I’ve read on a few sites that in the next 3 years, EV battery range might increase by 30-50% thanks to new tech like solid-state batteries. Can anyone from the industry back this up or share some insights on how likely this actually is?
We’re already seeing most EVs with 80-100 kWh batteries, which is a step up from the 60-80 kWh range just a few years ago. We might see 100-120 kWh on updated models in the next few years.
Honestly, range isn’t everything. Charging speed is way more important – that’s what actually affects how long you have to stop on a trip.
Can anyone ‘prove’ it? No.
Will companies work on improving range? Sure – that’s called progress.
But articles with exact predictions on range increases are usually just clickbait.
Can you prove CPUs will get faster? No, but history shows that they will.
Can you prove EV battery range will improve? No, but past trends suggest it’s likely.
Jason said:
Can you prove CPUs will get faster? No, but history shows that they will.
Can you prove EV battery range will improve? No, but past trends suggest it’s likely.
Look at the range on a 2012 Tesla Model S – around 265 miles. Now compare that with a 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, which goes 220-303 miles depending on the model.
Or CPUs: In 2006, the best CPU managed 12.4 GFLOPS. By 2014, consumer CPUs were doing 170 GFLOPS.
You can find cars today with less range than a 2012 Model S, but you’d struggle to find a device with processing power below 12 GFLOPS these days.
Nobody here owes you proof.
kwame said:
Nobody here owes you proof.
I’m not asking for ‘proof’ exactly – just something a bit more concrete or backed by facts.
kwame said:
Nobody here owes you proof.
I’m not asking for ‘proof’ exactly – just something a bit more concrete or backed by facts.
Battery tech improves incrementally every year. The proof is in the historical progress.
@Gabriel
It’s not just about battery improvements – it’s about how manufacturers decide to use those gains. Will they prioritize more range, or will they cut costs and weight? Also, if the range increases by 20 miles, will it even matter in your daily driving?
Nope.
Plenty of groups are working on tech that could improve battery life, but predicting which ones will succeed and when they’ll reach production is just guessing.
I can’t tell you that by ‘year X, range will be Y,’ but it’s definitely the direction we’re moving in. A 30-50% boost in 3 years is a bit ambitious, though.
Even if energy density improves, it’s more likely they’ll make batteries smaller and reduce costs rather than just pack in more range.
I hope not – people don’t need 500 miles of range.
Today’s EVs have plenty for most people’s needs. More efficient batteries would mean less weight and lower costs, which would help with affordability.
Asking for massive batteries just keeps prices up.
@Kenneth
Have you done any long-distance trips in an EV? Even with good planning, it can be a pain.
olivia said:
@Kenneth
Have you done any long-distance trips in an EV? Even with good planning, it can be a pain.
Yep! I did a 1,500-mile trip in a Mach-E around Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Utah. With Tesla’s Supercharger network opening up, it wasn’t too bad. Better than when I took my GV60 to New Mexico last year.
Things seem to be getting better, and with Volvo, Polestar, and others joining the Supercharger network, it looks promising.
olivia said:
@Kenneth
Have you done any long-distance trips in an EV? Even with good planning, it can be a pain.
Actually, I did a 2,000-mile trip with my EV without planning stops ahead. It was easier than with a gas car! I charged while doing other things like eating and never had to wait around. And the fact that I wasn’t burning fuel made it more enjoyable.
More range won’t improve trips much – faster charging and more chargers will. Range isn’t the big issue people think it is.
@Kenneth
I see what you’re saying, but I had a different experience. With gas, I’m done in 5 minutes and get about 450 miles. When I public-charge, even with a fast charger, it can take 45 minutes to get close to full. Also, EVs take about 10 metric tons of CO2 to produce, versus 6 tons for a gas car, so the ‘environmental’ benefit doesn’t kick in until around 21k miles.
@olivia
You’re mixing things up. The time I dedicate to charging is different from the total time the car is charging.
Think of it like charging your phone overnight – you’re not awake for 8 hours waiting for it to charge.
For gas, yeah, it’s quick, but you’re usually stuck waiting at the pump. With EVs, you can charge while doing other stuff. And no, you don’t charge to 100% on trips, just around 80% like you wouldn’t let a gas car hit empty.
And on the CO2, lifetime emissions from gas cars dwarf that initial production difference.
@Kenneth
Are you just defending EVs because you’re locked into a high payment? I actually love EVs and drive a Genesis GV70 EV, but there’s still a lot to question. In SoCal, our grid is mostly nuclear and fossil fuels, not the clean energy everyone assumes EVs run on. Where are you that you have ‘clean energy’?