As huge football fans, we are proud to have supported EA SPORTS with a range of in-engine shots for their FIFA 22 official launch trailer.
Author: Lauren Brady
What innovations will drive the electric car trend in the future?
Although September saw car sales fall to their lowest levels in 23 years, EVs had their highest market share for a month on record – 15.2% of all cars sold. With the UK government planning to stop sales of purely petrol and diesel cars by 2030, this number will no doubt rocket up soon.
But are we ready for it? As of now, there are some 1.1 million electric, plug-in hybrid, and conventional hybrid cars on UK roads – but can growth happen without the infrastructure to support it?
Charging
The main logistical problem is going to be charging. In the UK, the British government confirmed legislation will be introduced to require any newly built home to have a charging point installed as standard. The rule is expected to come into force in 2022.
Until then, you’ll need to set-up your own charging point (just make sure you don’t do what James May did with his Tesla.) A standard three-pin plug likely won’t do it – not in good time at least – so you’ll need a specific charging point that will set you back at least £450. Though, according to Which, the amount you save over time is worth it.
Outside of the home, wireless charging has been trialed in Nottingham on taxis in a £3.4 million scheme. Lamp-post charging has also been part of the conversation, brought about by companies like char.gy.
While outside of the UK, there is an exciting development happening in Scandinavia. Leading global technology company, ABB, plans to roll out 48 high-power charging stations across the freeways of Denmark, Norway and Sweden to offer premium e-mobility experiences on-the-go. Undoubtedly great news for European EV drivers.
As of earlier this year, the US is also looking to support EV drivers charge up across the country in a bid to help tackle global climate change. President Joe Biden pledged to prioritise a national EV charging network under his $2 trillion infrastructure bill, promising to have at least 500,000 of the devices installed across the U.S. by 2030.
Going beyond
In the grand scheme, this is a very short-term look at the future of EVs – where do they go next? At the top of the agenda surely must be longer ranges and quicker charging times? According to Ovo Energy, the Tesla Model S can go 405 miles on a single charge – that’s enough for Leeds to Cornwall. That sounds great, but in an EV, it means pulling over, waiting 7 hours to charge, and then carrying on.
Beyond consumer vehicles, they could become a part of commercial vehicle fleets very soon. In fact, there are often stories about council vehicles and buses welcoming EVs into their ranks. Last-mile deliveries – a delivery’s final trip between the depot and your door – could make use of EVs. It wouldn’t be the entire journey, but a significant part of it. According to Auto Express, this part of the delivery usually accounts for half of the shipping cost. It’s a way for courier companies to offset some of their costs without rising prices for the consumer.
This is just a drop in the ocean of the world of EVs. We haven’t even begun to talk about R&D into hydrogen fuel cells by the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, and how it could work in tandem with electric cars. The future of EVs is exciting, but there are challenges ahead. The question is, how will we tackle them?
Get in Touch
We’re all about cars here at REALTIME. The future is bright and we’re ready to be a part of it. To talk about your needs, get in touch with us:
Finalists at the Broadcast Tech Awards!
We are delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist at The Broadcast Tech Innovation Awards 2021 for our work on A Discovery of Witches, Season 2. The awards celebrate the role technology plays in creating and broadcasting the most outstanding productions of the past year.
Congratulations to our amazing team, our wonderful clients at Bad Wolf and Sky TV, and the rest of the nominees.
The full shortlist is below:
Best VFX Project
A Discovery of Witches (REALTIME)
Intergalactic (Milk Visual Effects)
Lisey’s Story (MPC Episodic)
The Irregulars (BlueBolt)
The Lost Pirate Kingdom (Stone Soup)
The Third Day (IMG VFX, Freefolk, MPC Episodic)
REALTIME @ View Conference
We’re absolutely delighted to be at View Conference this year – virtually presenting on the making of the Subnautica: Below Zero games trailer for Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
The games trailer currently has over 2 million views on Youtube and has won industry-leading awards for its innovative storytelling in CG. REALTIME’s Director, Stu Bayley, and Animation Director, Nicolas Seck, will discuss how the team crafted comedy into the narrative and created a believable, grounded character in a fantasy world. Join us on Sun, Oct 17.
