I have been interested in electric vehicle (EV) suspension technology developments. EV suspension technology is crucial for improving the ride and handling of electric cars and enhancing their energy efficiency and range. In this article, I will introduce some of the latest innovations and trends in EV suspension technology that promise to deliver a new level of comfort for EV drivers and passengers.
What is EV suspension technology?
EV suspension technology refers to the system of components that connect the wheels to an electric car's chassis and absorb and dissipate the forces and vibrations generated by the road surface, vehicle motion, and braking. An EV suspension operates on the force dissipation concept, which includes turning force into heat and reducing the impact that force would have had. This is accomplished by the use of springs, dampers, and struts. The energy will be stored in a spring and converted into heat via a damper.
The main functions of EV suspension technology are:
- To provide stability and control for the vehicle by maintaining contact between the wheels and the road and by adjusting the alignment of the wheels according to steering and braking inputs.
- To ensure comfort and safety for the occupants by isolating them from road noise, bumps, vibrations, and shocks and by preventing excessive body roll, pitch, and yaw.
- To optimize energy efficiency and range by minimizing aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, and unsprung mass and by recovering kinetic energy from braking and suspension movements.
How is EV suspension technology different from conventional suspension technology?
EV suspension technology differs from conventional suspension technology in several ways:
- - EVs have different weight distribution, the center of gravity, and chassis stiffness than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which affect their handling characteristics and require different suspension tuning and calibration.
- - EVs have different powertrain configurations than ICE vehicles, which affect their torque delivery, braking performance, and thermal management, and require different suspension integration and coordination.
- - EVs have different design constraints than ICE vehicles, such as battery size, shape, location, and cooling requirements, which affect their packaging space and layout options for suspension components.
- - EVs have different performance expectations than ICE vehicles, such as higher acceleration, lower noise, smoother ride quality, longer range, and lower emissions, which affect their suspension requirements and trade-offs.