Features

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Thermal management

Heat exchangers Peter Donaldson talks to industry experts about the latest advances in EV thermal management technologies Users of EVs of all kinds, and battery EVs in particular, want more range and/or running time, faster charging and greater assurance of safety. Thermal management is central to all these. We approached industry experts to gauge the […]

PS

Individual wheel control

It’s worth taking 9 minutes and 36 seconds out of your day to watch professional rally driver Ken Block’s Electrikhana on YouTube (writes Peter Donaldson). I don’t know whether he is a mathematician, but Block is clearly running some very advanced software somewhere in his central nervous system. His latest instrument is the Audi S1 […]

In Conversation

In conversation: Matt Faulks

Hypercars to HGVs Viritech’s CTO tells Rory Jackson how fuel cell developments for its Apricale hypercar will feed into its upcoming heavy goods vehicles Anyone who works in electrified and low-carbon automotive engineering should remember that developing solutions to the zero-emissions challenge is not a zero-sum game. Just as solar, wind, tidal and nuclear power […]

Show Report

Battery Show North America 2022

Supply and demand Peter Donaldson provides some highlights of this key event, focusing on new products and technologies that offer solutions to pressing challenges Held in Novi, Michigan, in mid-September, the Battery Show North America focused attention on numerous new products, from test equipment for battery development and manufacture to batteries, safety devices, power electronics […]

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Battery testing

The inside story  Nick Flaherty explains the various non-invasive methods of analysing the workings  of battery cells and their materials Testing battery cells, modules and packs presents a series of challenges. First of these is that taking measurements of the current and voltage changes the state of charge (SoC) of the cell and has an […]

Deep Insight

Cathode materials

Positive steps Researchers have been announcing advances in lithium-ion cathode materials and their manufacture, as Nick Flaherty reports There are three main types lithium-ion batteries for e-mobility, all with different balances of energy capacity, charging rate and long-term stability. There are however also many different approaches to constructing cathodes, using different chemical compositions, crystal structures […]

Digest

Ariel Hipercar

Fast forward There’s more to this e-sportscar than its blistering acceleration, writes Peter Donaldson, it is also designed to advance EV technology “High performance carbon reduction” is a statement of intent for niche sportscar manufacturer Ariel Motor. Contraction of the phrase yields Hipercar, the name of Ariel’s road-focused, track-capable EV designed to reach 60 mph […]

Dossier

ECE electric Doosan DX165W and DX300LC

Digging deep Rory Jackson provides an in-depth report on how these heavy-duty excavators were converted to electric operation The construction industry is a major focus for many parties intent on fighting pollution and climate change, and with good reason: studies over the past few years estimate that construction contributes just shy of 40% of the […]

Deep Insight

Torque sensing

Twists in the tale Ryan Maughan explains the pros and cons of the various ways to measure motor torque As the market for electrified vehicle powertrains develops, so the quest to deliver improved efficiency and performance in electric drive systems continues. Maximising vehicle range for a given battery capacity is a key target of every […]

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User interfaces

Display on demand Peter Donaldson explains the essential characteristics for an EV’s user interface to be accessible, effective and intuitive. While governments’ plans to phase out IC-engined vehicles on short timelines is pushing individuals and companies towards EVs, they remain a small proportion of vehicles on the road globally. Most drivers will be new to […]

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Automated battery manufacturing

Just push the button Cutting-edge research and prototype factories are helping to advance the automation of EV component manufacturing, writes Nick Flaherty Some car makers have had fully automated assembly of vehicles for many years, and EV makers are looking to achieve this ‘lights out’ approach, but with added issues for the assembly of lithium-ion […]

In Conversation

Thomas de Lange

As many readers know, competitive engineering of e-mobility systems takes more than just high-quality electric parts: there is far more to an EV than its battery, motor and inverter. Many of the most cutting-edge and game-changing electric road, off-road, sea and air vehicles simply would not exist without innovations in non-electric components. When it comes to maximising actual kilometres per kilowatt, attention has to be paid to subsystems such as transmissions, suspensions, tyres and lightweight materials.

Deep Insight

Sodium Batteries

Research into sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) began in the 1970s and ’80s but was overtaken by lithium-ion battery (LIB) research in the 1990s. However, NIBs have recently re-emerged as a potential sustainable and less expensive alternative to LIBs as the demand for lithium drives up its cost, and there is growing concern over the safety of LIB cells, which can be prone to short-circuits and thermal runaway.

