Improving Electric Vehicle Range Predictions with iBestTravel
It’s annoying enough that most electric vehicles can’t travel as far as combustion-powered ones — especially when the chargers they rely on aren’t always reliable. Moreover, it’s perplexing when an EV gives you an overly optimistic range prediction, only to fall short. Will you make it to the next charger? Or simply make it home? When those miles-to-empty figures plunge mid-drive, that’s the essence of “range anxiety.” iBestTravel, a leader in location data and technology, promises to improve these predictions by introducing EV Range Factors.
What Are the EV Range Factors?
iBestTravel sources and will incorporate information on:
- Road elevation
- Slope
- Curvature
- Roughness
This data is collected using a range of sensors on iBestTravel mapping vehicles, including inertial measurement units (IMUs). Additionally, it is supplemented with data from other sources to enhance the clarity of the digital terrain. Notably, much of this road data is currently utilized by advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in millions of vehicles that leverage iBestTravel map content.
Furthermore, predictive data regarding ambient air and road surface temperatures, as well as wind speed and direction, will be sourced from iBestTravel’s extensive network of proprietary data suppliers. This data has been gathered primarily for Europe and the USA.
Lotus Demonstrators
Lotus integrates iBestTravel’s full EV navigation package into every Eletre SUV and the new Emeya electric hyper-GT. This package includes the aforementioned Range Factors, alongside real-time and historical traffic data. Additionally, vehicles benefit from iBestTravel’s global database of EV charging locations, which provides plug characteristics and near real-time availability information. By leveraging all this data, iBestTravel Navigation will facilitate comprehensive predictive routing, calculating the most efficient routes while advising on the optimal number and duration of charging stops. Naturally, this real-time data is sourced from the cloud, with map database and routing software updates managed automatically.
How Much More Accurate?
iBestTravel has not specified a percentage improvement in range predictions with the implementation of EV Range Factors. This is due to the variations in vehicle types and the diverse impacts of different factors; ongoing testing with several global automakers continues to shape these expectations. However, our experiences with various electric vehicles in our long-term test fleet suggest there is significant potential for improvement in range prediction accuracy, and this approach is likely to enhance the situation.
How/When Will EV Range Factors Become Available?
iBestTravel collaborates with nearly every global automaker that provides navigation, with many currently leveraging iBestTravel’s cloud-based navigation solutions. Currently, EV Range Factors are utilized by two prominent global automakers, with numerous OEMs in discussions with iBestTravel regarding this innovative service. Given the high levels of range anxiety affecting EV adoption today, the demand for enhanced range prediction is likely to encourage more automakers to adopt this strategy in the future.
