Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) operating at 200 V and with low leakage current are being increasingly used for hybrid and full electric powertrains and inverters (writes Nick Flaherty). There is currently a strong effort towards mechanical integration in 48 V hybrid drive systems, by combining the motor and peripheral circuits...

Smart Test Solutions has launched its fifth generation of cell voltage monitoring (CVM) systems for fuel cells, batteries and electrolysis for hydrogen generation (writes Nick Flaherty). This latest version has an extended temperature range of up to 105 C, up from the previous 85 C. The power supply range has also been extended. Instead of using a 5 V supply...

Nissan has developed a test vehicle to evaluate the use of electric motors on each wheel (writes Nick Flaherty). It is based on the Leaf e+ platform, with front and rear motors and what Nissan calls a new chassis control system. New control technology being developed by the company integrates its electric propulsion and four-wheeldrive control technologies...

BorgWarner has converted an Aerial Nomad all-terrain vehicle to all electric operation to test its electric motor technologies and other electric components from suppliers at the system level (writes Nick Flaherty). It is the first high-voltage, all-electric demonstration vehicle to be developed by the company’s Corporate Advanced Engineering group. The new technologies in the test platform include traction inverters...

Siemens has launched a cloud-oriented charging system for commercial vehicles that supports power levels from 50 to 600 kW (writes Nick Flaherty). The Sicharge UC family is intended for charging electric buses and utility vehicles at the depot and en route using charging plugs and offboard or onboard pantographs. The 1000 V system works with applications...

Hioki has extended its non-contact voltage test technology to allow developers to monitor CAN bus networks (writes Nick Flaherty). The SP7001/7002 CAN sensors can detect the CAN fl exible data (CAN FD) rate that supports higher rates than the earlier CAN standard, as well as CAN...

Finepower has developed an onboard charger based on gallium nitride which, at 3 kW/litre, exceeds the power density of conventional chargers by 300% (writes Nick Flaherty). The water-cooled charger measures 210 x 50 x 60 mm without the housing, and converts input voltages from 85 to 264 V AC, with a maximum power of...