Don’t ‘fill it up’
If you handle the battery properly, its capacity decreases only 1 to 2 percent per year
The distance travelled only has a slight effect on the lifespan of a modern battery. However, the recharging method and general handling are critical factors. Experts recommend that the batteries of modern electric cars remain charged between 20 and 80 percent. By contrast, parking a car with a discharged battery for a longer period of time makes it significantly less durable. When recharging, it is advisable to choose the slowest possible method while respecting the available time: Batteries are weakened by heat, which is also generated during charging. The faster the charging is, the more heat there is that needs to be dissipated. Thanks to the advanced ENYAQ iV features, battery care becomes easy. For example, the driver can set the charging speed and the required charge level or decrease the current amount in the car’s infotainment system.
Tips and tricks
▶ On a hot summer’s day, look for a charging location in the shade or in cooler underground garages
▶ Don’t leave the electric vehicle parked for several days
▶ Charge the entire capacity only ahead of a planned longer journey
▶ Try recharging when the capacity drops to about 20 percent
▶ Choose the slowest possible AC charging method
▶ Upon request, the ENYAQ iV comes with a heat pump that uses residual heat in the drive system to heat and air-condition the interior, thereby saving battery power.
How the electric motor works
The device converts electricity to mechanical energy using a fixed stator, which consists of coils, and a moving rotor. When electricity flows through the coils, a magnetic field is created in the stator, which then rotates the rotor. The ENYAQ iV’s rear axle is driven by a synchronous electric motor with permanent magnets in the rotor, which moves simultaneously and in the same direction as the stator magnetic field. The 4×4 version’s front axles have an additional asynchronous unit, where the alternating current passing through the stator coils creates a moving magnetic field that produces a current in the rotor and, as a result, its own magnetic field. This magnetic field is then trying to “catch up” with the stator field rotating the rotor with a small delay.
Energy-saving braking
Through recuperation, the energy generated when braking is stored in the high-voltage battery. The driver of the ENYAQ iV either uses the automatic mode or manually chooses between three recuperation levels. The higher the gear, the higher the braking force you achieve when releasing the accelerator pedal.
Factors that can increase the driving range include:
▶ Smooth driving
▶ Efficient use of recuperation
▶ Lower heating intensity and air-conditioning usee
▶ The electric motor efficiency exceeds 90 percent – double that of combustion units.
Why the gearbox is unnecessary
The powertrain provides full torque to electric cars right from the start, and the power increases as the speed increases. Therefore, purely electric cars do not require more gears as one is enough. The selected gear ratio determines both maximum speed and acceleration – the higher the ratio is, the better the car’s acceleration and the lower its maximum speed will be. The opposite is also true.
▶ In the top-of-the-range ENYAQ RS iV all-wheel-drive version, both electric motors provide a combined output of up to 225 kW. Consequently, drivers will have a lot of fun with the model.
Oldřich Vyziblo
EPE/2 – Electric Drives Development