Dossier

Aurora Powertrains eSled

Increasing interest in preserving the world’s Arctic regions has generated strong demand among tour companies and eco-tourists for zero-emissions snow-going vehicles. An electric snowmobile would be quieter, emissions-free, and far easier to maintain than an IC-engined version.

Show Report

Battery Show Europe 2022

Reading materials Advances in coating and materials were some of the key takeaways from one of Europe’s largest battery trade fairs, reports Peter Donaldson Held in Stuttgart as June became July, the Battery Show and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo had many highlights, including an advanced battery concept that boosts energy density using a […]

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The power of decay

Launched on September 5, 1977, NASA’s space probe Voyager 1 is now the most distant human-made object in existence (writes Peter Donaldson). At the time of writing, the spacecraft had made it more than 14,569,656,000 miles from the Sun, a figure that continues to grow at a rate of about 38,027 mph. The probe is […]

Digest

Standard of driving

Rob Coppinger reports on Alpha Motor Corporation’s digital route to creating a more efficient range of EVs for the global market Alpha Motor Corporation’s latest vehicle, the Saga sedan, is building on the technical standardisation the company is applying across its range of vehicles. Announced in November last year, the Saga is continuing and expanding […]

In Conversation

Teams builder

Dana Incorporated’s global VP of light vehicle electrification explains how he merges the company’s engineers’ skills into effective units. Rory Jackson reports  Over the past 5 years, US auto parts maker Dana Incorporated has undergone a dramatic transformation since it entered the e-mobility market. Its acquisition and integration of companies such as TM4 and Pi […]

Deep Insight

Challenge of batteries for heavy-duty EVs

High-voltage batteries are indispensable for the electrification and decarbonisation of vehicles worldwide, but the specific energy and energy density limitations of current battery technology bring challenges to the forefront when optimising different kinds of EVs. Take heavy-duty commercial EVs, for example. Whether electrifying an 18-wheel truck, a coach, a city bus or some similar sort of long-endurance fleet vehicle, hundreds of kilowatt-hours of energy need to be stored onboard.

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Hall effect sensors

The Hall effect has been the mainstay of magnetic sensing since it was discovered by US physicist Edwin Hall in 1879. The effect describes the creation of an electric field in a conductor that carries a current and is placed perpendicular to a magnetic field. The fact that the induced voltage is proportional to the magnetic field provides a measurement that is used to control brushless motors and the position of almost anything that rotates.

Deep Insight

Self-developments

Nick Flaherty explains how higher charging requirements are leading to different approaches to automating the process   Developers of charging systems are looking to address key challenges for fast charging and higher capacity battery packs, and this is leading to automated charging systems. Several companies are developing such systems to provide more convenient charging with […]

Dossier

Six-pack muscle

EMotive’s 12 t Scarab 6x6 electric off-road truck is designed to appeal to a range of industries including agriculture, forestry, quarrying, mining, adventure tourism and airfield firefighting – all areas where large zero-emissions vehicles are becoming increasingly attractive.

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HVAC Systems

While most drivers of IC-engined vehicles are vaguely aware that running the air conditioning increases fuel consumption, such is the energy density of petrol and diesel that it has rarely been a major concern, although with fuel prices at record highs that is changing rapidly. Similarly, IC engines produce so much waste heat that drawing upon it to warm up the cabin on a cold day has a negligible effect on fuel burn.

Deep Insight

Supercapacitor applications

Although batteries and supercapacitors both store electrical energy, they do so in very different ways that bestow them with complementary characteristics. In a nutshell, batteries store energy chemically and offer high energy density (measured in Wh/litre) while supercapacitors store energy in electric fields and offer high power density, measured in kW/litre.

Dossier

InoBat Auto

Rapid development of innovative new cell technologies and a focus on tailoring chemistries to maximise the effectiveness of individual applications are at the heart of InoBat Auto’s approach to EV battery development.

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Battery Monitoring

Monitoring the performance of battery cells in a pack is pushing the limits of technology in many ways. Increasing the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring in the hostile environment of a battery pack, at voltages of more than 800 V and fluctuating temperatures, is a considerable challenge.

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Battery swapping, and the alternatives

Whether you drive a single battery EV or operate a fleet of them, ensuring there is enough energy in the battery to complete the job in hand is bound to be a major concern (writes Peter Donaldson). The fact that there are different ways of charging, and that many vehicles can use more than one […]

Digest

Green-G ecarry

We investigate this custom-built EV for collecting refuse in the narrow streets of older town and cities The dangers of excess CO2, NOX and other greenhouse gases from refuse and freight trucks in populated urban centres makes it imperative to electrify such traditionally diesel-hungry vehicles.

