Why such high voltages on EV or hybrid.

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

If the battery resting voltage is 350, and the peak sine wave voltage on 240v AC is also 350 it's still going to need to be stepped up to charge a 350v battery.

Good Point! I messed up the peak voltage calculation.

The Leaf is around 400 V resting, so it definitely boosts. AND you can use a 120V cord .. so even a 150V pack would need a boost if you were going to charge from 120V.

I guess there must be another reason that higher voltage is .. better? .. more efficient? ..

[oil pan 4]

I think it's smaller wire can be used to carry the same amount of power, higher voltage or lower voltage the parts still cost around the same and a lot of components are tailored around the 350 to 700 V DC market.

[Fingie]

it's mainly that. and maybe investing into higher-voltage tech finally evolves settles to some kind of a standard, maybe even modular, tech?

If I can get a EV that doesn't rust I could drive it forever, if the only major thing wearing out is the battery and driveline bearings.

[sendler]

The next trend in high end EV's from Porsche and Tesla will be 800V charging as soon as they can make it work in order to reduce the quick charge times. The roadside Supercharger stations for Tesla already have dedicated high voltage mains/ transformers so they can supply any voltage that they want without boost. The batteries can be split to charge at 800 and discharge at 400 if the caps for the motor controllers are still the limiting factor in higher operating voltages.