GM to fund expansion of EVgo fast-charging network for electric cars

General Motors announced Friday that it would partner with the EVgo charging network to add an additional 2,700 fast-charging stations by 2025. The announcement comes a week before it unveils the 2022 Cadillac Lyriq electric luxury SUV, the first of up to a dozen new battery-electric vehicles it says it will offer in North America by 2025.

The new charging stations will be located in metropolitan areas, not on long-distance highway corridors. The goal is to provide fast charging “where people already are,” including shopping malls, grocery stores, pharmacies, playgrounds, parks, and other regularly visited locations. This will provide convenient fast EV charging to apartment dwellers, ride-hailing and delivery drivers, and others who may not be able to charge at home overnight.

The companies declined to say how much GM will invest; company CEO Mary Barra called it “pretty significant” without specifying any dollar figure. They also would not discuss the total cost of the new stations overall, or the locations where they will be sited.

Change in direction

The GM partnership with EVgo represents a change in direction from a carmaker that refused for a decade to invest in EV charging infrastructure. In January 2016, asked whether GM would provide any charging infrastructure for its then-new Chevrolet Bolt EV, its CEO and top electrification executives both gave a flat no.

“We are not actively working on providing infrastructure [for the Bolt EV],” said CEO Barra in 2016.

“We believe all our customers should benefit from any infrastructure spending,” added electrification executive Pam Fletcher.

But that was then, and this is now. Questioned on GM’s evolution in thinking CEO Barra said Friday that the company had “fast-forwarded since 2016,” when it launched the Bolt EV.

“We’ve done extensive consumer research,” she said, “and as range anxiety has fallen to the background” with announcements by GM and others of 300-mile ranges on future EV models, “clearly they expect a robust public charging network” as well.

That makes the company’s investment in new fast-charging stations the “next logical step”—and GM chose EVgo because it already had a “robust charging network” nationwide.

The partners are looking at several markets for this rollout, which they called “very ambitious,” including those where they anticipate growth in EV sales. Those may include Florida, Texas, and Illinois, Barra said—notably omitting GM’s home state of Michigan.

EVgo CEO Cathy Zoi added that while California has more charging stations than any other state, its population of EVs meant that it too still needs more fast-charging infrastructure than it has today.

The new stations will be open to all EV drivers who can use the CCS or CHAdeMO standards, and will not carry any special GM branding.  The first of the new GM-funded EVgo fast-charging locations will open early in 2021, the companies said, and all 2,700 will be completed during 2025.

Source: GM

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/gm-to-fund-expansion-of-evgo-fast-charging-network-for-electric-cars/

Linear Labs to mass-produce new hub motor in Texas for light EV and marine applications

Electric motor maker Linear Labs has announced that starting this September, it will be mass-producing its high-torque M200 e-mobility motor for off-the-shelf use. The announcement comes on the heels of a $68.9-million economic incentive deal with the city of Fort Worth to bring advanced automation manufacturing to the Texas metropolis.

The company will start with a production allocation distributed between itself and several Tier 1 sub-contractors, in order to expedite the manufacturing ramp rate and delivery of motors to early customers.  Linear Labs expects to manufacture and deliver at least 100,000 M200 motors by the end of 2021.

“We’re entering phase two of the company’s production plans based on extremely high customer demand,” said founder and CEO Brad Hunstable. “We’ve been building our motors for corporate clients to fit their custom needs for 10 months, and now it’s time to make our technology available to everyone. We’ll be producing a plug-and-play motor that can be manufactured at lower volumes without extensive commitment, and people will easily be able to use it for e-scooters, golf carts, e-bikes, autonomous robots or any other last-mile application. We’ll begin fulfilling deliveries as early as September 15th.”

The M200, with its integrated controller, is also able to work underwater for marine applications. 

VP Michael Van Steenburg said, “Because of our unique Magnetic Tunnel design with dual axial flux and dual radial flux rotors, the HET is four motors working as one, which provides around twice the average efficiency across the full speed range while making twice the torque of [competitors’ motors].” 

The M200 will initially be available in low-voltage ranges from 36-60 VDC, providing up to 140 Nm of peak torque at up to 5,000 RPM. Higher voltages will be available upon request. 

Source: Linear Labs

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/linear-labs-to-mass-produce-new-hub-motor-in-texas-for-light-ev-and-marine-applications/

DOE issues RFI to strengthen critical battery material supply chains

The DOE has issued a request for information (RFI) on challenges and opportunities in the upstream and midstream critical battery material supply chains.

“As the demand for critical materials continues to grow, a secure and domestic upstream supply chain becomes vital,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel R. Simmons. “Innovation in our domestic industries and continued investment by DOE programs will help strengthen our country’s ability to manufacture and recycle these materials and work toward more robust domestic supply chains.”

In this RFI, the DOE specifically seeks input on the current state of the battery cathode material supply chains, as well as opportunities for near-term and long-term R&D. Responses to the RFI will inform the agenda of the R&D Battery Critical Materials Supply Chain Workshop—tentatively planned for this fall—and the development of the R&D roadmap for the federal strategy.

The RFI also supports the DOE’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge, which draws on the extensive research capabilities of the DOE national laboratories, universities and industry to accelerate the development of energy storage technologies.

Responses to the RFI must be submitted by July 31, 2020.

Source: DOE

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/doe-issues-rfi-to-strengthen-critical-battery-material-supply-chains/

Link Transit’s 10 new BYD buses come with Momentum Dynamics wireless charging system

Following a phased reopening of its Lancaster, California manufacturing plant in mid-May, BYD is back to building electric buses. The company’s first post-closure delivery completed an order of 10 battery-electric K9S buses to Link Transit in Wenatchee, Washington.

The K9S 35-ft electric bus seats up to 32, has a range of 215 miles, and can be charged in 3 to 4 hours. Link Transit’s 10 buses are fitted with wireless charging receivers from Momentum Dynamics, to allowing for en route charging.

Link Transit has been operating a 200 kW wireless charging system from Momentum Dynamics since 2018. In January, Momentum and Link Transit extended their relationship with a new five-year agreement under which Momentum will provide three new 300 kW en route charging stations.

“We’ve been operating the first eight [BYD buses] since mid-March and they have been a huge help to our system,” said Richard DeRock, General Manager of Link Transit. “They have far exceeded our expectations with their performance.”

Source: BYD

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/link-transits-10-new-byd-buses-come-with-momentum-dynamics-wireless-charging-system/

Nissan launches pilot in Australia, will offer V2G to customers this year

A major government trial of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in Australia will demonstrate the Nissan LEAF’s ability to supply energy to a home or commercial site, or to feed power back to the grid, thanks to its built-in bidirectional charging capability.

