Matching the Speed and Familiarity of Gas Station Refuelling
Hyundai believes that the only way for electric vehicles to garner mainstream acceptance is to address charging concerns. The target, according to Tyrone Johnson, Managing Director of the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC), is to get EV charging to a stage where it feels as quick and effortless as a gas stop. Convenience aside, the evolution towards fast and painless charging technology is the only way to allay drivers’ apprehension about range and everyday usability.
Hyundai
Eliminating Charging Anxiety
The HMETC, established at a cost of over $200 million in Rüsselsheim, Germany, has been tasked with developing EV charging technology that can provide the perceived ease of simply pumping gas. Johnson notes that while combustion-engine vehicles have more than a century of development and refinement behind them, automakers today are being pushed to perfect EV charging almost overnight. He is confident that his team is up to the challenge, although he admits that the industry needs a little more time to develop infrastructure and technology robust enough to support mass EV adoption.
Hyundai
A Breakthrough in Battery Tech Is Coming
It’s no secret that matching the speed it takes to fill a tank will demand a major leap in battery tech and charging capabilities. The fastest charging electric cars today manage just over 300 kW charging speeds, while engineers at the HMETC are testing 400 kW systems in the lab. Better and faster battery tech could enable longer driving range without larger battery packs that add weight and eat into cabin space. The ultimate goal, however, remains drastically shorter charging sessions that approach the time it takes to fill up a gas tank. Each small step takes us closer to this goal, as Hyundai pushes towards an EV future that is as seamless as the fossil-fuel-powered past.
Hyundai
