Peter Donaldson explores a new generation rigid hull inflatable boat that obtains benchmark performance from electrical energy.
While sailing is emissions free, the IC-engined boats that regularly support sailing events and training operations tarnish that clean image somewhat. This led the principals at RS Sailing, now part of the RS Marine Group, to begin development of an electrical Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) in 2018, incorporating a new company, RS Electric Boats. The resulting Pulse 63 is now operational in its intended role as a sailing coach boat and is also offered as a work boat, a leisure boat and a superyacht tender. Read more…

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOS) has developed lead-less packaging for its automotive grade 80V and 100V MOSFET transistors for two and three wheelers, writes Nick Flaherty.
The lead-less packaging is a key step in making battery packs and brushless DC motors smaller in two and three wheel scooters. Removing the leads inside and outside the package helps to lower the resistance to 1.25 mOhms and 1.7 mOhms, giving lower losses and allowing higher efficiency for light vehicles. Read more…

Adhesives & Bonding Expo, the largest, free-to-attend trade fair and conference for industrial bonding products and manufacturing in North America, is returning for its fourth edition from June 25-27, 2024, in Novi, MI. Register to attend and you’ll gain easy access to the co-located Foam Expo taking place in the same hall. Read more…

As system voltages in EV powertrains increase to enable the use of higher power levels without creating excessive currents and the associated energy losses and heat dissipation problems, so does the importance of wide bandgap semiconductors, writes Peter Donaldson. Ones such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) in applications such as traction inverters, DC-DC converters and onboard chargers. Read more…

Eatron Technologies and About:Energy are developing a decision-engine for battery management systems (BMS) that combines machine learning and electrochemical models, writes Nick Flaherty.
The aiMAGINE project aims to use machine learning frameworks in the BMS to extend the life of a battery pack in electric vehicles and scooters. Read more…

Webasto offers three electric High Voltage Heaters (HVH) with 10-12 kW of power for electric cars, trucks, buses, construction machinery and special vehicles.
The adjustable HVH 100 Compact, HVH 100 Compact+ and HVH 120 heaters are no larger than an A4 sheet of paper, and they convert direct electric current into heat with practically no losses. Read more…

Primarily known as a producer of chemical solutions across several different industries, German multinational group Henkel has launched the Battery Engineering Center (BEC) within its Inspiration Center Dusseldorf, aimed at providing strategic partnerships with battery developers (and others in the e-mobility space). Read more…

DuPont AmberLite EV2X resin helps extend the life of an EV’s glycol coolant, coolant loop components and ion exchange filter.
It reduces glycol maintenance requirements by offering enhanced thermal stability and excellent operating characteristics, compared with standard ion exchange resins on the market.
Consumer demand for greater range, faster charging, larger vehicles and more energy-dense batteries is increasing temperatures within EVs, creating new challenges for vehicle manufacturers. Many are turning from air cooling to liquid systems that use glycol coolant to manage high temperatures. Read more…

A team of researchers led by the University of Michigan in the US is developing a generative AI model to produce new molecules for batteries, writes Nick Flaherty. The machine learning framework will be developed using 200,000 node hours on the Polaris, a 34-petaflop supercomputer at Argonne National Laboratory. Read more…

Electrical breakdown of high-temperature insulation materials can be prevented by using thermoplastic polyimide (TPI), a high-performance polymer.
This is important with the transition to electric vehicles, with polymers that offer higher electrical and thermal properties being sought. To enable faster charging and travel over longer distances, electrical breakdown must be prevented by high-temperature insulation materials. Read more…

RAD Propulsion and Stephens Waring Design have teamed up on a project to launch a 26 ft electric commuter boat in the autumn.
Stephens Waring’s client requires an electric-powered vessel offering solid performance and dependability. Read more…

Getting inside a battery to check its integrity or to trace a fault in a non-destructive manner is technologically challenging, as Peter Donaldson explains
Mass producing large capacity lithium-ion batteries to meet the anticipated demand for EVs while ensuring that they are as safe, dependable and long-lived as possible is driving the need for faster, more thorough and more reliable inspection systems. Read more…

IoTecha, a provider of smart charging solutions for electric vehicles, has developed the Mobilize Powerbox, a smart, secure, bidirectional AC EV charger, with Software République.
IoTecha’s IoT.ON is an integrated platform consisting of software, hardware and cloud components for the smart charging infrastructure and power-grid integration of all kinds of EVs, including light-duty vehicles, trucks and school buses. Read more…

A leading battery manufacturer for the automotive industry is using test-gas leak-detection systems from Zeltwanger Leak Testing & Automation, which is equipped with complete solutions from Pfeiffer Vacuum. Read more…

The technology behind EV charging is becoming increasingly complex, and as infrastructure manufacturers push the boundaries to develop next-generation solutions that deliver power faster and more efficiently, one of the crucial areas of focus is the method of power metering. Read more…

Bloomy Controls has launched the Desktop BMS HIL Test System, a small, compact and transportable system for users to simulate battery cells safely for development projects. Read more…

Nick Flaherty explains the advantages of immersion cooling and the various forms that approach can take
Immersive cooling can significantly improve the performance of e-mobility powertrain designs, allowing higher charging and discharging rates and extending the life of battery packs by keeping the temperature of battery cells under much tighter control. Read more…

Lunaz begins 2024 in a strong position to continue its journey towards producing 1,100 upcycled electric vehicles (UEVs) a year, with confirmation that its upcycled refuse trucks achieve the highest five-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS) rating for driver visibility. Read more…

Kyocera AVX has developed a smart semiconductor switch for EV battery pack designs, writes Nick Flaherty. The switch supports voltage levels up to 930 V for 800 V battery packs and is able to withstand short current events up to several thousand amps. Using a scalable design, the switch can be adapted to different power classes up to 640 kW continuous performance and provides both a safety cutoff and also support for higher charging rates. Read more…

Magna is growing its electrification customer base with a newly awarded contract from a North America-based OEM to supply a specialized primary rear eDrive system for one of the company’s high-end niche vehicle platforms. The award reinforces Magna’s commitment to supporting the automotive industry’s short and long-term transformational needs. Read more…