Elaphe and McLaren Applied are collaborating to provide an in-wheel propulsion system, coupling McLaren Applied’s inverter technology with Elaphe’s direct-drive in-wheel motors and vehicle controls. The combination is said to give a torque response five times faster than existing systems. Elaphe has demonstrated an energy efficiency of more than 97% on vehicles such as the […] More…
Author: E-Mobility Engineering
Rugged packs from standard module
Proventia has launched a modular rugged battery pack for off-road construction equipment (writes Nick Flaherty). The ePRO500+ platform uses lithium titanate oxide (LTO) cells from Toshiba with different versions for high power at 20 Ah or high energy delivery at 26 Ah, both with a nominal voltage from 48 to 800 V. The high-power, 552 […] More…
Battery Show North America 2022
Supply and demand Peter Donaldson provides some highlights of this key event, focusing on new products and technologies that offer solutions to pressing challenges Held in Novi, Michigan, in mid-September, the Battery Show North America focused attention on numerous new products, from test equipment for battery development and manufacture to batteries, safety devices, power electronics […] More…
Webasto system boosts the performance of traction batteries
Webasto has launched a compact and scalable thermal management solution called the eBTM, which it says increases the performance and service life of traction batteries in electric vehicles and machines. It allows continuous monitoring of the operating temperature to ensure that the heating and cooling circuits are balanced in order to maintain the battery temperature […] More…
Researchers gain insights into improving lithium-ion cells
A team of scientists from the US, Canada and Germany (led by researchers at Texas A&M University, TAMU) have combined novel imaging techniques and large data sets to try to gain a better understanding of why lithium-ion energy storage systems fail, and hence how they can be improved (writes Rory Jackson). A key focal point […] More…
Kleanbus completes build of first repowered bus
Bus power conversion company Kleanbus has developed its first modular electric platform. Its ‘e-drivetrain in a box’ can convert a single- or double-decker bus from IC engine power to fully electric. Installed in an Optare Solo, the company is now entering pilot trials with bus fleet operators. In general, the conversion consists of a full […] More…
Tevva receives whole-vehicle type approval for its 7.5 tonne e-truck
EV manufacturer Tevva has become the first British company to receive European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) for its 7.5 t battery-electric truck. It allows the company to start producing and selling the truck in volume across the UK and Europe. The first trucks have started to be delivered to customers including Expect Distribution, […] More…
Motor mode programming made easy
Synchronising motors and controllers is a key aspect of EV powertrain development, and Friwo’s electrification kits come with an algorithm that automates that potentially tricky process while enabling vehicle developers to program in their own modes to tailor motor output for economy or performance, for example (writes Peter Donaldson). Motors and controllers need synchronising to […] More…
Battery testing
The inside story Nick Flaherty explains the various non-invasive methods of analysing the workings of battery cells and their materials Testing battery cells, modules and packs presents a series of challenges. First of these is that taking measurements of the current and voltage changes the state of charge (SoC) of the cell and has an […] More…
Three-wheeler given new design
White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) has started production of a new design of its electric-hybrid three-wheel scooter (writes Nick Flaherty). The WMC300FR uses a patented Venturi duct technology added to a Yamaha Tricity 300 platform with a 292 cc single-cylinder four-stroke motor. The hybrid power-assist unit consists of two 56 V, 12 Ah detachable lithium-ion rechargeable […] More…
Polymers confer safety and comfort
Ascend Performance Materials has developed two materials for EVs that improve safety and passenger comfort (writes Nick Flaherty). The Starflam X-Protect and Vydyne AVS tackle two key challenges automakers face when developing EV platforms. Starflam X-Protect is a flame-retardant nylon 66 that withstands exposure to 1 100 ºC direct flame for 15 minutes, surpassing standard flame-retardant materials and aluminium […] More…
ZF heated seat belt offers improved EV energy efficiency in cold weather
ZF has developed a heated seat belt option for EVs, which it says allows drivers to reduce the energy used to heat the vehicle. In combination with other contact heaters such as a seat heater, the system could increase an EV’s range by up to 15% by reducing the energy required to heat the interior […] More…
High-power modular EV cell cycler
NI has launched a battery cycler that supports testing packs with a power of up to 150 kW (writes Nick Flaherty). The High Power System (HPS) 17000, NI’s highest voltage cycler at 1500 V, is modular to support existing EV architectures while leaving room for future higher-voltage variants. It is used to analyse battery function […] More…
Cathode materials
Positive steps Researchers have been announcing advances in lithium-ion cathode materials and their manufacture, as Nick Flaherty reports There are three main types lithium-ion batteries for e-mobility, all with different balances of energy capacity, charging rate and long-term stability. There are however also many different approaches to constructing cathodes, using different chemical compositions, crystal structures […] More…
Everrati adds Range Rover Classic and Land Rover Defender to its line-up
EV conversion specialist Everrati has expanded its line-up with zero-emissions versions of the Range Rover Classic and Land Rover Defender. They follow the successful launch of its electric Land Rover Series. The Range Rover Classic transformed the automotive 4×4 sector when it was launched in 1970, while the iconic Land Rover Defender remains one of […] More…
Ariel Hipercar
Fast forward There’s more to this e-sportscar than its blistering acceleration, writes Peter Donaldson, it is also designed to advance EV technology “High performance carbon reduction” is a statement of intent for niche sportscar manufacturer Ariel Motor. Contraction of the phrase yields Hipercar, the name of Ariel’s road-focused, track-capable EV designed to reach 60 mph […] More…
Hall effect sensors include simulator
Melexis has launched two types of Hall current sensor for e-mobility power systems, along with an online simulation tool (writes Nick Flaherty). The MLX91230 is a conventional magnetic Hall sensor with a sensitivity drift of less than 1% and 100 mA offset over temperature, and operational lifespan for current monitoring in BMSs, battery disconnect units […] More…
Vibracoustic develops battery pack isolator for large EVs
NVH solutions supplier Vibracoustic has developed a battery pack isolation system for body-on-frame vehicles such as pick-ups, off-road vehicles, large SUVs and light commercial vehicles. The company says the system addresses some of the challenges with heavy battery packs in these vehicle classes. Unlike most existing unibody battery EVs, larger vehicles tend to use body-on-frame […] More…
McLaren Applied subsidiary unveils electric scooter
Micro-mobility company Lavoie, a subsidiary of McLaren Applied, has announced its debut product, the Series 1 electric scooter. The scooter features Lavoie’s patented one-touch Flowfold system, in which a single press of a button folds the front and rear wheel hinges and collapses the stem. A 2-hour charge on a domestic three-pin plug provides up […] More…
Cloud twin helps to extend EV range
NXP has connected a battery management system (BMS) through its cloud computing gateway to create a digital twin of a vehicle battery (writes Nick Flaherty). This enables machine learning on the data in the digital twin models in the cloud to improve the battery range by as much as 12%, as well as improving the […] More…
