Join daily news updates from CleanTechnica on e-mail. Or follow us on Google News!
One of many issues I really like about Engineering Defined is that Jason does an excellent job of creating technical and mathematical engineering ideas accessible to folks like me, an individual who can assemble and perceive automotive components, however who doesn’t design or engineer them. So, once I noticed that he was going to cowl Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N (the efficiency model of the Ioniq 5), I knew it was one thing I’d be sharing with readers!
Let’s check out his protection of the car’s options after which speak extra about EVs and transmissions.
As an alternative of saving probably the most controversial subject for final, Jason dives proper into the car’s emulated transmission. Hyundai’s purpose right here was to make the car extra partaking. Why? As a result of one of many large complaints from automotive fans about EVs is that they’re quick and have scads of torque, however don’t give the motive force a strategy to actually really feel concerned within the operation of the car.
Which may sound foolish to Apple gadgetheads who turned Tesla fanatics, however we now have to needless to say not everybody goes to suppose by quantity the best way traders and individuals who camp outdoors of Apple shops do. In a world the place we have to get most individuals to drive an EV, we have to attraction to differing audiences, even when a few of us will discover these audiences arduous to know and agree with.
How does Hyundai ship a small efficiency automobile expertise in an EV? By making it stroll, speak, and shift like an ICE car with a sequential transmission. This goes past merely making noise like an ICE car. The software program controls the electrical motor and will get it to essentially act like an ICE engine in each state of affairs. It may possibly sound and really feel prefer it’s lugging when put right into a digital gear that’s too low. It may possibly punish you for getting the timing on a shift improper. And, if Jason says it’s nicely thought-out and feels actual, he’s any person we will consider.
The sound generator has a number of modes it may be run in. It may possibly make seems like an Hyundai ICE engine, it might make amplified EV sounds (the electrical whirrs and whines), and it might make sounds sort of like a jet engine or one thing (referred to as “supersonic”).
Issues That Aren’t Pretend At All
The following characteristic he describes is much much less gimmicky and synthetic: battery preconditioning. EV drivers are used to preconditioning for quicker EV charging, however having the battery pack on the proper temperatures is essential for efficiency, too. So, the Ioniq 5 N presents the power to inform your EV to prepare for abuse on the monitor. It is a essential characteristic that truly makes for higher monitor occasions. There’s even a “track mode” that prompts much more cooling to forestall monitor overheats.
The N Race Mode has two choices: Dash and Endurance. In Dash, you get most energy, even when this comes at the price of additional warmth that may be dangerous for a protracted monitor session. This might be helpful for brief occasions like drag racing or small rural tracks you’re solely taking a couple of laps round. The opposite mode, Endurance, focuses on sacrificing some short-term efficiency for extra potential to take lengthy, punishing periods on the monitor. They declare that the Ioniq 5 N can deal with full energy on the ‘Ring for 2 full laps with out thermal derating! (most EVs derate within the first lap)
N Pedal is one-pedal driving like many EVs have now, however with extra of a efficiency mode out there. If you would like some severe regen and quick for efficiency causes, you possibly can set it for that. I skilled that with the EV9’s highest regen mode. However, there are different regen modes you should use that give much less regen with a smoother supply for every day driving. The system can ship a most of 6g of regenerative braking (320 kW). That’s a LOT of braking energy.
No Torque Distribution provides you choices on energy supply. You possibly can set the facility to be extra towards the rear, entrance, or balanced. This lets you get the texture you need on decrease throttle conditions, however beneath full throttle, it’ll nonetheless max out each the entrance and rear motors. There’s additionally an N Drift Optimizer and N Torque Kick mode the place the pc helps you drift the automobile whenever you need. It may possibly act like a guide transmission (clutch kicking) to interrupt traction when needed.
There’s additionally an N Grin Increase mode that provides you a a lot increased throttle response that can provide you sudden boosts of acceleration (an additional 40 HP). This clearly brings a smile to folks’s faces. There’s additionally N Launch Management that provides you most launch acceleration from a standstill (0-60 within the 3-4 second vary). It additionally has the power to mechanically allow efficiency options when it sees street indicators indicating a twisty street forward!
All in all, Jason thinks the options will take a number of time for a driver to determine what works finest for them. Completely different folks can select completely different options to make the car be the sort of efficiency automobile that the proprietor needs. This may in all probability require some experimentation on the a part of the motive force, however can ship a custom-made and enjoyable expertise.
Let’s Speak About Transmissions A Bit Extra
Whereas Tesla fanatics will inform me till they’re blue within the face that EV transmissions are nugatory and perhaps even evil ultimately, this video provides us additional proof that the uncooked numbers recreation isn’t the place it’s all the time at for vehicles. For a transportation equipment, none of these items makes a number of sense. However, for somebody wanting a efficiency car that’s enjoyable and fascinating on the monitor or on rural roads, what is smart to them will differ from what is smart to a lot of the early adopter manufacturing facility EV crowd.
I don’t suppose the common EV ought to have a guide transmission, however producers must get severe about providing an actual guide for individuals who need one. I’ve defined this prior to now repeatedly, however we now have to do not forget that EV conversions are sometimes guide, they usually work nice. There are additionally some actual efficiency and effectivity benefits potential. Lastly, they’re nonetheless very simple to drive as a result of you possibly can’t stall out an electrical motor.
Hopefully we begin seeing some actual transmissions for fans quickly as a substitute of simply emulated ones.
Featured picture by Hyundai.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Need to promote? Need to recommend a visitor for our CleanTech Speak podcast? Contact us here.
Newest CleanTechnica.TV Video
CleanTechnica makes use of affiliate hyperlinks. See our coverage here.
