Uncategorised

Grid

Top spot for anode material

Paraclete Energy, which makes high capacity, surface-modified silicon nanoparticles for use in battery applications, recently released its SMSilicon/3590, the highest capacity, cycle-stable, validated anode material yet brought to market. It is aimed at anode material companies as a graphite precursor, and lithium-ion battery manufacturers who want to...

Grid

‘Hairpin’ ambition for motors

Researchers in Germany are developing new automated production techniques for electric motors for cars, whether they are powered by batteries or fuel cells (writes Nick Flaherty). The €1.2 million Plant Engineering for the Production of Stators by Hairpin Technology project brings together teams from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Fraunhofer Project Group for...

Grid

Silicon anode breakthrough

Battery manufacturer Amprius claims it has perfected the application of silicon for lithium-ion anodes (writes Lawrence Butcher). Based on its proprietary silicon nanowire technology, it says it has demonstrated breakthrough performance in energy density and cycle life. Silicon anodes have much higher...

Grid

Hybrid drive combo

KEB Automation has launched a modular, scalable combined drive and controller system for hybrid and electric vehicles (writes Lawrence Butcher). The Combivert T6 APD (Auxiliary Power Drives) can interface with any main power source, be that a diesel generator, fuel cells, battery packs or ...

Grid

New-gen composites on show

Lightweight materials are a key element of the integrated engineering approach needed for EV vehicle development, as engineers strive to reduce vehicle weight in order to increase the effectiveness of the battery energy available (writes Lawrence Butcher). A new generation of materials developed by UK-based Alvant provide an interesting option for engineers...

Grid

Bell flags up electric air cab

Bell Helicopter, part of Textron, has unveiled its design for an air taxi using a hybrid electric propulsion unit (writes Nick Flaherty). The Nexus, launched at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in January, uses six, 8 ft diameter ‘e-propellers’ that can be directed vertically or horizontally. It is based on Bell’s experience with...

Deep Insight

Power Semiconductors

Nick Flaherty reports on how new semiconductor technologies with wider bandgaps will improve the efficiency of electric powertrains. Most power systems for electromobility use semiconductor devices built using a silicon process, but new technologies are maturing that provide higher efficiency and so dissipate less...
ONLINE PARTNERS