Deep Insight

Lithium-sulphur batteries

Shuttle systems   Lithium-sulphur batteries suffer from short lifetimes from the polysulphide shuttle effect. Nick Flaherty reports on attempts to reduce this The most significant advantage that lithium-sulphur (LiS) batteries offer over rival battery technologies is their substantially higher energy density per unit weight. LiS cells with lithium metal anodes have a theoretical energy density […]

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Cell-to-pack batteries

Most EV battery packs are built from groups of cells housed in modules interconnected within a case that provides structural support, thermal management, environmental protection and connectivity with the rest of the drivetrain, but this is not the only way to do it. There are potential benefits to eliminating modules and building packs up from cells inside the case, in what has become known as the cell-to-pack arrangement.

In Conversation

Brandon Fisher

Safe pair of hands Eaton’s head of HV safety systems talks to Rory Jackson about his career so far and the company’s work in the EV sector As electric powertrains move from 400 V architectures up to 800-1000 V and higher still, innovations around ensuring the safety of power distribution systems are critical to protecting […]

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Electric trams and trolley buses

In the West we are still addicted to the car as the ultimate embodiment of personal mobility (writes Peter Donaldson). However, there is growing awareness of the total carbon footprint of transport, and even the most efficient electric cars represent large tonnages of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere in their manufacture. This awareness is […]

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Solar power

Light at the end of the tunnel Solar cell technology is near the point of becoming mainstream in EVs, but some obstacles to their use still need to be overcome. Peter Donaldson reports According to the NASA Earth Observatory, an average of 340 W/m2 of solar power reaches the Earth. Over an hour that would […]

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Solid-state batteries

Liquid displacement As batteries that use solid instead of liquid electrolytes begin to appear, Nick Flaherty cautions that challenges remain in bringing them to market Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are seen in some areas as a key way forward for e-mobility applications. For one thing, replacing the liquid electrolyte in lithium-ion cells can help to reduce […]

Digest

Ricardo Tees Valley hydrogen bus

Route march With this this hydrogen-electric bus set for its first demonstration run, Rory Jackson talks to its developers about the thinking that went into it When discussing clean energy technologies, debates can arise over which ones are the most cost-effective, efficient or realistic in terms of how they can be used to help create […]

Show Report

Battery Show Europe 2021

Fire department Peter Donaldson reports with highlights of this show, at which ways of containing thermal runaway were at the fore If there was one theme that shone out from conversations at the Battery Show Europe and the co-located Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, which took place in Stuttgart late last year, it was […]

Dossier

Lightyear One

While EV technology has come a long way over the past decade, the main concerns being raised by engineers, advocates and prospective customers of battery EVs remain the same. Range anxiety broadly encapsulates these problems, and boils down to a few key points

In Conversation

Allan Paterson

On the home straight Britishvolt’s head of r&d tells Rory Jackson how his experience in battery cell technology has led to him being involved in setting up the UK’s first gigafactory In high-tech industries such as the EV world, supply chain resilience is now regarded as a strategic imperative, and many nations now push for […]

Deep Insight

Switching

Switching is at the heart of the electrical systems for e-mobility platforms. The performance of the switching devices – the transistors – determines the power levels, the efficiency and even the size of the systems. Switching at higher frequencies reduces the size of the magnetics and allows more integration, lower weights and longer range

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48 V systems

Potential difference Moving to power distribution networks running on 48 V looks set to confer a range of benefits to battery-electric vehicles. Nick Flaherty reports Technology based on 48 V has been adopted for electric motors and battery packs to reduce emissions in mild hybrid vehicles, but changing regulations are seeing even those being banned […]

Dossier

Sigma Powertrain EMAX transmission

Rory Jackson explains how this modular all-electric gearbox can combine two motors to drive any size and weight of EV. High-voltage electric motors produce torque across a wide range of their rpm bands, enabling most electric cars on the road these days to achieve reasonably high power efficiencies with single-speed gear reductions.

