Tesla’s “Dog Mode”
Dog Mode was rolled out as an extension of Tesla’s “Cabin Overheat Protection” mode, which automatically cools the cabin if it reaches high temperatures in order to keep “babies or pets” safe. Dog Mode is a more proactive setting that the owner can choose.
Optional Engine Noise
While Porsche and BMW are trying their best to make their EVs sound like spaceships and Rivian actively trying to not hide how their motors really sound, Hyundai and Kia will provide future owners with the option to make their EV sound and feel like it has a thermal engine under the hood.
200 Year old EV
Scotland’s Robert Anderson built his motorized carriage sometime between 1832 and ’39 when batteries were not yet rechargeable, so it was more a parlor trick (“Look! No horse nor ox, yet it moves!”) than a transportation device. The first rechargable batteries arrived in 1859, making the electric-car idea more viable.
Chargepoints ‘vs’ Petrol Stations
The UK is home to over 30,000 public chargepoints compared with 8,400 operational petrol stations. Petrol station numbers have fallen by over 36 percent since 2000. 2013 is the only year recorded here which shows a year-on-year increase – whereas public chargepoint numbers are growing every month.
Electric Vehicle Choice
Thanks to manufacturers like BMW, Kia, Volkswagon, Nissan, Audi, Hyundai, Mini, Renault, Vauxhall and MG there are now over 150 plug in vehicle options to choose from in the UK and the list is growing every year.
Rapid Chargers
Depending on the model, EVs can be recharged to 80% in as little as 10-15 minutes, though an average new EV would take around an hour on a standard 50 kW rapid charge point of which there are 6,018 in the UK (as of June 2022).
Average Battery Range
The median range of EVs has been steadily increasing over the past decade. In 2011, there were just three different models of fully-electric vehicles on the market and their ranges on a full charge spanned from 63 to 94 miles. Today, that number is much higher and sits around 194 miles per charge.
Battery Recycling/Re-using
Lithium-ion batteries feature in pretty much every electric car, they last for about 10 years before they need replacing due to diminished capacity and there’s no need to just throw them away. EV batteries are highly recyclable and with over 90% of the cell able to be recovered it is essential for policy makers to aid in the construction of battery recycling capacity in the UK.
Watch the short video below for highlights of the key points in this post.