https://www.siliconvalley.com/2024/05/12/new-study-is-optimistic-about-increasing-ev-fuel-economy/

There is now widespread agreement that our ability to electrify road transportation offers an enormous opportunity to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A joint study by the Electric Power Research Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council goes on to argue that the benefits of electrification could be increased significantly by maximizing the fuel economy of the emerging electric fleet. The researchers predict that efficiency optimization “could effectively cut energy consumption per mile in half over the next 30 years.” The study attempts to quantify the main benefits that could be secured if a steady transition away from internal combustion vehicles was paired with a deliberate effort to maximize electric fuel economy.

Dramatic improvements in EV efficiency could theoretically be achieved in a number of ways, according to the study. The main strategies include boosting powertrain efficiency, reducing aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance, improving the efficiency of auxiliary equipment used to heat and cool the cabin, and reducing vehicle mass. The authors believe that notable weight reduction could be accomplished without resorting to vehicle downsizing or compromising safety. Their analysis suggests that total vehicle mass could be cut in half by replacing steel with carbon fiber and employing batteries with higher gravimetric energy density.