Large EVs are a bellwether for the future of cars

Energy harvesting shock absorbers (Levant Power) are trialled on buses, not cars because they are most easily made viable on large vehicles first. Proponents expect to address cars about five years after buses adopt them, including taking some of the ‘free’ electricity and using it for active suspension.

Thermoelectric harvesting (AIST, Komatsu KELK) will be more practicable on buses, military and other large vehicles before cars. Structural electronics, where the bodywork is intelligent and power storing, was first seen in aircraft then cars.

In-wheel traction motors are in production for buses in the Netherlands, China and Japan. Lower cost, more rugged asynchronous motors are favoured in large then smaller vehicles. Following this, the Proton hybrid car is being launched in 2015 with in-wheel asynchronous motors. Jet engines have proved viable on some buses when used as range extenders. Rotary combustion engines, first seen in e-aircraft, will appear in Proton cars as range extenders in 2015.

In 2014, the first serious production of inverters with the more-efficient silicon carbide SiC power components (Sumitomo Electric, Panasonic) was for large vehicles. These run cooler so the weight, cost and bulk of water cooling is not needed and electricity is also saved.

Voltages are rising. On buses we see up to 700V systems using high-voltage, faster motors to save on copper and transfer power more efficiently. Large EVs usually adopt new technology first so they are a bellwether for the future of cars and two wheelers.