Over the past 15 years, electric vehicles have shifted from niche curiosity to near‑mainstream, helped by falling prices and big strides in batteries, charging infrastructure and driving range.
Lithium‑ion batteries have made major gains in energy density, cost and lifespan. Higher densities mean less weight for the same — or more — capacity. Since 2008, energy density has increased roughly eightfold. Next‑generation solid‑state batteries promise further gains while improving safety. Researchers are also pursuing cobalt‑free cathodes to cut costs and reduce environmental impact.
Through the 2010s, charge points were thin on the ground outside Tesla’s Supercharger network. Only towards the end of the decade did large‑scale roll‑out along Europe’s main routes gather pace; today the EU has more than 900,000 public charge points. The roll‑out is set to accelerate, with a focus on 350 kW+ ultra‑rapid hubs and bidirectional charging so EVs can feed energy back to the grid.
Charging has become far simpler in recent years: Plug and Charge removes the need to manually start a session at many posts. Speeds still vary widely — modern DC rapid chargers can take a car to 80% in 15–20 minutes, while conventional AC points take several hours. For lorries, megawatt‑class high‑power charging (1 MW and above) will streamline things further.
With more efficient drivetrains and better batteries, EV ranges have roughly tripled. Where 100–150 km was typical in 2010, today 500+ km is hardly unusual. Medium‑term targets of 700–1,000 km are in sight, thanks to improved cell chemistry and sleeker, more aerodynamic designs. At the same time, shorter charging stops will make ultra‑long ranges less critical.
Modern electric motors are more powerful and efficient, while relying less on scarce materials. To save space and weight, integrated drive units combine motor, inverter and gearbox in a single housing. Development is also heading towards in‑wheel motors that drive each wheel directly, unlocking further space and efficiency gains. New cooling approaches and silicon‑carbide inverters will push efficiency higher still.
Scale and smarter engineering have made EVs markedly cheaper. In 2012, if you wanted a genuinely everyday‑usable EV, your realistic option was a Tesla Model S at about €80,000. Today there are numerous models across categories starting from around €20,000. Expect further cost drops thanks to LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries and more efficient production. The aim is for EVs to undercut comparable petrol or diesel cars by 2030.
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