Our Favourite Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles (EVs) are now entering the mainstream, accounting for 6.6% of new car sales last year. What’s more, their rise is only going to accelerate as rules are introduced to limit the kind of vehicles allowed into major cities.
We’re definitely seeing an increase in clients coming to us to talk about their EV launches and we’ve recently worked on fully integrated real-time 3D configurators and marketing stills for leading EVs including the Lotus Evija and the recently launched Rimac Nevera.
So, we thought it would be fun to ask our automotive team which electric vehicle they would pick if money was no object. The car-fanatics of our studio did not disappoint…Let us know which car you would choose! It’s time to get excited about making the switch to electric.
Lotus Evija, Pininfarina Battista and Rimac Nevera
Client Services Director, Paul McSweeney, couldn’t stop at just one. “With a wife and four children I need six places. So, I choose a Lotus Evija, a Pininfarina Battista and a Rimac Nevera!” Paul is especially familiar with these particular vehicles, as our team partnered with each brand on the launch marketing campaigns and configurators for these incredible cars.
Porsche Taycan Turbo
Our CEO, Tony Prosser, didn’t have to think twice before he chose the Porsche Taycan Turbo. “Instantaneous power, the biggest thrill with the safety of all-wheel drive, beautiful Porsche styling inside and out and superb German build quality. 5 stars from me.”
Audi E-Tron
Our Senior Automotive Artist, Damian Biliński, has gone for style mixed with size and function: “My choice is the Audi e-Tron black edition. A big SUV, family friendly and just look at it, no words needed!” As well as looking the part, Audi boasts that their e-Tron is capable of travelling up to 252 miles on a single charge and can be charged in under an hour.
Honda E
Arguably the friendliest-looking car on the list is Senior Producer, Graham James’ pick of the Honda e Electric Car – Honda’s first fully-electric urban car comes in a nifty compact size just little bit bigger than a Fiat 500: “It has an incredible retro style, with a pretty high-tech interior.”
Cizeta-Moroder V16T
Will Wilson, Senior Automotive Artist, breaks the rules with his obscure choice, choosing to resurrect the car that very nearly made it; “There will be generations of electric cars to look forward to and enjoy. I would mark the end of an era and choose a car which to me represents the ultimate vision of what a supercar can be. The Cizeta-Moroder V16T. A car developed by Claudio Zampolli, designed by Marcello Gandini (Miura, Countach, Stratos), and powered by a Lamborghini derived V16 engine. “
Jeep Wrangler Magneto
Our Operations Director, Libby Behrens, has chosen something a little more adventurous: “I love what Jeep are going to do with The Jeep Wrangler Magneto. This is because one day I will be that adventurous and go off-roading in the desert…” The Magneto’s single-motor powertrain is said to offer performance on a par with the standard Wrangler’s 3.5-litre Pentastar petrol V6, packing what they call “unmistakable rock-climbing force.” We couldn’t be more excited to see the final product.
VW Buzz
Last, but by no means least, we have Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz, curtesy of Senior UE4 Auto Artist Paul Stevenson; “A great revamp but this time without the wheezy air-cooled motor.” Unveiled at the Munich motor show, the ID. Buzz features a raft of camera, lidar and radar sensors to enable the autonomous technology developed by US start-up Argo.
What would you pick? An updated retro design or the kind of EV that looks like it’s straight out of Blade Runner? Be sure to let us know!
At REALTIME, we have 20 years of experience making car configurators for the biggest names in the automotive sector. Work with us to ensure your car configurator offers the best experience to your customers.
For more information on our car configuration options, fill out the below form or email me at [email protected]