EV Manufacturers Looking to Lighten the Load

A movement to build lighter electric vehicles could ease drivers’ range anxiety and make the vehicles safer for pedestrians, writes Martine Paris in an article for BBC.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Panasonic Automotive showcased lighter-weight components for speakers and audio equipment that use less energy, while Honda highlighted its efforts to develop a lighter battery. “It has been making substantial investments in developing solid-state batteries, which are smaller and lighter than the conventional lithium-ion batteries currently standard in most electric vehicles on the road today.” 

Heavier vehicles have been shown to put more strain on roads and infrastructure, have lower fuel efficiency, and can be more dangerous to pedestrians and other cars in crashes.