EV battery reliability & economy proves better than expected in extensive two-year trial

Electric vehicles have shown better-than-expected results for predicted battery reliability, economy and durability in research carried out by North East car dealership, Simon Bailes Peugeot as part of the SwitchEV project.

Workign with Peugeot, the company analysed data collected during a two-year trial that saw 20 of Peugeot’s fully electric iOn vehicle take part.

Over the trial period, the 20 cars covered a total of over 200,000 miles and the Peugeot team found that battery efficiency ratings were over 99% – peaking at 99.99% – showing that EV batteries have a drop off level of less than 1%.

With battery life has being amongst the biggest concerns for potential users, this new data suggests that the iOn in particular is cheaper, more eco-friendly and more reliable to run than even Peugeot experts could have predicted.

Simon Bailes said: ‘This research is a UK first and the data proves the sceptics wrong. Battery issues have always been a primary concern and the most common question we get asked about EVs but now we have strong, thoroughly tested evidence that shows this should no longer be a concern. These results are staggering as battery-life is even better than we could have predicted. I believe this is a massive step forward for EV use and the future of motoring.’

The vehicles were trialled as part of the SwitchEV project, which was launched in November 2010 to investigate the impact of electric vehicles and the role they can play in urban transport systems of the future.

Managed by North East based company Future Transport Systems and involving experts from Newcastle University and other car manufacturers, the project has involved almost 200 drivers from across the region making over 71,600 trips. A total of 44 EVs have been involved in the trial and have travelled a total of 403,000 miles – equivalent to driving around the world 16 times – and have been charged 19,900 times.

Phil Blythe, Professor of Intelligent Transport Systems and Director of Transport Operations Research Group at the School of Civil Engineering and Geoscience at Newcastle University and one of the leads on the project, said: ‘Trial candidates quickly established that their initial range anxiety and cost fears were dispelled, so battery life concern was the last remaining barrier to adoption. The analysis carried out by Peugeot suggests exceptional battery performance and is a game-changer in this respect. Overall, the trial findings now show that EVs clearly offer a very real and acceptable solution and we will continue our research to develop this agenda in the future.’