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AQA GCSE · Question 06.3 · Energy
Designers of electric car batteries want to increase the amount of energy that can be stored in a battery.
Suggest two reasons why.
Designers of electric car batteries want to increase the amount of energy that can be stored in a battery.
Suggest two reasons why.
How to approach this question
1. Think about the main limitations of electric cars compared to petrol/diesel cars (refer back to Table 2 if it helps).
2. How would storing more energy in the battery help to overcome these limitations?
3. Consider the performance of the car. How might more stored energy affect its speed or acceleration?
Full Answer
1. To increase the range of the car (so it can travel further before needing to be recharged).
2. To increase the power output / acceleration of the car.
Storing more energy in a battery of the same size or mass (increasing its energy density) is a key goal for electric vehicle designers.
1. **Increase Range:** The range of an electric car is limited by the amount of energy stored in its battery. A battery that can store more energy would allow the car to travel a greater distance on a single charge, making it more practical for long journeys and reducing "range anxiety".
2. **Improve Performance:** A battery capable of storing and delivering more energy can provide more power to the electric motor. This can lead to better performance, such as faster acceleration and a higher top speed.
Common mistakes
✗ Vague answers like "to make it better" or "to make it last longer". Be specific about what aspect is improved (e.g., range, time between charges).
✗ Irrelevant reasons like "to make it cheaper" - storing more energy often makes batteries more expensive initially.
Practice the full AQA GCSE Physics Foundation Tier Paper 1
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