The Realising Electric Vehicle Services (REVS) project is a precursor to the customer launch of Nissan’s V2G technology in Australia this year. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will deploy 51 LEAFs in its government fleet, and the EVs will provide frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) to the National Electricity Market.

Utilities rely on FCAS to keep power grids operating at optimum levels during times of fluctuating demand, preventing instability that can lead to blackouts. The trial will focus on the Nissan LEAF’s ability to provide energy to the grid to help stabilize loads across peak and off-peak periods.

In a home application, an EV could serve as a mobile energy solution. The LEAF’s 40 kWh battery can store energy from solar panels during the day, then release that energy to supply a home’s power needs at night. Customers who use a workplace or public site to charge their vehicles could then use that power to supply their homes. A parked car could even become a revenue-generating asset by providing ancillary services to the grid.

Nissan Australia Managing Director Stephen Lester says Nissan has the only V2G-capable vehicle from the factory on the Australian market today. “Nissan has been a global leader in this space, with several successful trials conducted in overseas markets.”

“With more people working from home currently, with a Nissan LEAF in the driveway, a household could significantly reduce their power bills by using their vehicle as a battery,” says Lester. “And if they have solar panels, they can maximize their use of renewable energy, and still have an exciting zero-emissions car to drive.”

Source: Nissan

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/nissan-launches-pilot-in-australia-will-offer-v2g-to-customers-this-year/

Sunstone Engineering’s new battery welding system enables copper and nickel tab welding

Sunstone Engineering, a manufacturer of high-tech micro-welding and engraving solutions, has developed a new battery welding system that’s capable of welding copper and nickel tabs to power cells.

Sunstone’s Omega PA250i includes new welding technology that clears a path for battery manufacturers to use pure copper or nickel tabs in the production of power cells. The high conductivity of copper tabs can improve the performance of a power cell. However, until now, battery manufacturers have been limited to mixed metal tabs, which are easier to produce but offer less efficient conductivity.

The Omega PA250i can be configured in three different ways to match the needs of the manufacturer. For R&D, the stylus configuration provides the lab with 5X optics and pulse arc welding technology. For mid-size production facilities, a weld held configuration may be more suitable. For large-scale production facilities, the Omega PA250i, with its PLC capabilities, connects to a CNC-mounted weld head.

As are many of Sunstone’s micro-welders, the Omega PA250i is controlled by a mounted touchscreen interface. The operator can digitally control all aspects of the weld, from power to waveform to agitation. When the operator enters the type and thickness of the metals to be welded, the Omega will automatically set the weld parameters for an optimum weld for that combination of metal and thickness.

The Omega’s digital control also offers the ability to save welds, then load and apply those settings to similar jobs in the future. Weld settings can also be cloned from one unit to another, which saves time in setting up production processes.

“The Omega opens up new possibilities for battery manufacturers,” says Sunstone Engineering President Jonathan Young. “They can take advantage of the conductivity benefits of copper or nickel tabs without affecting production levels. With an Omega, our customers can develop a significantly more efficient power cell and produce it just as easily as any other.”

“The specificity of the Omega is the key to why it is able to consecutively produce optimum welds,” Young continues. “Sunstone has advanced weld control far beyond what our clients expected even a year ago. A successful weld, for any type of metal or combination of metals, is the result of being able to adjust and tinker with every known contributing factor. And now, with the Omega, the technology is automatically adjusting the welder based on the materials involved to create an optimum welding result.”

Source: Sunstone Engineering

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/sunstone-engineerings-new-battery-welding-system-enables-copper-and-nickel-tab-welding/

Renesas unveils integrated LIN interface sensor signal conditioner for EV HVAC Systems

Renesas Electronics recently introduced the ZSSC4132—an automotive pressure sensor solution featuring an integrated certified LIN v2.2a interface. Available in a single-package compact form factor, the sensor signal conditioner (SSC) is designed for EV climate control systems.

Renesas says the AEC-Q100 qualified ZSSC4132 can be configured for nearly all resistive bridge sensors. 

“HVAC plays a significant role in EV battery range, and OEMs are looking for ways to improve system efficiency while maintaining high performance and staying within tight cost constraints,” said Renesas VP Christian Wolf. “With the ZSSC4132, customers can access a complete SSC solution that is already LIN certified, allowing them to easily and cost-effectively scale their HVAC system development for mid-range up to high-end EVs and hybrids.”

ZSSC4132 features include:

• LIN v2.2a certification with backward compatibility to LIN v1.3, v2.0, and v2.1
• Differential bridge sensor input that enables accuracy at ±0.5% full-scale output for temperatures ranging from -40° C to 150° C
• 12- to 14-bit ADC resolution
• Slave node position detection feature at the LIN bus, allowing the SSC to assign a unique ID to the device
• Overvoltage and reverse-polarity protection circuitry
• Electromagnetic compatibility
• Multiple diagnostic features

The ZSSC4132 is available now in a 4 mm x 4 mm, 24-lead QFN package with prices starting at $1.38 per unit in 10,000-unit quantities. An evaluation kit for the ZSSC4132 is also available now, with prices starting at $185.

Source: Renesas 

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/renesas-unveils-integrated-lin-interface-sensor-signal-conditioner-for-ev-hvac-systems/

Edmonton Transit Service to deploy 40 Proterra Catalyst E2 Max electric buses and charging infrastructure

Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has unveiled first 21 Proterra electric buses, the first installment of 40 that it plans to deploy this year, as well as a new, purpose-built electric bus garage. ETS, which serves the capital of Alberta, Canada, with a fleet of over 900 buses, will begin putting its new electric buses into service in early August. 

Proterra’s 40-foot Catalyst E2 bus has six Proterra battery packs, with a total capacity of 660 kWh, enabling approximately 350 km of range. In 2017, this bus model set a new world record for the longest distance traveled by an EV on a single charge—1,101 miles. ETS will be the first customer in North America to put it into service.

Proterra says its DuoPower drivetrain delivers nearly twice the horsepower and five times better fuel efficiency than a standard diesel engine. The DuoPower’s two electric motors deliver a total of 510 hp, accelerating a Catalyst bus from 0-20 mph in under six seconds and propelling it up grades of as much as 25 percent.

To charge its new buses, Edmonton has also unveiled the new Kathleen Andrews Garage, named after the city’s first female transit operator. ETS collaborated with the Proterra Energy team to install 26 ABB 150 kW depot chargers connected to inverted pantographs, and seven 60 kW Proterra plug-in chargers in the maintenance area, all of which are interoperable and standardized. ETS bus operators can drive the buses into parking spots and connect to the overhead chargers with the flip of a switch. A fleet management software system initiates charging at designated times to optimize energy usage.

