StarPower has introduced two three-phase IGBT modules for EVs, designed to save space, thanks to their compact design with six IGBTs in one housing.
A common feature of the modules is that they are fitted with trench IGBTs in an arrangement of six per housing with an integrated temperature sensor. Read more…
Author: E-Mobility Engineering
Hybrid energy storage systems
Hybrids of all kinds hold out the prospect of the best of both worlds, but the engineering challenge often entails a lot of effort to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) that combine batteries and supercapacitor banks are a prime example, writes Peter Donaldson. Read more…
Motor development and manufacturing
Peter Donaldson details the many processes involved in creating new motor systems.
As with any sophisticated industrial process, the development of motor systems for e-mobility is a complex and multi-stage endeavour, subject to rapid change under pressure, both to innovate and ramp up to high production volumes. Read more…
Battery production technology
Clever chemistry Peter Donaldson looks at the myriad processes enabling more efficient manufacturing of lithium ion batteries Manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for e-mobility applications is a complex, costly and capital-intensive undertaking, involving multiple processes and consuming large amounts of energy and time. The process involves several critical steps, each requiring precision and advanced technology to ensure […] Read more…
Fired up over safety
With lithium-ion batteries among the top causes of fatal fires in New York, Peter Donaldson talks to a company set on making e-bikes less risky
It only takes a few minutes on the internet to realise there is a big safety problem with e-bike batteries. Even a basic search for ‘e-bike battery fire statistics’ yields alarming numbers, press reports, government recommendations and official statements, such as the London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) recent declaration that e-bikes and e-scooters are now the city’s fastest growing fire risk. Read more…
Harnessing hydrogen
Manufacturers are harnessing the potential of the cheaper, clean energy for shipping and aircraft, reports Nick Flaherty
Fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electric power for e-mobility have a chequered past. This has been perceived as high cost, with issues when integrating it into powertrains and supplying hydrogen from pressurised tanks. Read more…
Battery tech for heavy duty applications
With applications ranging from trucks to mining equipment and excavators, vehicle assemblers have a wide pool of requirements, as Nick Flaherty reports
Flexibility is a key requirement for heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) applications. These vehicles are based on existing chassis designed for diesel engines, so battery packs with various chemistries have to be manufactured to fit a wide range of form factors. Read more…
Fellten Morgan XP-1
The power of three Reinventing its classic 3 Wheeler for the modern world, Morgan has chosen Fellten to electrify the XP-1 prototype, reports Rory Jackson While the Morgan Motor Company has long been known for such unique practices as the handcrafting of its exclusive production runs, iconic car designs that include its classic 3 Wheeler […] Read more…
Stackable connectors that simply snap in place
ENNOVI has developed a stackable, multi-row, board-to-board (BTB) automotive connector that snaps together without soldering, writes Nick FlahertyThe ENNOVI-MB2B system uses a proprietary ‘snap-in biscuit’ design, which allows multiple connector units to be stacked together without soldering, and it is reliable enough to use in EVs. Read more…
Korean aluminium alloy boosts thermal stability
Researchers in Korea have developed an aluminium alloy for EVs that dramatically improves thermal stability, writes Nick Flaherty.
The team at the Korea Institute of Material Science (KIMS) identified a new mechanism by which the nanostructures inside aluminium alloys work, and the alloys they have developed improve thermal stability by up to 140%, compared with existing aluminium ones. Read more…
Memory device functions at 600 C
Researchers in the USA have developed a heat-resistant, non-volatile memory device able to withstand temperatures of over 600 C, writes Nick Flaherty.
The ferroelectric aluminium scandium nitride (AlScN) device can be used in electric aircraft and motors to add machine-learning controls and sensors in harsh environments. Read more…
Testing gallium nitride power at high temperatures
Researchers in the USA are finding a way to use gallium nitride (GaN) power devices at high temperatures, writes Nick Flaherty.
A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is investigating the impact of temperature on ohmic contacts in a gallium nitride device. Read more…
Going flat out
The CTO of YASA Motors tells Rory Jackson how his axial-flux ‘pancake’ motors originated from a complex algorithm and a simple question
Today, Tim Woolmer is the CTO of axial-flux electric-machine manufacturer (and wholly owned Mercedes-Benz subsidiary) YASA Motors, but his initial entry into the world of e-mobility was something of a happy accident. Read more…
Robot makes light work of wiring harnesses
The first version of Q5D’s robot for automating the assembly of wiring harnesses for electric vehicles (EVs) is being shipped, writes Nick Flaherty.
Q5D is using its CY1000 system to assemble the wiring harness in the roof lining of a prototype SUV being tested in the UK. Read more…
Americase builds customisable Li-ion battery cabinet
Americase, a manufacturer of protective containers for hazardous materials and high-value goods, has launched the versatile and mobile Lithium-Ion Battery Cabinet.
The cabinet’s pioneering design meets and exceeds IFC24 storage requirements, providing companies with the freedom to eliminate the costly construction and maintenance of dedicated fire-rated rooms and off-site storage for dangerous goods. Read more…
Parker Hannifin expands GVM motor series
Parker Hannifin has expanded its Global Vehicle Motor (GVM) high-power, permanent magnet AC motor (PMAC) family – increasing the power range up to 351 kW (850 kW peak) for a limited weight of 230 kg. Read more…
NEXTBMS aims to advance battery management systems
By 2050, the EU aims to become climate-neutral and batteries play a crucial role in the transition to clean energy.
European research project NEXTBMS, coordinated by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, aims to develop an advanced battery management system (BMS) on the basis of fundamental knowledge and experience with the physico-chemical processes of lithium-ion batteries. This enables a significant improvement of current modelling approaches. Read more…
Electrofit unveils next-gen control unit for niche vehicles
Electrofit has added the EFV4 to its lineup of vehicle control units.
The EFV4 offers a cost-effective, powerful and highly configurable platform, making it ideal for small-volume and niche vehicle electrification projects. Read more…
Vector and AST offer plug-and-play DC meters charging solution
Software and charging controller manufacturer Vector and sensor specialist AST International are offering a joint solution for the development of DC charging stations, which ensures the compatibility of the communication protocols of the Vector vSECC (Supply Equipment Communication Controller) and the AST DC Meter. Read more…
Nyobolt EV prototype takes ultra-fast charging onto the road
Nyobolt is taking its high-power density, fast-charging battery technology from the lab into the real world with its first EV prototype, a sportscar weighing just 1,250 kg, designed and engineered with Callum. Read more…
