While consumer acceptance of electric vehicles appears to be gaining momentum, many hurdles remain before reaching mass adoption. What are the primary challenges, and what technologies are in the works to resolve consumer pain points such as range anxiety and charging infrastructure? Industry experts from Eaton, Agero and Dana Inc. share their perspectives.
Innovation Q&A: The outlook for electric
About the Panelists
SCOTT ADAMS, PRESIDENT EMOBILITY, EATON
Scott Adams is currently the president of eMobility at Eaton. In this role, Scott is responsible for leading all aspects of the eMobility busi- ness, leveraging expertise from Eaton’s Electrical and Vehicle Groups for the development of electrified components and power management technology for automotive and commercial vehicles.
GUILIO ORNELLA, VICE PRESIDENT, VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION ENGINEERING, DANA INCORPORATED
Giulio is responsible for electrification engineering for Dana’s light-vehicle business. Previously, he served as senior director of mechatronics and electrification focused on developing new products, including motors, inverters, sensors, software and controls.
CATHY ORRICO, CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER, AGERO
630-926-9016
[email protected]
As chief client officer, Cathy focuses on furthering Agero’s strategic direction and helping
clients transform the customer experience in innovative, meaningful, and profitable ways throughout
the vehicle ownership lifecycle.
Q: Many major automakers have announced plans to electrify their vehicle lineups. What’s driving this push?
Giulio Ornella, Dana: A number of factors are driving the push. Factors such as emission regulations, the emphasis on corpo- rate sustainability, the opportunity for consumers to capitalize on improved total cost of ownership, and disruptive startups accelerating the competitive landscape are coming together at the same time to move us toward an electric future.
Cathy Orrico, Agero: Three major factors are causing OEMs to electify their lineups. Environmental regulations and pressure from eco-conscious consumers are driving much of this. On Aug. 5, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at making half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero emissions. GM, Ford and Stellantis responded with a statement saying they aspire to make EVs up to 50 percent of their U.S. sales by the same year. Consumers want these changes made. Tesla has really changed the game here as well.
Scott Adams, Eaton: Consumer interest and tightening global emissions regulations are driving automakers to increase investments in EV technologies. Consumer interest is increasing because there are more options for electric vehicles than ever before. In addition, the infrastructure for charging vehicles is improving. More businesses are adding charging stations for employees. Grocery stores, malls, hotels, airports and other places people visit often have charging stations.
Q: What’s the biggest single challenge preventing more consumers from choosing EVs?
Ornella: Infrastructure is perhaps the single biggest challenge, fol- lowed closely by range anxiety. This is why Dana is focused on delivering no-compromise solutions that will give drivers confidence in purchasing EVs. While the majority of driving scenarios can be covered by a single fully charged battery, drivers may still make purchasing decisions based on their most extreme scenarios, such as long vacation trips.
Orrico: Despite consumers’ reported willingness to spend more for “greener” merchandise, there is a real disconnect between their desire for EVs and their understanding of them. Many worry about the requirements of adopting this technology. These concerns make it difficult to rationalize the $10,000 more they are likely to spend on an electric car versus a gas-powered one. OEMs would do well to focus on educating their consumers.
Adams: Clearly, EVs need to be cost-competitive. But several things are critical to consumers, including faster charging speed, extending the range between chargings and the availability of charging stations. Our recent acqui- sition of Green Motion, a designer and manufacturer of EV charging hardware and related software, helps our customers transition to EV architectures with both vehicle technol- ogies and the necessary recharging technology and infrastructure.
Q: Is there advanced technology on the horizon that might ease consumers’ range anxiety?
Ornella: I think we can expect to see rapid improvements in batteries, charging technology, infrastructure, connectivity and electric power- trains. Dana’s driveline solutions will enable longer driving range per battery charge. We also offer smarter thermal management technology; and our silicone-carbide, metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) in inverters will support higher voltage and switching frequency. The result? More efficient powertrains and
maximized battery life.
Orrico: While there is some opportunity with changes to in-vehicle battery technol- ogy, more charging infrastructure will have a significant impact on quelling consumer range anxiety. Fast-charging devices can speed up the time it takes to charge batteries. Also, the build-out of private charging networks continues to
improve access and availability. And government support for increased charging infrastructure is aimed at increasing consumers’ confidence.