Proterra’s APEX Connected Vehicle Intelligence System will allow ETS to monitor the status of its vehicles and gather information such as state of charge, charger status, bus efficiency, distance traveled, and more. Charging management features keep energy consumption from the chargers below set limits, avoiding demand charges and ensuring the power draw stays within facility limits.

“This is one of the most impressive end-to-end deployments of battery-electric transit buses we’ve seen in North America,” said Jack Allen, CEO of Proterra. “The ETS deployment showcases how to successfully implement an electric bus fleet and charging infrastructure for current fleet needs, as well as plan for expansion in the near future.”

“Our purchase represents the largest purchase of electric buses in Canadian history,” says Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. “Electric buses benefit not only transit users who will get to experience the perks of a quieter commute with decreased emissions, but also Edmontonians who aren’t regular commuters on our transit system, as they’ll also benefit from the city meeting its energy and climate goals.”   

Source: Proterra

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/edmonton-transit-service-to-deploy-40-proterra-catalyst-e2-max-electric-buses-and-charging-infrastructure/

Northvolt to supply €2 billion worth of green battery cells to BMW

The BMW Group has signed a long-term battery cell supply contract worth 2 billion euros with Swedish supplier Northvolt. The cells will be produced beginning in 2024 at the Northvolt Ett gigafactory, which is currently under construction in Skellefteå in northern Sweden.

Northvolt Ett in Sweden is to go on line in 2021 with an initial capacity of 32 GWh, which is expected to expand to 40 GWh by 2024. Northvolt CEO Peter Carlsson said last November that the company hopes to be producing 150 GWh worth of cells in Europe by 2030.

BMW has been working with Northvolt since 2018—the carmaker also buys cells from CATL and Samsung SDI as part of a deliberate strategy to encourage global competition. Andreas Wendt, the head of BMW’s Purchasing and Supplier Network, says the multi-supplier policy ensures that the automaker always has access to the best possible cell technology.

BMW is determined to keep its battery supply chain as green as possible. The Northvolt Ett plant will be powered entirely by renewable energy, and will have in-house recycling capacities. Northvolt aims to use 50 percent recycled material in new cells by 2030. CATL and Samsung SDI have also pledged to power cell production with renewable energy.

Last October, BMW announced that it would start buying cobalt and lithium directly from mine operators—the idea is to eliminate suppliers and go-betweens from the supply chain, allowing greater control and greater transparency. BMW’s new PartChain supply chain management system uses blockchain technology to provide transparency and traceability of its components and raw materials.

“To make an effective contribution to climate protection, we aim to improve our products’ overall environmental balance—from resources to recycling,” said BMW Board Chairman Oliver Zipse. “This applies in particular to energy-intensive production of high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles. That is why we now have a contractual agreement with our cell manufacturers that they will only use green power to produce our fifth-generation battery cells.”

Source: Northvolt via Electrive

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/northvolt-to-supply-e2-billion-worth-of-green-battery-cells-to-bmw/

Guidehouse Insights report identifies Rivian, Nio, and Nikola as “leading EV upstarts”

Global interest in plug-in vehicles continues to grow, but Big Auto continues to take only timid and halting steps toward electrification. This presents opportunities for bold new competitors to establish footholds in the auto market of the future. A new report from Guidehouse Insights identifies some of the “leading EV upstarts.”

Guidehouse notes that momentum in the EV market to date has relied heavily on government support, and has coincided with years of growth in the overall auto industry. These conditions are changing—some governments are revising EV policies, and global automotive markets, which hit a peak in 2017-2018, aren’t expected to recover from the coronavirus crisis for at least a couple of years.

The report, “Guidehouse Insights Leaderboard: EV Upstarts,” evaluates the current crop of companies producing plug-in and fuel cell vehicles. Each of the companies included has launched a first vehicle in the past 3 years, or is working toward production launch of a first vehicle. The report compares automakers across the following areas: differentiation, go-to-market strategy, partners, investments, geographic reach, performance, portfolio, marketing, innovation and staying power.

“Leading upstarts have distinguished themselves within the industry in a first-mover capacity and have either deployed EVs or are near to deployment,” said Guidehouse Senior Research Analyst Scott Shepard. “Rivian is a first mover in the North American pickup truck market and has secured significant partners and investors including Ford and Amazon, while NIO has produced the most vehicles of all competitors and has innovated solutions for battery swapping and mobile charging services. Nikola is the only competitor among those examined in this report looking to deploy both FCVs and BEVs.”

Source: Guidehouse Insights via Green Car Congress

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/guidehouse-insights-report-identifies-rivian-nio-and-nikola-as-leading-ev-upstarts/

Sonoma Coast Incentive Project offers $7 million in rebates for public EV chargers

California has set a goal of putting 5 million EVs on the state’s roads by 2030, and supporting those vehicles with 250,000 chargers. The Sonoma Coast Incentive Project, one of a statewide web of organizations and initiatives designed to further these goals, will make some $6.75 million in incentives available over the next three years for the purchase and installation of public EV chargers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Qualifying sites can now apply for rebates to help cover eligible equipment and installation costs. Businesses, nonprofits and government entities can apply for rebates of up to $7,500 per Level 2 connector, and up to $80,000 per DC fast charger.

Additional incentives are available for sites within unincorporated, low-income or disadvantaged communities. A minimum of 25% of the funding is earmarked for disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Source: Sonoma Coast Incentive Project via Green Car Congress

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/sonoma-coast-incentive-project-offers-7-million-in-rebates-for-public-ev-chargers/

Decreasing the risk of electrical shorts in Li-ion battery cells

Sponsored by Chroma System Solutions

On rare occasions, an electrical short can develop inside a cell after passing production tests. This is due to burrs or particles on the positive electrode reaching the negative electrode after inflation occurs. If these cells that are susceptible to failure pass through to the end user, the results could be catastrophic. This paper describes how to mitigate these occurrences in the dry cell stage.

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/decreasing-the-risk-of-electrical-shorts-in-li-ion-battery-cells/

Download new trend paper on commercial vehicle electrification

Electrification of the powertrain and accessory applications for trucks, buses, construction, agricultural & recreational vehicles is taking the commercial transportation industry by storm. It requires reliability in harsh environment connectivity, optimized design of scalable sub-systems and application support for integrated component solutions.

Download a free industry trend paper from TE Connectivity to learn more about the latest trends in commercial vehicle electrification.

