Where do we stand today on the road to electrified mobility?

The Paris Agreement aimed to keep the global temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. To this end, the signatories agreed to cut global CO2 emissions by a factor of 20, and the European Union pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050. By that date, there should be no internal combustion vehicles using non-carbon-neutral fuels on the roads. This objective will be achieved through a number of milestones: 60% of light vehicles on sale will be electric by 2030; 100% by 2035, except for internal combustion vehicles using synthetic fuels, but only 50% of lorries will still be electric.

This is the European roadmap. So the transition is going to happen very quickly, almost by forced march. Investment in electric mobility will be heavy, given that electric cars still represent only a small minority of the market. The sector has no choice. So we need to be able to support it in tackling this shift towards decarbonisation with equanimity.

What are the main challenges facing the electrification of mobility?

For many people, the cost of electric vehicles is the first obstacle to their deployment. But this is a misconception. An electric vehicle may be more expensive to buy today, but it is far more economical to run, and even particularly profitable for drivers who cover more than15,000 km a year. For those who drive less, the government’s subsidy helps to limit the extra cost of ownership. And it is estimated that the price of electric vehicles will be equivalent tothat of combustion-powered cars within three years.

To achieve this, it will be necessary to reduce the cost of batteries, which can represent up to 40% of the price of vehicles, and increase their range. Technologies are constantly evolving. Huge investments are being made worldwide in the construction of gigafactories, which will manufacture the battery cells. The very long lifespan of batteries means that amortisation models can be envisaged over several lifetimes. The batteries could operate for 800,000 km. That’s a lot longer than a car that’s likely to give up the ghost after 250,000 km. An electric battery will therefore have a new life, for energy storage in buildings, for example, if it is to last 25 years or more. It can then be recycled up to 90%!

It will also be necessary to reduce the volume and mass of the electric motor, obtain more torque, optimise efficiency and limit thermal overheating.

Another challenge for the deployment of electric mobility is to optimise the efficiency of the various energy converters (DC/DC, AC/DC and inverter) on board vehicles and their power electronics, to avoid overheating. Finally, the issue of recharging systems for electric vehicles is obviously key. Today, there is one charging point for every eight electric cars, but one charging point in five is out of order. And the situation is getting worse. The aim is therefore to improve their reliability for intensive use.

How is SEGULA Technologies supporting the industry on the road to decarbonisation?

We have developed a great deal of research and innovation on all these issues. For example, to reduce the cost of electric vehicles, we are looking to reduce their mass, particularly that of the batteries, to improve the sizing of the motors. Did you know that a 50 kWh battery weighs around 350 kg? We also want to improve tooling and manufacturing processes, to save manufacturing time and therefore costs.

We support both gigafactories and car makers in the development of electric batteries, validation, certification and crash-testing. We are a driving force behind proposals to improve the design and choice of chemical processes for these batteries in Europe. We support manufacturers in the design of their electric motors. For example, we carry out various simulations to optimise the thermal cooling of these motors: ventilation simulation, hydraulic cooling and electromagnetic simulation. If the design is right, the motor will be highly efficient and will heat up very little, while evacuating residual heat efficiently. Thisis essential for performance!

We also carry out a great deal of benchmarking and analysis work on power electronics, on behalf of our customers, to strengthen our expertise in the calibration of electric motors. In 2024, we are developing a new business in charging systems for electric vehicles, based on our experience gained from numerous electric charging sessions. Our ambition is to support the deployment of the network of charging points overt he next 15 or 20 years, and to help operators ensure the reliability of their systems.

Finally, on a broader scale, we are contributing our expertise in all aspects of digital technology on board cars, connecting electric vehicles to the Cloud…Not forgetting the cybersecurity aspect, which is essential for the car of the future.

“SEGULA Technologies’ added value comes from our broad range of skills. We have all the electric mobility skills in-house,or via our partners, and the desire to take on new challenges!”