Adams: Eaton’s traction inverter can optimize use of the bat- tery to maximize range. Our eMobility business offers a number of weight-saving technologies, including our onboard charger (OBC) and DC-DC converter, which were designed with reduced components to decrease costs and weight, increase reliability, improve efficiency and provide packaging flexibility. Another possibility is hydrogen fuel cells, which produce electricity and emit no
emissions except for water. Our Twin Vortices Series (TVS®) has been used in a number of hydrogen fuel cells.
Q: What’s the biggest regulatory change needed to support contin- ued EV adoption? What will make the biggest impact?
Ornella: Regulation will help create leverage for the shift to EVs, but it will likely be needed in a number of places. The proposed targets from the Biden administration and commitment from the OEMs will go a long way toward driving adoption. For the energy sector, it will mean investing in a robust grid, charging infrastructure and green fuel sources. For consumers and fleets, it will mean incentives to change vehicle choices.
Orrico: We saw an enormous impact with tax credits subsidizing EV purchases. In states with larger subsidies, adoption has been much, much higher. The same is true for federal tax incentives. If these are renewed or increased, we should see continued robust demand for EVs.
Adams: Regulatory action is critical to ensure the industry makes the investments to achieve zero emissions. And the industry needs clear guidance that if it invests in these technologies, there will be market demand for the solutions. Additionally, many governments are making efforts to help automakers and consumers more readily embrace electrified vehicles through several actions, including setting mandates and tightening emissions regulations.
Q: What do you see as the next wave of innovation that will propel the market- place toward an all-electric future?
Ornella: A large segment of vehicles that are leveraged by businesses will require robust goods and delivering services. Dana is designing solutions such as fully integrated e-axles, motors and inverters that will address the rugged demands of larger pickups, delivery vans and light commercial vehicles. This will help demonstrate the feasibility of EVs.
Orrico: Connected technologies and the benefits these deliver are particularly important with the batteries that EVs use. Remote diagnostics, real-time alerts, near-time reaction to vehicle servicing needs will have huge implications, allowing for safer, longer-lasting and better-performing vehicles. The development of new battery technologies also is important. This will improve range and performance at a lower cost.
Adams: A number of technologies will improve efficiency, perfor- mance and safety. To address safety, we introduced Breaktor™ circuit protection technology, combining fuses, pyro switches and contactors into a single coordinated device. Our inverters are key to the development of EVs because they provide increasingly higher power levels and optimize battery use. For electric commercial vehicles, our eMobility business offers systems and components that improve per-
formance, acceleration and gradeability.
Q: What’s your perspective on EV proliferation for commercial uses such as heavy trucking, last-mile delivery or public transit?
Ornella: Businesses already are leveraging technology in commer- cial applications, where defined routes make range requirements easy to manage and there is a strong return on investment. Dana’s EV technologies are used on some 19,000 commercial vehicles, such as buses and medium-duty trucks. The next barrier is the implementation on Class 8 over-the-road applications, which will likely require a powertrain that leverages hybrid, fuel cell and fully electric vehicles.
Orrico: We are working with several fleet organizations that are expanding their commercial-vehicle line to include EVs, with reduced fuel costs driving these decisions. But these products and use cases will require continued investment in both private and public commitments. Factors include the availability of charging stations, how long it takes to charge vehicles, vehicle routing and proximity to Level 3 fast-charging stations.
Adams: To meet regulations, commercial-vehicle fleets will end up with a mix of diesel, hybrid and electrified vehicles. We are investing in hydrogen fuel-cell technology, aimed at mostly heavy-duty vehicles where batteries may not be as effective. We also received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy to continue our investment in fuel- cell systems. The requirements for commercial fleets have led us to develop EV transmissions that improve acceleration and gradeability.
Q: What makes you optimistic about mainstream EV adoption?
Ornella: We are starting to see the concerto come together with the convergence of OEMs, suppliers, academia, energy companies and governments playing their parts to orchestrate adoption across allareas of business. We are approaching the point where we can begin testing to determine where extra effort will be required—be it infrastructure or supply chains—to ensure we reach the finish line.
Orrico: EVs are really cool cars: energy efficient, smart and connected. EV adoption is increasing—and not just for their eco- friendly profiles but for their superior performance and innovative designs. Federal and state funding will propel this. The recently passed $1 trillion infrastructure bill will help. Big tax credits and incentives to individuals and companies will break down the barriers.
Adams: We are proud to be a part of this electrification movement. Our eMobility technologies will help our global OEM customers design the next generation of lighter, more efficient vehicles with improved performance, which is important because they allow us to optimize efficiency and cost. And as we move forward, we will continue leveraging our power management expertise and increase our resources to support our customers and advance the electric revolution.
Send us a letter
Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.