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/download-new-trend-paper-on-commercial-vehicle-electrification/

Former Tesla VP Chris Porritt joins Rimac Automobili as CTO

Croatian supercar builder Rimac Automobili has appointed Chris Porritt to the role of Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Porritt has spent over three decades in the automotive industry—previous positions include Chief Engineer at Aston Martin, VP of Engineering at Tesla, and lead at Apple’s Special Projects Group. He has overseen the development of several bespoke performance and electric vehicles, including Aston Martin’s One-77 hypercar and V12 Vantage Zagato.

Rimac’s is currently deep into the development of its next electric hypercar, codenamed C_Two. Prototypes are being built, tested, and crashed for global homologation. Rimac says the production version of the C_Two will deliver a 0-100 km/h time of under 2 seconds and a top speed of 258 mph. The company plans to hand-build 150 units of the vehicle on a new production line in Croatia, beginning in 2021. Rimac has developed and built all the major systems and components for the C_Two in-house.

Rimac’s partners include Koenigsegg, Automobili Pininfarina, Aston Martin, Porsche and Hyundai.

“I had concerns that people with great industry experience would not be a fit for our culture and company spirit,” said Rimac Automobili founder and CEO Mate Rimac. “However, as a car enthusiast through and through, who gets [his] hands dirty himself, Chris fit right in from the first moment. We share the same mindset: we want to develop cars that raise the bar, are fun and great quality. I can’t wait to see what we will be able to create together.”

“The opportunity to join Rimac Automobili is an engineer’s dream,” said Chris Porritt. “Since nearly every key component is designed and built in-house by Rimac, this gives us the freedom to create something that’s unlike anything else that has been done before in the hypercar world. Rimac is the perfect place to use my combined experience in the engineering of supercars at Aston Martin and the EV engineering experience I gained in California.”

Source: Rimac

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/former-tesla-vp-chris-porritt-joins-rimac-automobili-as-cto/

Freudenberg develops thermally conductive elastomer for EVs

Engineers at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies have developed an elastomer that merges relatively high heat capacity with electrically insulating properties by combining silicone rubber with special fillers. Electronic components can be mounted in a thermally conductive aluminum housing, which dissipates heat through cooling water or convection.

Senior Application Manager Armin Striefler explains why Freudenberg decided to use silicone as the base material: “Our material retains its properties over a very high temperature range, from -50 to +250° C, but it can be deformed with relatively low force.”

When sprayed on a metal surface, it fills the tiny gaps caused by roughness, which the company says improves heat transfer and enables adhesion without additional surface treatments. The material has a dielectric strength of at least 20 kV/mm. Adding the fillers increases the heat conductivity from 0.2 to 1.5 to 2 W/mK. By comparison, air has a heat conductivity of 0.026 W/mK under normal conditions. 

The first application for this new material class could lie in EV charging sockets, allowing temperature sensors to be electrically shielded. The material can also be applied to the targeted cooling of control units, such as those used to switch the current between the EV battery and drivetrain. Car manufacturers are currently testing an initial application in charging sockets with integrated sensors and battery control units.

During rapid charging, or when high performance is required while driving, the busbars used to connect battery modules and power electronics produce waste heat. Freudenberg is working on a module in which the thermally conductive silicone dissipates the waste heat from the busbars directly to the housing or a heat sink. The company says this could reduce the conductor cross-sections so that only about half of the normally used copper would be required. The first functional prototypes are expected to be tested this year.

“We’re still in the beginning stages of applying the thermally conductive elastomers,” said Technical Director Joachim Heinemann. “But we can already see that the combination of thermal conductivity and electrical insulation has great potential to make future generations of electric cars more efficient.”

Source: Freudenberg 

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/freudenberg-develops-thermally-conductive-elastomer-for-evs/

ABB breaks ground on new EV charger factory to meet global demand

Since entering the EV charging market a decade ago, ABB has sold over 14,000 DC fast chargers, in more than 80 countries. However, the Swiss-based electronics giant believes this is just the beginning. It has begun construction on a new production facility in San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy.

The company plans to invest $30 million in the 16,000-square-meter facility, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2021.

The new plant will produce ABB’s entire line of DC fast chargers, and will also include a dedicated 3,200-square-meter space for R&D and prototyping.

The facility will feature rooftop solar panels, an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, and a fleet of EVs for employees.

ABB also recently invested $10 million in a new global e-mobility headquarters and R&D center on the campus of Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, which is set to officially launch later this year.

“At ABB we have been driving progress in the sector for more than a decade, and this new state-of-the-art facility will contribute significantly to further advancing the global move towards zero-emission electric mobility,” said Giampiero Frisio, head of ABB’s Smart Power Division.

“As global demand for sustainable transport continues to increase, this new facility will ensure that ABB can meet that demand and remain the go-to provider for our end-to-end e-mobility solutions,” said Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s global business for E-mobility Infrastructure Solutions.

Source: ABB

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/abb-breaks-ground-on-new-ev-charger-factory-to-meet-global-demand/

Danfoss Editron obtains marine certification for motors and frequency converters in China

Danfoss Editron has obtained the final type approval certificate for its synchronous reluctance assisted permanent magnet motors and frequency converters from the China Classification Society (CCS).

“Electrification plays an increasingly important role in the green promotion of ships,” said a senior-level surveyor of the China Classification Society. “The type approval of this product can help customers reduce costs and improve sustainability. This approval also proves the requirements of China Classification Society for standardized product inspection and shows our determination to promote green shipping and classification services.”

“Electric propulsion will become more and more popular in shipping. At present, port emission regulations are increasingly strict. As an influencer of the market, our products and solutions have become innovative leaders in today’s maritime market. Therefore, it is particularly important to find more efficient products, and we hope that these green ship technologies can become the standard of China’s new energy ship industry electrification,” said Chao Wang, Danfoss Editron’s Head of Off-Highway and Marine in China.

Source: Danfoss Editron

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/danfoss-editron-obtains-marine-certification-for-motors-and-frequency-converters-in-china/

Scheugenpflug’s new DispensingCell DC803 is designed for high-volume liquid dispensing

Scheugenpflug recently introduced the DispensingCell DC803, a multifunctional cell for dispensing applications. This system can be used for potting and applying liquid seals and adhesives, as well as sealing sensitive electronic surfaces. The cell is an offshoot of the company’s CNCell.

The DispensingCell DC803 was designed for medium-to-high production quantities. The company says the servo motor technology and high-performance axis system allow high traversing speeds and short cycle times for matrix and bead applications.

The cell is based on standardized modules that are individually assembled according to customer specifications. It can be combined with all Scheugenpflug dispensers and material preparation and/or feeding units. 

In addition to being used as a stand-alone system, the cell’s inline variant can be integrated directly into existing production lines. The DispensingCell DC803 can be equipped with handling systems, joining technology and process monitoring.