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Motor laminations

Layer by layer Peter Donaldson reports on how lamination technology has evolved in recent times to meet changing demands from the EV industry Whether or not governments eventually ban the manufacture of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, it is clear that the electrification of transport fleets is set to accelerate and that the EV industry will therefore […]

In Conversation

David Hudson

Talking the talk The head of EV strategy at ePropelled tells Rory Jackson how he came into the role and shares details of the company’s dynamic torque switching technology Predicting growth or decline across different areas of the e-mobility world is challenging at the best of times. These days it is even more complex, with […]

Digest

Everrati Porsche 911

The consumer EVs sector is welcoming a constant tide of all-new electric cars, often designed from blank sheets. However, this approach neglects not only the many existing IC-engined cars on the road now, but the countless classic car designs that remain some of the automotive world’s proudest and most cherished examples.

Deep Insight

EV dynamics

How a car moves in response to the forces acting on it is a fundamental determinant of safety, comfort, energy efficiency and driver engagement, and electrification of the powertrain profoundly affects that dynamic behaviour. This influence results from differences in the vehicle’s overall mass and its distribution, when compared with IC-engined vehicles, along with the speed and precision of response inherent in electrical machines.

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Battery recycling

Recycling batteries from e-mobility platforms, particularly lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, is an area of increasing focus for the e-mobility industry.

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Towards a 1000-mile range

One thousand miles is a nice, round number, and as a range for a battery EV it is a marketing department’s dream. However, there is real value in such a long range if it can be achieved by a production roadcar in representative trim rather than niche vehicles and technology demonstrators.

Deep Insight

E-motor materials

The need for low weight and high performance in e-mobility motors is driving a demand for specialist metal alloys and insulating materials that are also thermally conductive. There is a strong focus as well on how they are sourced, particularly with regard to heavy rare earth (HRE) elements. Dysprosium and neodymium for example are used to boost the magnetic field in permanent magnets, but they can be difficult to source and are expensive. Others, such as erbium, are more freely available, so magnet makers are looking at using those instead, as well as reducing the amount of HREs that are required.

In Conversation

Robert Hoevers

Although DC fast charging and hydrogen refuelling are gaining in popularity for quickly replenishing EV energy stores, considerable infrastructural investment is needed if sufficient charging stations and hydrogen supply points are to be made available for consumers and commercial fleets

Deep Insight

ZeroAvia hydrogen-electric aircraft

As detailed in the first issue of this publication (Winter 2018) through our discussions with Pipistrel about its Alpha Electro aircraft, it is just as feasible to develop (and certify) a two-to-four seater plane to run on battery power as it is with a roadcar. While serious optimisation of the battery and overall system weight must be undertaken to make small battery-electric planes flightworthy, it is empirically achievable.

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Sealing

Seals and sealants perform a host of unsung but vital functions. Peter Donaldson explains the different types, their uses and the materials they are made from

Dossier

Candela C-7 speedboat

Hydrofoiling gives this serial production boat high speed and long endurance. Rory Jackson examines the engineering decisions behind its design. When it comes to designing new kinds of boat hulls that will get as much power and endurance as possible out of battery-electric powertrains, one of the smartest things a maritime architect can do is simply lift the boat out of the water

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Lofstom Loop

Several electric revolutions have shaped society down the years, from the construction of national grid systems and electric train, trams and trolley buses to the ongoing hybrid and BEV revolution (writes Peter Donaldson). Even beyond Earth, electric propulsion is a reality for many satellites and planetary probes, although their extremely efficient ion thrusters and so on are all low-power devices incapable of developing the thrust needed...

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Battery Safety

The EV battery industry offers a variety of ways to minimise the hazards they can pose, as Peter Donaldson explains. Proximity to large amounts of energy has always presented hazards, but people have mostly learned to live with them and enjoy its benefits. However, being close to a high-energy electrochemical system such as a 100 kWh battery is still...

Deep Insight

Wireless Charging

With agreement on an SAE standard for wireless charging systems set to herald their wider roll-out, Nick Flaherty reports on developments in the technology. The technology for wireless charging of e-mobility systems has reached a critical point. With the SAE J2954 standard now agreed for consumer EVs...

Digest

Riversimple Rasa

Rather than go all-out on the technology, this EV has been conceived with reusable components – and the circular economy – in mind. Rory Jackson reports. End-to-end sustainability is a troublesome target for EV engineers to track. Reducing vehicle emissions at the point of use is easy enough, but reducing the emissions...

Deep Insight

NVH

Peter Donaldson reports on the tools and methods for optimising the acoustic environment in EVs. Of all the disciplines required for developing cars, psychoacoustics isn’t one that readily springs to mind. However, this science of the relationships between aural stimuli and the responses they produce in people informs the branch...

