The contest between trams and oil trucks, there are new variables?
Last year, the sales of fuel vehicles in mainland China fell by 14.1%, while the sales of electric vehicles doubled to 5.03 million units, and the penetration rate also soared to 27.4%.
As a result, in the fierce confrontation between the tram and the oil car, a new star appeared - four-motor technology. It's like a boxer in the ring suddenly develops a new move, adding more excitement to the game.
First of all, in order to make it easier to understand the significance of this technology, let's first review the current competition between gasoline and electric vehicles. First of all, the biggest advantage of electric vehicles is the price at present.
The difference in the cost of using a car between the two is not a star and a half. For example, with a range of 500 kilometers, the charging cost of an electric vehicle is about 110 to 120 yuan, but the cost of refueling for fuel vehicles is about 355 to 460 yuan, a difference of 2 to 4 times.
In addition, the time to charge an electric vehicle is gradually improving, and it now takes only about 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% for many models.
Next, let's talk about the NVH performance of the vehicle, which covers noise, vibration and harshness. The roar and vibration of a combustion engine – especially when accelerating – is mostly due to its internal combustion engine.
Electric vehicles, on the other hand, have an inherent advantage in terms of smoothness and quietness because they do not need an internal combustion engine. As for the ride of the car, because the electric car does not have a gearbox, there will be no frustration when changing gears. Therefore, the tram is already ahead of the petrol car in this regard.
Let's talk about the chassis. The weight of the battery in an electric vehicle is generally concentrated at the bottom, which makes the center of gravity of the electric vehicle lower, with less roll and better stability when cornering at high speeds. However, the level of shock absorption of the chassis is king, and electric vehicles and fuel vehicles have their own advantages in this regard. The electric vehicles of the old car companies are doing a better job in shock filtration, while the new power brands are still being explored.
On the other hand, most electric vehicles on the market use front and rear dual-motor drive technology, which relies on mechanical differentials to balance power distribution. While this traditional powertrain is reliable, it always falls short when it comes to passionate driving and performance.
However, with the advent of the four-motor technology, the performance of electric vehicles is at a major turning point. That is, we can understand that each wheel is equipped with an independent motor, so that each part can be controlled independently.
Why can four-motor technology rewrite the rules of the game for tram performance?
The four-motor system is a common four-wheel independent drive technology in electric vehicles, where each wheel is driven by an independent electric motor. This configuration allows for precise torque and speed control, improving the vehicle's handling and stability.
By adjusting the power output of each wheel to cope with low-adhesion roads, it reduces slippage and recovers energy during braking, improving energy efficiency.
In addition, the system dynamically distributes power to the four wheels according to the driving conditions and the dynamic needs of the vehicle, e.g. at high speeds, more power to the rear wheels for enhanced stability. This disruptive innovation has also been used, such as the domestic BYD Wangwang U8 and U9, as well as the freshly baked ZEEKR 001FR, which are all leaders in this technology.
The four-motor tram not only navigates the city quietly, but also shows amazing acceleration and precise handling on the track. This technology greatly improves the driving pleasure of electric vehicles, and even makes it possible to make a U-turn on the spot and turn independently of the four wheels at a large angle.
It not only breaks new ground in the performance and driving experience of sporty vehicles, but also brings unprecedented handling pleasure to off-road enthusiasts. Thanks to the flexibility of the four-wheel independent drive, the off-road vehicle can show better performance when dealing with all kinds of difficult terrain.
However, the introduction of four-motor technology does not mean that it will become the exclusive preserve of high-end brands. Any dual-motor electric vehicle can theoretically be upgraded to a four-motor version, and this upgrade may not become a new premium barrier for premium brands.
In other words, the popularity and application of this technology may be more in mid-to-high-end models, rather than just luxury brands.
In short, the emergence and popularization of four-motor technology is gradually rewriting the performance definition of electric vehicles. It not only solves the dilemma of "not up or down" in the performance of electric vehicles, but also brings new directions and possibilities for the future development of electric vehicles.
Clean energy has become a consensus, what will happen to fuel vehicles in the future?
Globally, pollution reduction, carbon reduction and green transformation have become a consensus.
Many regions, including the European Union and California in the United States, are already planning to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. China is no exception, with Hainan province planning to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2030. These policy changes are undoubtedly a huge pressure on fuel vehicles.
According to statistics, the production and sales of new energy vehicles in China have nearly doubled in 2022. Globally, the sales of electric vehicles are also soaring, reaching 10.522 million units in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 55.47%. Behind these figures is the rapid progress of electric vehicle technology and the increasing market acceptance.
Of course, the four-motor technology is a big boost to the development of electric vehicles, by installing an independent motor on each wheel, which greatly improves the handling and flexibility of power distribution of electric vehicles.
This is not only a progress in intelligence and environmental protection, but also makes electric vehicles no longer just an environmentally friendly choice, but a new standard for high performance and driving pleasure.
So, what does the future hold for gasoline vehicles?
With the vigorous development of the new energy vehicle industry, fuel vehicles are facing unprecedented challenges. Industry authorities are generally optimistic that the elimination of fuel vehicles is an irreversible trend. Although at present, fuel vehicles still have their own market share.
However, with the increasing maturity and improvement of electric vehicle technology and the active implementation of environmental protection policies, this pattern is destined to change, and the dominance of fuel vehicles in the market will be gradually weakened, and their market share and influence are expected to gradually decrease.
As the main force of transportation, oil trucks may really gradually withdraw from the stage of history. But it's not just a technological revolution, it's a sign of our progress towards a greener, smarter mobility future.
At present, the rapid development of electric vehicles and the promotion of four-motor technology are accelerating the gradual fading out of fuel vehicles. We are witnessing a historic revolution in the automotive industry that is not only redefining the performance and use of automobiles, but also heralding a cleaner, smarter, and more possible future of mobility.