The integrated control unit UViS5 provides a continuous overview of all relevant process data on a 15.6-inch multi-touch display, and includes predefined functions for the most common dispensing tasks. The optional UPiC5 programming tool lets users create custom dispensing programs.

Source: Scheugenpflug

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/scheugenpflugs-new-dispensingcell-dc803-is-designed-for-high-volume-liquid-dispensing/

New study: Ride-hailing EVs deliver triple the emissions benefits of personal EVs

Rideshare vehicles are widely believed to have larger carbon footprints than personal vehicles, as they rack up additional mileage on the way to and from passenger pickups. Thus, it stands to reason that, like trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, electrifying them would deliver greater emissions reductions than electrifying personal passenger cars.

According to a new study from the University of California, Davis, the difference is substantial: replacing a gas-powered ride-hailing vehicle with an EV could deliver as much as triple the emissions reduction that electrifying a personal vehicle would.

According to the study, “Emissions benefits of electric vehicles in Uber and Lyft ride-hailing services,” published in the journal Nature Energy, ride-hailing vehicles travel more miles than personal vehicles, and typically charge during the day, when more solar energy is available on the grid.

“Electric vehicles are beneficial, and that benefit is larger if you’re traveling more miles and charging from renewable sources during the day,” said lead author Alan Jenn, a researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis.

The study is based on Uber and Lyft data on travel behavior and public charging use in California between early 2017 through late 2018, a time when the use of ride-hailing services was growing rapidly.

The study’s analysis found that concerns about limited range and long charging times are overstated—the researchers found no significant difference in service quality between EVs and legacy vehicles. They were also surprised to find that, although ride-hailing services represent a tiny fraction of total traffic, they used more than 30 percent of the energy provided by public charging stations—about 60 times more public energy than that used by private vehicles.

Both Uber and Lyft have announced some halting steps to electrify their fleets (most of which consist of driver-owned vehicles). Lyft recently drew some eye-rolls with a timid proposal to make all its vehicles electric a decade from now.

Jenn noted that the study’s data was collected in pre-pandemic times. “With COVID-19, it’s hard to make predictions about how services like Uber and Lyft continue,” he said. “That said, California passed legislation in 2018 that compels transportation networking companies to become cleaner, and part of that involves electrification. So there is currently regulatory pressure for these companies to use cleaner vehicles regardless of the pandemic situation.”

Source: UC Davis

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/new-study-ride-hailing-evs-deliver-triple-the-emissions-benefits-of-personal-evs/

Hyundai to deliver 50 fuel cells trucks to fleet customers in Switzerland

Even as automakers have been abandoning hydrogen fuel cells as a powertrain option for passenger cars, many believe that the technology will find its niche in the heavy-duty truck sector. Now Hyundai is moving beyond the pilot stage and beginning to deliver vehicles to customers.

The company has shipped 10 units of the XCIENT Fuel Cell, which it says is the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell heavy-duty truck, to Switzerland—the first of 50 it plans to deliver this year. The h-trucks will be handed over to commercial fleet customers starting in September. Hyundai hopes to roll out as many as 1,600 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks by 2025.

“XCIENT Fuel Cell is a present-day reality, not a mere future drawing board project,” said Executive VP In Cheol Lee. “Building a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem, where critical transportation needs are met by vehicles like XCIENT Fuel Cell, will lead to a paradigm shift that removes automobile emissions from the environmental equation.”

XCIENT is powered by a 190 kW hydrogen fuel cell system with dual 95 kW fuel cell stacks. Seven hydrogen tanks offer a combined storage capacity of around 32 kg of hydrogen. Driving range is about 400 km, and refueling time is from 8-20 minutes.

Hyundai chose Switzerland to launch its hydrogen venture for at least two reasons. First, the Swiss impose a heavy road tax on commercial vehicles, but it doesn’t apply to zero-emission trucks. The tax savings bring the cost per kilometer of a fuel cell truck almost to parity with a legacy diesel truck. Second, Hyundai’s business case envisions using clean hydrogen generated from hydropower, and Switzerland has one of the highest shares of hydropower in the world.

A joint venture with Swiss company H2 Energy will lease the trucks to fleet operators on a pay-per-use basis, with no up-front investment required. The first users will be members of the Swiss H2 Mobility Association, a group of around 20 firms, including grocery chains Migros and Coop, dairy producer Emmi, and filling station operators SOCAR and Tamoil. The pay-per-use contracts include mileage, warranty, services, insurance and access to hydrogen.

Once the project is underway in Switzerland, Hyundai plans to expand it to other European countries.

Supermarket chain Migros is taking three XCIENTs, and plans to measure their performance against a Mercedes-Benz battery-electric truck, three biogas-fueled trucks from Iveco, and legacy diesels.

Rainer Deutschmann, Director of Corporate Transportation Logistics at Migros, which operates 900 trucks shuttling between 22 production sites and nearly 900 shops, told Reuters he expected several technologies to play a role in decarbonization. “We will see on each journey what the energy consumption will be depending on the geography and topology,” he said. “With an electric battery, instead of carrying merchandise around you are carrying around the battery. You have a 200 km range, which you can use for a city, but you cannot use it for the Alps. H₂ you can use for everything.”

Source: Reuters, CleanTechnica

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/hyundai-to-deliver-50-fuel-cells-trucks-to-fleet-customers-in-switzerland/

Learn about state-of-the-art magnetic alloys for EV motors: watch the free webcast

A new generation of stator and rotor materials offer 25% higher induction and 30% lower losses than conventional electrical steel, resulting in a significantly higher power and torque density compared to conventional materials.

In a new webcast session recently announced at the Charged Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, Nir Vaks—Global Director at Carpenter Electrification—will lead a discussion about state-of-the-art magnetic alloys for EV motors. Vaks currently leads Carpenter’s new Electrification rapid growth platform, responsible for new product development and commercialization efforts in the areas of power generation, electrification of land and air vehicles, thermal management, and groundbreaking magnetic, electric and thermal alloy development.

Register to watch the free webcast here.

In addition to EV motor design and manufacturing topics, the Charged Virtual Conference will cover battery systems engineering, cell development, power electronics design and manufacturing, testing, powertrains, thermal management, circuit protection, wire & cable, and more. New sessions announced include:

• Battery Systems For The Heavy-Duty Market: Designing, Ruggedizing, Testing, And Manufacturing
• Tesla’s Inverter Technology Versus Other BEVs
• Recovering Usable Battery-Grade Materials From Shredded Li-Ion Cells
• Potting EV/HEV Motors
• Measuring Torque Ripple And Its Effects On Electric Power
• Developing And Testing The BMS For A New EV Program

Learn more.