Deep Insight

Skateboard platforms

Against the backdrop of a boom in skateboard platforms for EV designs, Nick Flaherty looks at the approaches taken by some of their suppliers. Changing the wheelbase of a traditional car or truck design by 6 or 7 in creates a ripple effect whereby half the transmission shaft has to be redesigned, changing the centre of gravity and the requirements for the suspension. That means a whole new vehicle design is needed...

In Conversation

Andrew Cross

Integral Powertrain’s CTO tells Rory Jackson how he has come to lead the company’s development of high performance consumer EV drives. One of Andrew Cross’ most prominent early memories is the engineering company his father owned and ran, designing and manufacturing polymer parts, and developing much of his own production systems and tooling...

Dossier

Irizar Group ie truck

Rory Jackson investigates the development of this electric/hybrid refuse truck, which is already operating in various European countries. Developing heavy EVs for urban applications, where regulations on emissions and noise are the strictest of any operating environment, requires a wealth of research...

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Tesla Octovalve analysis

It’s not often that we get the opportunity to dig into the details of an important EV subsystem from the point of view of an independent engineering team, but that is what Cory Steuben of Munro & Associates provided at the recent Battery Show and EV Tech online event (writes Peter Donaldson). The subsystem was the Tesla Model Y’s heat pump, in particular...

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Battery Cooling

As liquid-based cooling for EV batteries becomes the technology of choice, Peter Donaldson explains the system options now available. Although there are other options for cooling EV batteries than using a liquid, it is rapidly taking over from forced-air cooling, as energy and power densities increase. It is emerging as the dominant technology...

Deep Insight

Vehicle-to-grid charging

Although bidirectional charging for EVs remains a niche technology, writes Nick Flaherty, progress on its uptake is being made. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging is an appealing technology, as it enables EV batteries to be used as part of the electricity grid to even out demand. For example, electric car owners could charge their...

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Condition monitoring

Peter Donaldson examines the factors involved in keeping tabs on the health and performance of key EV components. While an EV’s most costly component is its battery, there are also many other subsystems – inverters, generators and so on – whose condition is critical to safety and efficiency. Machinery health and usage monitoring is well-established...

Digest

VIA Motors CHEMA skateboard

This hardware system puts modularity at the heart of commercial EV designs. Rory Jackson describes how it was designed and developed. For more than 10 years, Utah based VIA Motors has strived to develop technologies and system architectures for EVs to bring to fruition its vision for the next generation...

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Power Electronics

Nick Flaherty explains the three types of switching technologies for inverters and how to match them to a given inverter design. Power electronics is of course a key technology for e-mobility systems, and the development of their components is a vital part of the evolution...

In Conversation

Dr Pat Anderson

VerdeGo Aero’s CTO talks to Rory Jackson about how his academic work feeds into the company’s commercial development of aviation technology. Aviation has been a constant presence in Dr Pat Anderson’s life. One of his earliest memories is being visited at the age of five by his uncle...

Dossier

Energica Eva Ribelle

Rory Jackson explores how this e-bike combines the efficiency for urban commuting with the performance for recreational use. Since its founding in 2014, the Energica Motor Company has sought to combine cuttingedge electrical engineering with designs that capture the ergonomics and aesthetics needed to thrive in the world...

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Battery reuse and recycling

As awareness grows of the environmental problems associated with several types of lithium mining and extraction, it is becoming obvious that the eco-friendly shine on EVs could soon become tarnished unless those processes are cleaned up and a circular economy for lithium-ion batteries and the materials in them can be established (writes Peter Donaldson). A circular economy means reusing...

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DC-DC converters

Peter Donaldson investigates the technology that underpins these essential voltage switching devices. In modern pure electric and hybrid vehicles, battery voltages of 300- 400 V is becoming common, 600 V is gaining ground and 800 V systems are starting to emerge, all to help produce more power yet keep...

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Thermal Management 2020

Peter Donaldson reports on the methods and materials for keeping EV batteries and other components in their optimum temperature range. Thermal management is the art and science of moving heat energy around to keep various components of a vehicle – and its occupants – at safe, efficient and comfortable working...

Deep Insight

Battery Testing

Battery test systems are proving key to speeding up the development times for new batteries, as Nick Flaherty explains. At the heart of testing battery cells, modules and packs are the levels of voltage and current. Temperature and pressure are increasingly important conditions ...

