Vitesco Technologies, a leading international supplier of modern drive technologies and electrification solutions, is developing a power module which will be manufactured using transfer molding process.
During this process the power electronics are sealed under a dielectric material that protects the components extremely well. The result is a very robust, cost effective and reliable electronic. The power module consists of three overmolded half-bridges and forms the core of an inverter system, which controls both the drive energy and the energy recovery (recuperation) in high-voltage electric vehicles. More…

Despite the pace at which sales of electric passenger vehicles are growing, and the promise they hold for lowering worldwide carbon emissions, there is a major conflict between the way EV designs are evolving and how that threatens to create serious problems for the sustainability of automotive supply chains.
Historically, the primary deterrent to consumers adopting EVs has been range anxiety, given the comparatively lower MPGe of battery packs versus fuel tanks in IC-engined cars, and the far lower availability of charging points relative to fuelling stations. In response, automotive OEMs are building EVs with ever-larger batteries, with a view to enabling EVs to complete their day-to-day journeys and make it back home without needing to recharge. More…

Yamaichi Electronics has added Connector Position Assurance (CPA) and integrated contact protection to its fourth generation of board-to-cable connector for battery packs (writes Nick Flaherty). More…

Motors and inverters manufacturer Helix has announced the completion of its direct drive scalable aerospace electric propulsion demonstrator technology project.
Known internally as the XBS, the project ran in partnership with the UK’s Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) and the Aerospace Unlocking Potential (Aerospace UP) project between the MAA and the University of Nottingham. Helix developed the XBS project within its X-Division. More…

Turntide Technologies has announced the launch of the Turntide lithium-ion NMC battery pack. It offers a scalable modular design with greater energy density in a lighter, smaller form factor than the previous Hyperdrive battery line. More…

Forsee Power is launching a new high-energy battery system, ZEN LFP, to provide full-day operations to electric buses, trucks, and off-highway vehicles.
The ZEN LFP battery system – available in 36 kWh and 55 kWh modules– has been developed by Forsee Power’s R&D engineers and will be manufactured in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. More…

Extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology developer StoreDot is reiterating its policy of supplying chemistries that ensure minimal battery degradation over an EV’s lifetime.
Its announcement is in response to recent industry claims touting fast charge times and extended ranges, which it says often overlook the potential long-term impact on battery health and the resulting degradation in vehicle driving range. More…

Dutch shipping company Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has launched the first hydrogen-powered zero-emissions inland container ship (writes Nick Flaherty).
The H2 Barge 1 was developed in partnership with sports company Nike and the BCTN Network of Inland Terminals. The 110 m-long, 11.45 m-wide ship will sail between Rotterdam and BCTN’s inland terminal in Meerhout several times a week. More…

Sabic has provided materials as part of its work on an electric car known as the Genbeta (writes Nick Flaherty). The materials are high-performance thermoplastics that provide more processing flexibility to enhance the car’s aerodynamics, contributing to its acceleration and speed. More…

Extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology developer StoreDot is reiterating its policy of supplying chemistries that ensure minimal battery degradation over an EV’s lifetime.
Its announcement is in response to recent industry claims touting fast charge times and extended ranges, which it says often overlook the potential long-term impact on battery health and the resulting degradation in vehicle driving range. More…

Electric and hybrid-electric vehicle systems developer Potenza Technology has unveiled its fifth-generation BMS. The system is fully compliant with ISO 26262 ASIL C.
It is compatible with 400 and 800 V battery systems, which can be configured at an application level to enable OEMs to maximise its effectiveness for each use case, from commercial vehicles to hypercars. More…

Anyone who has been to a vehicle scrapyard will know that recovery of components and reuse of materials has long been part of the automotive industry. However, today the focus on the circular economy is sharpening and the cradle-to-grave concept of a product’s More…

A new version of the Spice analogue simulator called Qspice can simplify the development of motor control for EV powertrains and other vehicle motors (writes Nick Flaherty).
The Qspice simulator has been written by Mike Englehardt, the creator of several versions of the Spice analogue simulator. It can integrate digital elements such as controllers with no performance penalties alongside the analogue power device simulation. More…

The Parker Lord Assembly and Protection Solutions Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, a leader in motion and control technologies, is pleased to announce the launch of three new products specifically designed for electric vehicle battery systems. With a focus on collaboration, customer service and high quality, Parker Lord provides innovative solutions that meet the design, safety and performance requirements of battery manufacturers. More…

Xing Mobility has announced the official release of its Immersio cell-to-pack battery, which uses high-nickel cathode cylindrical lithium-ion cells.
Xing describes the Immersio as a flexible pack concept that can be customised for various applications, such as sedan/saloon and commercial vehicles, trucks, sportscars and SUVs. It offers an energy density of up to 200 Wh/kg and a fast-charge capability of less than 15 minutes, from 20 to 80% SoC. More…

Bel Fuse has announced the expansion of its RCM Series with the RCM300 dual-output DC-DC converter for railway and transportation systems.
The converter delivers 300 W at +24 V/-24 V, the two input ranges covering all common railway batteries. Both outputs are independently regulated, allowing constant regulation even at extreme cross-loads. More…

Historic moment for Scania as its battery assembly at the Swedish headquarters in Södertälje is inaugurated. The start of operations at the new plant enables serial production of heavy-duty premium electric vehicles. More…

Equipmake’s CEO explains the technologies that underpin the company’s evolution into scale production of e-mobility motors. Rory Jackson reports
While specialising in a market niche is useful for some e-mobility component manufacturers, others can find that it pays to diversify. Equipmake falls squarely into the latter category, having supplied electric motors for industries ranging from public transport to space.
Its progress has been spearheaded by Ian Foley, who founded Equipmake and is its CEO… More…

Littelfuse has developed a reference design for a 2 MW bidirectional fast charger for commercial vehicles (writes Nick Flaherty).
Rather than using MOSFETs, the 12-pulse thyristor stack can support a 2 MW output in a smaller volume with just forced-air cooling.
Five 70 kW modules using thyristors that are stacked to provide 350 kW occupy 0.175m³, excluding any pumps and radiators needed for cooling the circuit. For a dual 350 kW charger, the minimum space consumed is a cube with 1.5 m sides and a volume of 3.4m³. More…

The Battery Show North America reveals Eric Norris, President of the Lithium Global Business Unit at Albemarle and Sebastian Wolf, Chief Operating Officer of PowerCo, as keynotes for the annual show to focus discussion on generating sustainable battery lifecycles. More…