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/learn-about-state-of-the-art-magnetic-alloys-for-ev-motors-watch-the-free-webcast/

Driivz to provide charging software platform to Eastern European gas station chain

More and more petroleum retailers are offering EV charging, and this trend is spreading to Eastern Europe. Israeli charging software specialist Driivz will supply the Budapest-based oil company MOL Group with a charging management platform and a self-service app for drivers.

MOL currently operates charging stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Romania—by the end of 2020, MOL’s network will stretch from the Czech border to the Adriatic and Black seas.

Driivz provides a cloud-based EV charging and energy management software platform. 

“Driivz’s EV charging management platform ensures charger stability and availability with self-healing technology—solving technical issues remotely—which will allow MOL to maximize charging network uptime and significantly reduce TCO,” says Doron Frenkel, founder and CEO at Driivz. “Our white-label solutions allow MOL to deliver a set of advanced, yet easy-to-use solutions to multiple players in the ecosystem such as fleets, gas stations, retail, etc.” 

MOL has also launched Plugee, a Driivz-based self-service mobile app and online portal designed to ensure a seamless driver experience. An integrated billing module supports multiple currencies and languages to enable geographic expansion.

“Plugee allows drivers on the MOL network to easily manage their accounts and access a variety of dynamic options, such as finding and reserving available chargers, navigating to the nearest available charger, pay, or report an issue,” said Róbert Tóth-Fekete, Head of MOL Group E-mobility. “We chose Driivz’s futureproof solution because they addressed all our concerns, demonstrating that both their technology and approach met our aspirations to provide an excellent customer experience to EV drivers on the MOL network.” 

Source: Driivz

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/driivz-to-provide-charging-software-platform-to-eastern-european-gas-station-chain/

Volvo Penta develops powertrain for Rosenbauer plug-in fire truck

Volvo Penta has developed an electric driveline for an electrified fire truck from vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer International. The new truck, named RT (for “Revolutionary Technology”) is currently undergoing intensive testing, and will soon begin real-world customer testing with fire departments in Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai.

Firefighters responding to a call need a vehicle capable of high speed, rapid acceleration, hard braking and maneuverability. Rosenbauer says the RT’s electric drivetrain, paired with independent suspension and a hydropneumatic chassis, delivers a high standard of safety and great driving performance—and naturally, zero exhaust emissions and significantly reduced noise levels.

Each axle of the truck has its own electric motor. Battery capacity is sufficient for an electricity-powered journey and ample time for operation at the rescue site, according to the companies. The truck also includes a backup diesel engine.

“The teams at Volvo Penta and Rosenbauer have been working together closely to design a tailored solution that enables the electric fire truck to do its job in a more safe, effective and sustainable way than a conventional vehicle,” says Rosenbauer CEO Dieter Siegel. “We have been collaborating with Volvo Penta for many years, they are the experts in this field and they truly understand our needs.”

“At Volvo Penta, we see ourselves as partners, not suppliers to our OEM customers, so collaborating with Rosenbauer in this way is not unusual for us,” says Björn Ingemanson, President of Volvo Penta. “We want to become the world leader in sustainable power solutions and help our customers to future-proof their businesses by meeting the increased demands for cleaner, quieter and more efficient power solutions.”

Source: Volvo Penta

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/volvo-penta-develops-powertrain-for-rosenbauer-plug-in-fire-truck/

Tesla reports fourth consecutive quarter of profit, is now eligible to join S&P 500

Tesla can’t seem to take a wrong turn these days—the company announced a second-quarter profit that sent the stock price soaring, and cleared the way for the California carmaker to be added to the S&P 500 stock index. Tesla has now been profitable for a full year on a GAAP basis, which is one of the criteria for inclusion in the S&P 500—an honor that will almost certainly lead to more stock-market gains.

The company reported revenue of $6.04 billion, and earnings per share of $2.18 (non-GAAP) or $0.50 (GAAP). Was this a better-than-expected result, or as stock analysts call it, a “beat?” Like so many conventional metrics, the concept hardly applies to Tesla. Analyst estimates were, as usual, all over the map—some were expecting a loss of over two bucks per share, some predicted a profit of a dollar or more—and anyway, TSLA doesn’t always move in the expected direction after an earnings announcement. However, the bottom line is that this fourth profitable quarter in a row is extremely good news, and the stock soared in after-hours trading.

Automotive gross margin (the amount the company earns on each vehicle sold) was 25.4% (about 17% excluding ZEV credits)—that’s basically unchanged from the previous quarter, but it’s significantly higher than the 18.9% of Q2 2019, and the overall trend definitely seems to be upward. Tesla improved its cash position to 8.6 billion bucks. These two metrics are very important for a company in Tesla’s position—it will need plenty of income, and plenty of cash, to finance its ambitious plans for new models and new factories.

On the earnings conference call, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will build its next factory near Austin, Texas. Eventually, the Fremont plant will be building all Model S and Model X vehicles, and Models 3 and Y for the Western half of North America. The Texas Terafactory will produce the new Cybertruck, the Tesla Semi, and Model 3 and Y vehicles for the Eastern half of North America.

As usual, there’s a number of nuggets of news in the report for Tesla-watchers to dissect over the next few days. Model Y production is now “running at installed capacity,” and Tesla notes that the Model Y production ramp-up was “significantly faster than our initial Model 3 ramp, which took over nine months to reach the same weekly rate.” Tesla is getting better at meeting its forecasted timelines—in fact, it’s getting damn fast.

New machinery at the Fremont Factory is expected to increase total Model 3/Model Y capacity from 400,000 to 500,000 units per year. Despite the brief setbacks due to the corona-caused shutdown, Tesla still hopes to deliver half a million vehicles in 2020.

There’s encouraging news on the solar and energy storage fronts, too. Megapack generated a profit for the first time in Q2, and the Autobidder energy trading platform is now operating on the European Power Exchange, in addition to exchanges in the US and Australia. Things may even be looking up for the Solar Roof—installations roughly tripled in Q2 compared to Q1.

 

Sources: Tesla, CNBC, Barron’s

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/tesla-reports-fourth-consecutive-quarter-of-profit-is-now-eligible-to-join-sp-500/

TNO and partners secure grant to develop cobalt-free batteries

The European Commission has awarded an €11.8-million grant to the COBRA (CObalt-free Batteries for futuRe Automotive applications) project, which aims to develop next-generation cobalt-free batteries. The project started earlier this year and will run until January 2024.

Dutch research organization TNO will collaborate in the development of cobalt-free EV batteries by validating battery cell improvements and developing control algorithms for battery packs.

