The concept of intelligent vehicles is relatively new, and it has largely been driven by Tesla’s contributions to the auto industry. As the industry shifts towards Tesla’s example of electric vehicles that can be updated with a simple software update, one expert notes how far the supply chain for these intelligent electric vehicles (IEVs) has come in their short history.
In a recent article for Forbes, CEO of the intelligent robotics company PerceptIn Dr. Shaoshan Liu wrote about how the model for IEV supply chains has evolved over the past decade. He broadly describes IEVs as car platforms with added smart capabilities compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. These capabilities can include many concepts introduced by Tesla, such as a centralized electrical/electronic architecture (E/E architecture), an easily updatable platform, an emphasis on vehicle data, and enough computing power to enable semi-automated driving.
Dr. Liu points out that when Tesla started its IEV business, it had to invest billions of dollars into battery systems, E/E architectures, autonomous driving capabilities and intelligent cockpits. This was a stark contrast to the early days of the industry, when IEV OEMs had to do almost everything in-house.
Tesla’s move to own its whole supply chain has opened up opportunities for other OEMs to follow suit, with one example being BYD’s recent investments into Indonesia for essential EV minerals. Tesla also developed its own proprietary computing system, instead of relying on third-party computing system manufacturing.
Dr. Liu estimates that five years ago, it cost over a billion dollars in the U.S. to develop a new IEV. Following Tesla’s efforts, the supply chain has grown significantly and now offers more efficient and cost-effective options for developing an IEV. He estimates the current cost of developing an IEV to be as low as $200 million.
The evolution of the IEV supply chain has enabled IEV newcomers to develop their products cost- and time-efficiently. This is still a golden era for IEV startups as long as they define their products clearly and spend their financial resources effectively. With Tesla leading the way, the future of intelligent vehicles looks bright.
FAQ
Q1. How electric car chargers work?
A1. Electric car chargers work by connecting to an electrical outlet and providing power to the car’s battery. The charger then converts the electricity into a form that the car’s battery can use.
Q2. What electric car has the longest range?
A2. The Tesla Model S has the longest range of any electric car currently on the market, with a range of up to 370 miles on a single charge.
Q3. How electric car batteries are recycled?
A3. Electric car batteries are recycled by breaking them down into their component parts and then separating out the metals, plastics, and other materials for reuse. The metals are melted down and reused in new products, while the plastics and other materials are recycled into new products.
