What challenges face the electrification of supercars?

Following the announcement that Lamborghini will produce only hybrid electric supercars by 2024, Electronic Specifier rounds up some of its key developmental factors that affect the electrification of supercars.

Energy

The battery of EVs are far more heavy-weight than an internal combustion engine. Given that supercars have high expectations in terms of their requirements, such as fast acceleration and the ability to round corners, a heavy battery is clearly problematical.

Propelling the vehicle with electronics instead of gasoline means the battery system must be symmetrical and oriented toward power to ensure high levels of performance. Electricity is more efficient than gasoline as it enable regenerative power through the kinetic energy.

Lamborghini has said that it needs to develop an innovative supercapacitor.

Materials innovation

With a goal of creating perfect nanomaterial technology that will distribute nanocharges into the CFK panels, thereby acting as electrical storage devices, Lamborghini’s design objective include reduction in weight and increase in availability of electrical energy through the use of composite structural materials.

Vehicle architecture and powertrain

The possibility of powering the car through cables is profound. Lamborghini wants to exploit this to generate torque directly at wheels, however this is challenging.

To position power density in the wheels would mean increasing the level required by an all-wheel-drive super sportscar but keeping unsprung mass under control.

ICE cars can perform better at top speeds for longer periods of time. EVs generate more torque than gasoline-powered cars, and diverging from traditional transmission means thr power goes straight to the wheels for instant acceleration, thus a faster start.

Sound and emotion

EVs have single-speed transmission which sends power from the motor to the wheels. The majority of EV don’t have multi-speed transmissions. Some of the vehicle’s energy is lost through drivetrain inefficiencies.

Electric drivetrain adoption means a new sonic signature must replace the iconic and notorious V12 engine in a Lamborghini which has been in use for almost 60 years.

The future?

With growing support for Forumla E, there is hope for a future of electrified supercars. Innovators are working to combat the design challenges and with calls for environmentally conscious manufacturing, it seems that such challenges will be overcome.