can very well determine how much range anxiety is experienced. The AAA
recently did a study to determine the effect of climate on a battery vehicle. At 75 degrees
Fahrenheit, AAA tested the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, and Ford Focus Electric. The average
range was 105 miles (169 kms) which would be sufficient to get most commuters to and from
their destination. At a temperature of 95 degrees (35 C), the cars averaged 69 miles (111 kms).
95 degrees Fahrenheit is a realistic summer temperature in many markets. Even more shocking
was the effect of the cold. The cars averaged only 43 miles (69 kms) at 20 degrees (-6.5 C).
Although the average distance to work for commuters in the U.S. is well within the cold
temperature average range, for many people that 57 percent drop in range from a mild climate
to a winter climate would make their commute impossible or impractical.
Safety
In addition to range anxiety, consumers react strongly to rumors and reports in the mass media
of thermal runaway events leading to fires whether or not the reaction is fair from an
engineering standpoint. The Boeing Dreamliner’s battery issues brought the conversation over
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Frost & Sullivan.Other estimates are more aggressive.For example, Pike Research had predicted 3.2 million units
by 2015 though this estimate was made in 2011.