Microwave tech boosts the range of electric vehicles

Researchers have found a way to overcome the challenges that befall EVs in hot and cold conditions

Spotted: When the weather swings from hot to cold, we typically activate heating and cooling systems to stay comfortable on the road. But here’s the catch: these energy-intensive systems can reduce the range of electric vehicles by as much as 40 per cent. To tackle this challenge, researchers at Birmingham University have developed a solution to enhance the comfort of long-distance travel for electric car drivers.

This system, called e-Thermal bank, is separate from the main EV battery and combines a chemical heat pump with microwave energy to produce heating or cooling on demand.

At the EV charging station, microwaves dissociate a ‘solid-vapour working pair’, while also condensing the vapour into liquid. This has the effect of storing the microwave energy within the car in the e-Thermal bank. Heating or cooling can then be delivered at a later point as needed.

To generate heat, the vapour is fed into a reactor to create an exothermic reaction. At the same time, a liquid-gas phase change process, which takes place in an evaporator, generates cooling.

The system has a much higher energy density than battery packs, and by replacing conventional heating and cooling systems, and potentially a small portion of the battery pack, the researchers estimate that the e-Thermal bank can deliver a range extension of up to 70 per cent. This is delivered while ensuring passenger and driver comfort and at a lower cost than simply increasing battery capacity.

Springwise has previously spotted other innovators seeking to eliminate range anxiety, from an electronics giant producing high-voltage batteries to an autonomous EV charger.

Written By: Georgia King and Matt Hempstead