EV Makers: Selling Power OTA

Adding Power to EVs: More than Meets the Eye

It may be that you’ve observed some auto manufacturers are providing an additional enhancement of power to electric car owners. Mercedes, Tesla, Polestar and beyond have all started to give this via the air. Buying a further 68 horsepower in your new Polestar 2 might sound tempting at the cost of only $1,195 but how is it done?

Electric vehicles differ drastically from traditional internal combustion-based automobiles that are essentially capped to a fixed amount of power in their original configuration. Indeed, the output of an EV can be increased by making a few adjustments to its inverter – although this comes with certain restrictions.

Electric drivetrains revolve around voltage and current — measured in amperes– to provide torque. A greater current will translate straight into more watts (or force), providing more power at a steadfast motor speed. This ease of customization is what makes electrics so appealing. Voltage, on the other hand, maintains a fixed level for a given battery charge, meaning variation of current is how today’s electric cars manage to maximize or minimize power. In summary, it’s quite straightforward!

The safe capacity for an electrical locomotion set-up to endure is referred to as the continuous current score. Present delivers warmth, but provided that that warmth can be managed, it’s all good. Gauge the heat and you can curb the current to secure levels. Nothing gets meltdown, there are no roaring popping noises, and no dashboards become illuminated.

More can regularly be achieved and this is where burst current steps up. This counts as a dosage of amperage higher than the nonstop rating that can be maintained for a given amount of time before temperatures begin to skyrocket. If you’re in possession of an intricate and competent liquid cooling system for the motor, battery and inverter—like the majority of EVs have—you are capable of pulling this off with some leeway.

Assuming an auto manufacturer has assessed the heat mobilization resultant of short-term current intensification and is positive they can manage it, the power-maximizing OTA update is primed to be distributed.

The real limit is really the battery chemistry. Generally, car batteries are capable of giving off a huge energy boost in an instant. Jokingly, if you have tried to link a spanner between the positive and negative terminals of your vehicle’s 12V battery you can experience this power rush (Don’t try this at home), however, the drivetrain may be unable to manage it – with a number of essential areas possibly failing under the pressure. Connectors, contactors or other pieces might find it difficult to stand up to it.

Identifying the constraint is not easy for some carmakers. Recently, Ford Mach-E GTs had serious issues due to people holding down the accelerator pedal for too long. It appears that Ford was unable to measure heat levels where it needed to and, thus, its claimed horsepower limit for the Mach-E was unsustainable. In other words, it was drawing too many electric currents. To my surprise, this was the first time I had ever heard about a recall happening for something similar.

The possibility of taking advantage of over-the-air upgrades is still tremendous. As technology continues to progress, I would imagine we will witness more and more of this happening. Ultimately, given that it can be monitored and managed securely, there is no valid grounds for not doing so.

It may seem strange that OEMs are not supplying you with the full capabilities of your car without any extra effort, but it is ultimately up to you if a slight increase in power justifies further expenditure on the automobile. Personally, I’m going to keep my money unless it comes with physical changes to things such as the cooling system. As much as certain auto manufacturers may want us to believe otherwise, nothing can replace actual upgrades.

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