Digest

Workhorse Group C-Series

Rory Jackson details the development of these electric delivery vans, which have been designed and built from the ground up. The Workhorse Group designs and builds battery-electric medium-duty trucks, and earlier this year it started production of its C-Series vans...

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Battery Materials

Nick Flaherty reports on how recent advances in materials are leading to EV batteries with ever-growing energy densities. Battery systems for e-mobility platforms are based largely around lithium chemistry. Liquid lithium salts with graphite anodes and composite metal cathodes are the dominant combination for battery cells...

In Conversation

Thierry Caussat

The next generation - VIA Motors' CTO takes Rory Jackson through the company's series of advances towards fully electric mobility solutions. Throughout his childhood in Toulouse, France, Thierry Caussat could often hear the sound of Airbus’ Concorde airliners screaming...

Dossier

Liebherr ETM Series

Developing these all-electric cement mixer trucks has meant blending the bespoke with the off­-the-shelf. Rory Jackson reports. The conventional cement truck is a diesel-powered vehicle that spends much of each working day at a standstill. However, whether it is having concrete...

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ECUs

Peter Donaldson reports on the latest development trends in engine control units, and the factors driving them. While the entire powertrain of an EV is much simpler than that of a typical modern car with an internal combustion engine, the number and sophistication of the electronic control units (ECUs) distributed around road-going EVs in particular continues to grow as...

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Measuring methods and equipment

New component measurement technologies are complementing traditional methods, and are now being integrated into EV production lines, writes Peter Donaldson. Metrology methods and equipment used in the manufacture of EVs are no different in principle from those applied to IC- engined ones, but their powertrains are built using a different set of...

Deep Insight

EMI

Nick Flaherty explains the different ways of protecting against EMI in EV platforms, and why it needs to be considered from the earliest stages of system design. Essentially there are only three ways to handle electromagnetic interference (EMI) – don’t produce it, filter it out or shield from it. These options lead to a wide range of design trade-offs in e-mobility designs, from the power systems through the...

Digest

vRbikes vR3

Rory Jackson looks at how this three-wheeler has been designed to carry as much cargo as possible in the smallest footprint possible. Given that an electric powertrain brings with it lower maintenance times and costs compared with ICE powertrains, so more and more EV developers are looking to ‘right-size’ their vehicles into smaller and more compact architectures, for ease of use and...

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Fuel cells

Nick Flaherty explains the issues at play when designing and building a fuel cell. Sometimes it seems that the specification and design of a fuel cell is more of an art than a matter of engineering. While the basics of the cells are clear, most often based around a stack of proton exchange membrane (PEM) cells...

In Conversation

Henrik Fisker

Fisker Inc's founder tells Stewart Mitchell why the company's first car will be a mass-market, all-electric SUV. For the past few decades, automotive designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker has been working on high-performance luxury sportscars and unique coach-builds...

Dossier

Elaphe L1500 in-wheel motor

The L1500 has been designed to enable it to be used in a wide range of OEM EVs and HEVs. Rory Jackson reports on how it was developed. Slovenian company Elaphe is known in the e-mobility industry for its in-wheel propulsion technology, which is used in a range of automotive applications around the...

Deep Insight

Power and torque density

How do you choose the most suitable type of motor for a given application? Peter Donaldson gets some expert input. One of the many challenges facing the developers of the BB Green ferry project was finding an electric propulsion motor of sufficient power, power-to-weight ratio, compactness and...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2018

Lawrence Butcher reports on some of the latest products that caught his eye at this major e-mobility show. May 2018 saw this annual expo take place in Hanover, Germany, where it also incorporated The Battery Show. Concurrently, the conference element of the show saw a...

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Connectors

Choosing the most suitable type of connector for an electric vehicle subsystem is governed by a range of factors, as Rory Jackson explains. Connectors are such vital components in vehicles that they make any explanation of their role redundant. What can be underestimated though are...

PS

Superconducting aircraft motors

Power density and power-toweight ratio have always been very near the top of the list of essential attributes for aircraft propulsion systems, particularly in those elements that work at the sharp end of converting stored chemical energy into thrust (writes Peter Donaldson). Rockets aside, the gas turbine engine has yet to be beaten in this respect. In the electrified...

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E-axles

Peter Donaldson canvasses some Tier 1 suppliers’ views on contemporary e-axle technology and the likely future trends in their design. Integrating a motor, gearing and power electronics into a compact, modular package that sits between a vehicle’s driven wheels creates a system that has come to be known as an e-axle. It is an increasingly attractive option for...