Source: TNO

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/tno-and-partners-secure-grant-to-develop-cobalt-free-batteries/

VW and Audi chiefs say ICEs will be alive for a very long time, massive investment will continue

Shares in Tesla and other publicly-traded EV-makers are soaring; infrastructure startups are raising record amounts of funding; presumptive President Joe Biden’s environmental plan envisions aggressive moves to electrify the USA’s transport system. Everybody seems to be eagerly anticipating the electromobility revolution.

Everybody, that is, except the legacy automakers—their execs continue to make public pronouncements to the effect that ICE vehicles will remain their main line of business for many years to come.

The latest to clarify that the OEMs’ vaunted electrification efforts remain aspirational plans for the far future: Audi’s new CEO, Markus Duesmann. In a recent interview with the German news magazine Focus (read an English synopsis in ClassicAutomobile or CleanTechnica), he said that ICE vehicles “will be alive for a very long time. This is why we continue to invest massively in the development of combustion engines.”

By the mid-2020s, the share of EVs will rise significantly, but petrol powertrains will still make up 60-70% of the market, said Duesmann (who is a long-time engine developer). “And they must be top. Naturally, we will continue to step on the gas regarding combustion engines.”

Ralf Brandstätter, the new head of the VW brand, made similar comments in an interview with auto motor und sport. In 2018, a VW spokesman said the company would roll out its last generation of gas burners beginning in 2026. Brandstätter seemed to contradict that, saying that VW would be offering ICE models for a long time yet. “We have always said that we would have different propulsion types on an equal footing in the long term. Every customer can choose the technology that best fits their mobility requirements.” He did say that VW would continue to reduce the emissions of its legacy vehicles.

Of course, as many industry observers have noted, there are pro-EV and anti-EV factions at every automaker. Auto motor und sport (via CleanTechnica) sees an internal power struggle at VW over EV sales. “The sales department has apparently fought behind the scenes against the massive focus on electric cars and the deletion of important combustion models.” Reportedly, VW CEO Herbert Diess wanted to replace existing ICE versions of the tiny Up! city car and the Passat luxury sedan with electric models, but dealers nixed both moves, so the gas-burning versions of both cars live on.

Sources: CleanTechnica, ClassicAutomobile, Auto motor und sport, Focus

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/vw-and-audi-chiefs-say-ices-will-be-alive-for-a-very-long-time-massive-investment-will-continue/

AMPLY Power manages electric bus charging for SolTrans

AMPLY Power is managing the charging of electric buses for SolTrans, a public transportation provider for south Solano County, California. SolTrans operates both electric and CNG buses, and AMPLY’s hardware-agnostic, Charging-as-a-Service software solution will optimize energy use and fuel costs across vehicle types.

At SolTran’s depot, where the agency has four charging stations, AMPLY installed a cloud-based system that monitors charging status and power levels in real time, minimizing utility demand charges by optimizing not only EV charging but other energy use as well. For example, when the CNG compressors turn on, AMPLY’s system immediately reduces or suspends EV charging to ensure that increased power usage will not trigger electricity demand charges.

Currently, the transit agency’s fleet includes four battery-electric buses, one CNG bus, and 21 diesel hybrid buses, as well as two CNG paratransit vehicles, and 16 CNG vehicles in its SolanoExpress (intercity bus service) fleet.

“Today, almost 100,000 of our trips on local bus routes are operating with zero emissions,” said Elizabeth Patterson, Board Chairperson at SolTrans. “This electric growth for SolTrans meant that we had to build a process of managing these fleets while keeping costs down, and that’s where the AMPLY team came in. By its data-driven approach to operationalizing our electric fleet, AMPLY Power provides us the confidence to continue our growth into full electric deployment.”

“The AMPLY Power team helped us understand how to collectively control our energy costs while still ensuring all of our electric and CNG buses are fueled and ready to serve,” said Patricia Carr, General Services Manager at SolTrans. “Here in Vallejo, we’ve heard from many residents over their concerns about air pollution. AMPLY’s technology is helping us transition to zero-emission by 2032.”

Source: AMPLY Power

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/amply-power-manages-electric-bus-charging-for-soltrans/

JuiceBar introduces a third generation of sleek and flexible charging stations

JuiceBar’s charging stations are known for their sleek design—the original JuiceBar was developed in collaboration with BMW Designworks USA.

The company’s new JuiceBar Gen 3 carries on this tradition, and is also designed to offer charging station owners the maximum in flexibility. Owners can customize their chargers with logos and unique designs for brand building and advertising opportunities, and are free to sign up with whatever network they choose.

The JuiceBar Gen 3 meets SAE recommendations for Level 2 charging, can be fitted with single or dual ports, and is available in 32-amp, 40-amp, 48-amp and 80-amp versions. Other features include double safety relay switches, a weatherproof wall- or pedestal-mounted aluminum enclosure, and an integrated cord management system to reduce tripping and arcing risk.

“Our JuiceBar Gen 3 Chargers were designed to respond to the demands of property owners, installation partners and EV drivers,” said CEO Paul Vosper. “JuiceBar has future-proofed its Gen 3 chargers by providing the highest levels of power and charging speeds in preparation for longer-range EVs and the increased demands of mass-market adoption. The Gen 3 48-amp is 60% faster than the industry’s standard 30-amp Level 2 charger, and the Gen 3 80-amp is more than 2.5 times the speed of the average Level 2 charger.”

 

Source: JuiceBar

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/juicebar-introduces-a-third-generation-of-sleek-and-flexible-charging-stations/

Sandy Munro offers BMW i3 teardown report for $10

For many years, Munro & Associates has been performing teardowns—taking cars apart to find out what their components are, where they come from and how much they cost—and selling enormous, highly technical reports to automakers for five-figure prices, mostly unnoticed by anyone outside the auto industry. More recently, because of the huge interest in the company’s Tesla teardowns, and because of his highly engaging and entertaining speaking style, CEO Sandy Munro has become something of a household name.

Now the company is inviting the public into the inner sanctum, so to speak, offering its complete benchmarking analysis report on the BMW i3 for just $10.  The 23,000+ page document, which previously sold for $89,000, covers every component in the vehicle—the carbon fiber monocoque, battery pack, electric motor, range-extending gas engine, HVAC system, electronics and more.

According to Munro, the report, which analyzes more than 54,000 parts in great detail, cost the company over $2 million to develop, and has been purchased by “most of the OEMs in the world.”

