Electric Vehicle Improvements From the Last Few Years

Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is growing at a rapid pace, thanks in part to increasing eco-consciousness among car buyers. In recent years, auto manufacturers, government agencies, and other organizations have been investing heavily in research and development to pursue advancements and innovations in EV technology. This has resulted in lower EV prices, more vehicle options, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times, making switching to an EV more appealing than ever before. Let's take a look at some of the most notable EV improvements over the last few years.

EV Battery Enhancements

Today, most EVs get their power from lithium-ion batteries, a decades-old technology that's also found in cell phones and laptops. After years of development, these batteries have become much more capable, allowing EVs to travel hundreds of miles between charges. Additionally, they're also now cheaper to produce, which helps narrow the price gap between EVs and gasoline-powered vehicles.

One of the latest innovations in EV battery technology is lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Already widely used in China, LFP batteries are making their way onto the North American and European markets in EV models from several major auto manufacturers. They're an attractive option for making EVs more affordable as iron and phosphate are easily available and cost-effective. Some new EVs come with a nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) battery, which provides shorter charging times and a longer range. The all-new 2025 Volvo EX30 comes standard with an LFP battery and offers an NMC battery as an option.

Another noteworthy advancement in EV battery technology in recent years is liquid cooling. Some EV models, such as Volvo EVs, are equipped with a liquid-cooled battery pack. This innovative technology offers significant advantages over a traditional air-cooled system, such as improved thermal management, enhanced performance, and better safety. It also helps keep the battery in good condition, making it more dependable and longer-lasting. A liquid-cooled battery relies on a mixture of glycol and water to absorb and dissipate heat away from the battery cells, which results in quicker and more consistent cooling. It's especially useful in high-performance applications.

Automakers and independent battery manufacturers are actively attempting to bring solid-state batteries to market. Touted as the next-generation EV batteries, these batteries are expected to revolutionize EVs with lighter weights, increased ranges, faster charging times, and longer lifespans. Other new EV batteries in the pipeline include silicon anode batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and iron-air batteries.

EV Charging Improvements

Early EV charging systems were slow, requiring hours to fully replenish an EV battery. Things have changed following the advent of DC fast charging, which has reduced charging times to just minutes. For example, the 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge are capable of charging from 10% to 80% in a mere 28 minutes when plugged into a DC fast charger.

Over the past few years, a wide range of new innovations in EV battery technology have emerged to further enhance the charging capabilities and speeds of EVs. One of these advances is wireless charging, which lets EV drivers juice up their vehicles without physical connections. This technology is less invasive and makes EV charging a more convenient and efficient process. Battery swapping is another technology that can help EV owners save time and hassle. It allows you to keep driving your EV by simply exchanging your empty battery with a fully charged one.

While DC fast charging has greatly increased the charging speeds of EVs, there's still room for improvement. Ultra-fast charging is a highly anticipated technology that's estimated to reduce charging times to as little as 10 minutes.

Smart charging is another technology to look out for. This solution optimizes EV charging and electricity use through communication between vehicles, chargers, and utilities. It enables you to charge your EV when electricity rates are low and helps utilities avoid overwhelming the grid during peak times. With bi-directional smart charging, your vehicle can even send power back to the grid to smooth out demand spikes.

Other innovations are underway to make EV charging even easier and faster. These include compact EV chargers that provide strong charging capabilities and electrified roads that let you charge your vehicle while you're driving on them.

Better Range and Efficiency

The average range of EVs has more than tripled over the last decade or so. It was just below 80 miles in 2011 and increased to 220 miles in 2021. Today, there are EV models that can travel up to 400 miles on a full charge.

One of the main reasons behind the dramatic improvement in EV range is the significant increase in battery density. A dense battery is able to store more energy in a lighter or smaller package, enabling the vehicle to travel a longer distance. New battery technologies such as NMC and solid-state batteries can help EVs deliver an even longer range in the near future. While they haven't been mass-produced for EVs, solid-state batteries are expected to boost EV range by 50% to 80%.

Advances in thermal management technology are another factor that has contributed to the longer range and better fuel efficiency of new EVs. Innovations such as thermal gap fillers and liquid cooling enable EV batteries to get rid of excess heat more quickly and effectively. These technologies not only prevent batteries from overheating, but they can also improve the performance, efficiency, and range of EVs.

Test Drive a Volvo EV Today

If you want to get a first-hand experience of the latest EV technologies in Mission Viejo, California, come to Volvo Cars of Mission Viejo to check out our latest all-electric Volvo models. From NMC batteries to advanced thermal management systems, Volvo EVs boast a wide range of cutting-edge technologies that allow them to deliver impressive driving ranges and charging times without compromising performance and refinement. Our dedicated team of amiable and knowledgeable auto experts will be on hand to help you choose your ideal EV model and take it for a test drive. Contact us today to schedule a visit.