Show Report

Battery Show North America 2019 Part 2

Rory Jackson follows up his first report from this show with further highlights of the products that were on display. There were so many new innovations at The Battery Show – its largest to date – that we didn’t have room in our previous issue (Winter 2019) to highlight all the ones we...

Deep Insight

Welding

Nick Flaherty explains the pros and cons of the various welding techniques for connecting cells to form battery packs. A battery pack in an EV consists of a large number of individual battery cells that are held together mechanically and connected electrically. Making those mechanical and electrical connections poses several challenges, including the joining of multiple thin...

In Operation

Lightning Systems LCF truck

Rory Jackson reports on how this electrified version of a mainstream truck is operated and maintained. Lightning Systems carries out full all-electric powertrain integrations on commercial road vehicles such as cargo trucks, buses and passenger shuttles. Founded in 2008 with a focus on hydraulic hybrid propulsion technology...

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Magnetics

Making electric motors more efficient means looking beyond the magnetic materials and switching techniques, as Nick Flaherty explains. The development of the first rare earth magnets in the 1960s by scientists at the US Air Force Materials Laboratory introduced a key new capability for e-mobility. Combining yttrium and cobalt in an alloy for the magnets, then moving to combinations...

Dossier

BB Green ferry

Rory Jackson looks at the development of this battery-powered ferry, which is aimed at shuttling workers to and from work. As more and more people find work in the major urban centres of the world, traffic congestion continues to worsen. While road networks struggle to cope with an ever-growing number of commuters, levels of driver stress and greenhouse gas...

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Lightweight materials

Dan Fleetcroft explains how selecting the right materials can minimise an EV’s weight to maximise its endurance. Consumer interest, combined with the world’s growing concern about the environment, is accelerating the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, driving electrification into multiple industries. Government targets on emissions are having as impact on...

PS

Augmented Sound

For petrolheads, a car is far more exciting and generally satisfying if it makes a good noise (writes Peter Donaldson). These issues have led the industry, perhaps inevitably, into the controversial area of artificial sound, partly to increase driver appeal and partly to meet regulations that demand augmented exterior sound from EVs to improve safety in...

Show Report

Battery Show North America 2019

The latest battery cooling, management, monitoring and other related technologies were exhibited at this show. Rory Jackson has some highlights. Every year, the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, plays host to The Battery Show North America (co-located with Electric & Hybrid Tech Expo North America). With more than...

Deep Insight

Fast Chargers

Planned roll-outs of fast chargers have highlighted the main issues and challenges for their design and development. Nick Flaherty reports. Over the past five years, the number of fast chargers available worldwide has increased tenfold, and over the next five the aim is to have one fast charging station available for every 100 electric...

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Onboard Chargers

EV users who need to prioritise safety and running costs should look to onboard chargers. Rory Jackson examines the engineering and technology inside them. The viability of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles depends on how quickly, efficiently and safely their battery packs can be recharged. At the moment, the charging times are...

In Operation

Lion8 refuse truck

Rory Jackson details the development of this combined all-electric truck and refuse collection system. When the owners of the Lion Electric Company first set their eyes on engineering specialised commercial vehicles for niche users who have distinct operational and cost requirements, they spent an initial five years on planning and r&d for their...

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Radial flux motors

The latest trend in radial flux motor design is to boost power density while reducing cost. Nick Flaherty explains how it’s being done. The radial flux motor is the workhorse of e-mobility. The basic structure of a static rotor (stator) driving a moving rotor in a radial magnetic field is used in different form factors and power ranges for all kinds of...

Dossier

Performance Projects / Dynium electric tractor

Peter Donaldson relates the development of this tractor’s powertrain, which is designed to operate in confined spaces. When Dynium Robot decided to rethink the tractor to work in the confined spaces of orchards and polytunnels, the off-road robotics specialist turned to racecar engineering company Performance Projects to design the vehicle from...

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Race for battery breakthroughs

While lithium-ion battery chemistries continue to improve rapidly, a number of rival technologies and their developers are tantalising the EV industry with promises of much higher energy densities, but always with a caveat or two in other critical areas (writes Peter Donaldson). Some of these technologies represent improved...

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Inverters

Nick Flaherty explains the issues involved in developing inverters for different types of vehicle. The design of an inverter for an electric vehicle depends very much on the application. Full electric, hybrid, commercial bus and...