What’s going on? Are they crazy to sell this low? Is the boss out of town? Well, Munro’s motives may not be 100% altruistic. Part of the idea may be to offer a sort of free sample in the hopes of generating future sales. And of course, this particular report on a seven-year-old car probably isn’t finding many buyers at full price these days. The company hasn’t announced any blowout deals on its reports on the Tesla Model Y or other cutting-edge vehicles.

Make no mistake, however: Munro has done a great service to the EV industry by releasing this information. The i3 was a highly innovative vehicle when it was new, and this report could provide a master class for an aspiring automotive engineer, or a priceless trove of inspiration for the next great EV entrepreneur. In his promo video, Sandy Munro recounts a story from his younger days, when an admired mentor sold him a box of valuable tools for next to nothing. “I think there’s another Elon Musk out there,” says Sandy. Musk himself, whose mission has always been to spread the gospel of electrification, surely approves of this generous deed.

Source: Munro & Associates

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/sandy-munro-offers-bmw-i3-teardown-report-for-10/

Electric aircraft maker Bye Aerospace closes $10 million in funding

Denver-based Bye Aerospace, developer of the all-electric eFlyer family of FAA Part 23-certified aircraft, has raised $10 million from venture capital investors since the beginning of the year, in two separate rounds.

Founder and CEO George E. Bye said the company is using the new funding to begin work on Serial #001, the first production-conforming prototype of its two-seat eFlyer 2 aircraft. “Since raising the $10 million, we have completed critical design review in early June, and are now underway with multiple test flights of the eFlyer 2 technology demonstrator,” he said. “Next, we will be solidifying our supply chain relationships to begin assembly on Serial #001, the first production-conforming eFlyer 2 aircraft.”

The first model in Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer family of general aviation aircraft will be the two-seat eFlyer 2, designed for professional flight training, followed by the eFlyer 4, for air taxi and advanced training applications. Bye Aerospace says its electric aircraft will deliver five-fold lower operating costs compared to ICE planes—and of course, zero emissions and decreased noise. The company estimates the eFlyer will eliminate the release of five million metric tons of CO₂ each year for flight training alone.

Chrysanthe Gussis, a member of Bye Aerospace’s strategic advisory board, said, “Electric flight is the future of air travel, and even more so now following the coronavirus outbreak, as the demand for affordable, smaller, greener aircraft increases.”

Source: Bye Aerospace

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/electric-aircraft-maker-bye-aerospace-closes-10-million-in-funding/

Power Integrations releases InnoSwitch3 flyback switcher IC for EVs

Power Integrations has announced the production release of the InnoSwitch3-AQ, an AEC-Q100-qualified flyback switcher with integrated 750 V MOSFET and secondary-side sensing. The newly qualified device family targets EV applications such as traction inverters, OBC (on-board chargers), EMS (energy management DC/DC bus converters) and BMS (battery management systems).

The InnoSwitch3-AQ uses the company’s high-speed FluxLink coupling, eliminating both the dedicated isolated transformer sense-windings and the optocouplers. PI says the integrated 750 V MOSFET meets stringent automotive de-rating requirements and that the on-chip synchronous rectifier controller delivers above 90% efficiency at the nominal 400 VDC input voltage. The ICs are packaged in a surface-mount InSOP with 11 mm primary-to-secondary creepage. 

The RDR-840Q reference design kit incorporating the newly released IC demonstrates start-up and shutdown operation from 30 VDC to 550 VDC input, as well as fast transient response and a variety of safety and protection features. 

Marketing Manager Edward Ong says, “The InnoSwitch3-AQ represents the highest level of integration for a flyback controller, resulting in automotive power supplies with the lowest component count and smallest PCB area. The high efficiency of the device across a wide load range means that it easily meets the automotive industry’s demanding thermal requirements.”

InnoSwitch3-AQ ICs are available in the InSOP-24D package. Devices are available with prices starting at $2.75 in 10,000-piece quantities. Technical support for the chipset is available from the PI website.

Source: Power Integrations

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/power-integrations-releases-innoswitch3-flyback-switcher-ic-for-evs/

Webinar: Rework ability of gap fillers in EV battery packs

The fast-growing electric vehicle market demands robust and efficient thermal management solutions for battery packs, such as gap fillers and thermal pads. Gap fillers outperform thermal pads to achieve lower thermal impedance, as the gap fillers conform to surface roughness before curing. This allows gap fillers to adhere well to surfaces and provide mechanical support during normal operation. However, this also poses a challenge during repair, removal and re-manufacturing. Currently, there is no set standard for measuring vertical pull-off, and hence, there is a lack of knowledge on what level of pull-off force is needed to service these battery packs.

Tune in to this webinar presented by Anurodh Tripathi—Senior Scientist in the advanced chemical technology department at Parker LORD—to learn more about:

1. How to test and measure vertical pull-off force
2. Effects of factors such as surface properties (roughness, coating), material properties (silicone vs. urethane) and testing conditions (pull, rate, bond line thickness) on the vertical pull-off stress
3. Data comparing performance of commercial liquid gap fillers and their ability to be reworked
4. Recommendations on what battery designers should look for when selecting gap fillers

The webinar will be hosted by Charged on August 5, 2020, at 2:00pm EDT, and will include a presentation and a live Q&A session.

Register now – IT’S FREE!

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/webinar-rework-ability-of-gap-fillers-in-ev-battery-packs/

Volkswagen tests fast chargers in the scorching desert heat

Volkswagen wanted to determine what could happen when an EV is plugged into a 350 kW DC fast charger on the hottest days, so the company spent the past year building an EV charging test site at its Arizona Proving Grounds. The 50 charging stations, which feature a mix of standards and power levels from around the world, are designed to test how electric systems handle recharging at desert temperatures up to 120° F (49° C).

VW says knowledge gained from the site led to the development of a battery cooling system designed to help prevent thermal damage in emergency situations. It’s based on the technology used at the site to monitor the temperature of battery cells as they charge.

“The opening of this facility means one of the most sophisticated EV testing facilities in the world, with some of the toughest conditions on earth, will be right here in the United States,” said VW Chief Engineering Officer Dr. Wolfgang Demmelbauer-Ebner.

The Arizona Proving Ground site includes 25 DC fast chargers ranging in power levels from 50 kW to 350 kW, along with 10 Level 2 AC chargers that simulate home charging. The chargers will utilize charge plugs from the three standard connector types: US (CCS1), Europe (CCS2) and China (GB-T), along with equipment from different brands from around the world, to optimize testing variability.

The 16 parking spots include a remote-controlled canopy that can vary the level of sun or shade used for testing. The station is also designed to accommodate emerging technologies such as inductive charging.

Source: VW

source https://chargedevs.com/newswire/volkswagen-tests-fast-chargers-in-the-scorching-desert-heat/