Startup Brings a New Layout to the EV Battery for Longer Range
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Page-Roberts has just unveiled a new design concept for the placement of EV batteries.
According to the company, this design can reportedly provide a 30% longer range, more efficiency, as well as allow the design of lighter and more streamlined vehicles.
According to Page-Roberts, the new design would be particularly suited for small EVs.
The new EV design. Image used courtesy of Page-Roberts.
Battery Pack Placement
Most EV manufacturers have been placing the batteries under the vehicle’s floor. The new design is generally recognized as the most convenient way of packaging sufficient battery energy for an acceptable range (usually between 90 and 300 miles).
Since they are typically also quite heavy, battery packs increase the weight of EVs significantly, but also provide them with a low center of gravity and related plated rides.
“The skateboard arrangement has become the mainstay of most EVs, '' explained Page-Roberts CEO Freddy Page-Roberts, commenting on the news. “But this results in taller vehicles with increased aerodynamic losses and energy consumption (especially at motorway speeds), an extra structure required to protect against impact, and a longer wheelbase to account for the battery”.
According to Page-Roberts CEO, this increased size and weight consistently inhibit the range of electric vehicles.
An innovative Design
To erase the drawbacks of traditional battery pack placement, Page-Roberts’ new design positions the battery between the front row seats and the second row of rear-facing seats.
According to the startup, this not only makes vehicle design more compact but also unlocks the potential for a lower, more aerodynamic vehicle with a standard wheelbase.
“By simply moving the location of the battery pack, we have come up with a much more efficient solution,” Page-Roberts said.
Consequently, EVs built on this design will also potentially use a smaller battery to achieve a similar range when compared to current EVs, or increase their range by up to 30%, thus also optimizing production costs.
“Our design concept reduces costs, increases efficiency, enhances agility, and offers design freedom,” said Page-Roberts CTO Mark Simon. “The efficiency translates to less time charging from either longer range or smaller batteries, so the pressure on charging points – another key pain point for the industry – will also be reduced.”
In addition, according to Page-Roberts, the rear-facing seats for passengers will offer increased design flexibility, outward visibility, and enhanced passenger protection according to the company’s website.
For more information about EV’s battery systems and their specifications, you can check out this article from All About Circuits.
Page-Roberts: a Company Overview
Established in 2019, Page-Roberts focuses on the development of innovative EV technologies, with a particular emphasis on solutions delivering design elegance.
Based in Poole, UK, the company brings together the expertise of automotive pioneer Freddy Page-Roberts and ex- Ricardo Project Director, Mark Simon. Page-Roberts’ patented design aims to deliver smaller, lighter, and safer electric vehicles with a significantly enhanced range for an equivalent battery energy size.
