Sleek lines

Efficient power semiconductor technologies such as silicon carbide are a key aspect of improving the energy efficiency of electric vehicles. But just like with their dinosaur-juice burning cousins, aerodynamics – and thus the shape of cars – is also a very important factor determining the energy they need to move. As is well understood by the aviation and Formula 1 worlds, this is particularly important at higher speeds, since the energy lost to air resistance behaves as the square of velocity. Therefore, the sleek lines of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 help them achieve efficiencies of under 150 watt hour per kilometer driven, and thus ranges around 500 km with standard-size batteries. More efficient design and technology means lower cost, making EVs more accessible and practical for mass market consumers.

Source: EV Database, Fully Charged, August 2024.