Digest

Tropos Motors ABLE-XR

Matching the size of vehicle to the size of job was the inspiration behind developing this utility vehicle. Rory Jackson reports. The ABLE-XR from Tropos Motors is an electric compact utility vehicle (eCUV) designed for carrying loads over short distances, for delivery applications that would normally be reserved for...

Deep Insight

Hydrogen

Nick Flaherty highlights some of the inroads developers are making into rolling out a range of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Many of the engineering challenges with converting hydrogen to electricity to drive a motor in a vehicle have been addressed over the past decade through the development...

In Operation

Urbino 18 electric

This electric bus can be configured for propulsion and recharging in different ways. Rory Jackson explains how it’s used. Solaris Bus & Coach, a Polish manufacturer of buses, shuttles and trolleybuses, has produced and supplied more than 18,000 vehicles across 32 countries, mainly in Europe. Since 2001 it has sought to develop energy-efficient and...

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Insulation

With the need for thermal and electrical insulation in electric vehicles set only to grow, Rory Jackson outlines the options available. With EVs and HEVs being designed now for longer ranges and heavier loads, so batteries are emerging that provide increasing quantities of energy. Most often, that means...

In Conversation

David Richards

The technical manager at permanent magnet supplier MagDev gives Stewart Mitchell some pointers on their design and choice of materials for e-drive motors. With the ever-increasing drive for e-mobility, the development of permanent magnet electric motors and their associated power electronics is now one of the most heavily investigated areas of engineering in the...

Dossier

Lightning Strike electric motorcycle

Stewart Mitchell explains how this road-going machine was developed to take on the ICE competition – at a competitive price. Lightning Motorcycles is an all-electric motorcycle manufacturer that produces the LS-218 ‘superbike’ and the more affordable Strike, which is pitched head-on against gasoline-powered alternatives. Founder of the San Jose, California company Richard Hatfield says...

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How Clean are EVs

There’s no doubt that EVs are much cleaner and friendlier to be around than anything powered by an internal combustion engine, as they produce no local emissions (writes Peter Donaldson). They also use energy more efficiently in stop-go traffic, particularly when fitted with regenerative braking systems. Even petrol-diesel electric hybrids allow the engine to be...

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Cables

There is a complexity to producing cables for EVs that some may find surprising. Rory Jackson has the details. The importance of cables for channelling power and data throughout electric and hybrid vehicles over thousands of hours cannot be overstated. However, before selecting and specifying cable requirements, the mechanical stresses they...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2019

Rory Jackson was on hand to investigate some of the key product launches and showcases at this recent show in Germany. The Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2019 was co-located with The Battery Show Europe 2019, and took place in the automobile hub of Stuttgart, Germany, in May. It drew together more than...

In Operation

E-Kotug tugboat

A desire to cut maintenance costs prompted the development of this hybrid version of an existing tugboat. Rory Jackson reports. The E-Kotug is a diesel-electric tugboat owned and operated by international towage services provider Kotug Smit Towage. It is a hybrid-powered version of the Dutch company’s dieselpowered Rotortug design, which features three 360°...

Dossier

Protean Electric PD18 in-wheel motor

Protean’s PD18 has a crucial advantage over other in-wheel motors – it can be retrofitted to existing vehicles. Wayne Ward reports. Pure electric vehicles are rapidly changing from being a niche purchase to one that will soon become commonplace. With the imperative that legislation places on the car...

Deep Insight

Supercapacitors

Nick Flaherty looks at the latest developments in supercapacitor technology for e-mobility systems. Batteries are the go-to technology for powering electric vehicles of all kinds, but supercapacitors (also known as ultracapacitors) are increasing in capacity and performance to become a viable alternative in some applications.  Supercapacitor technology is already well-established in...

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Axial flux motors

Axial flux motors have many EV design advantages over their radial flux counterparts, as Nick Flaherty explains. A new type of motor is gaining traction in the e-mobility sector – the axial flux type. For many years they have been used in stationary applications such as elevators and agricultural machinery, but over the past decade a number of developers have been working on improving...

Dossier

John Deere 944k Hybrid Wheel Loader

Peter Donaldson reports on the design and development of this bulk material mover, the first in its class to become commercially available. In construction and mining, wheel loaders move material in bulk, often scooping it from piles with a bucket and then lifting and dumping it into a truck or crusher. Most are powered by diesel engines coupled to...

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Hydrogen fuel cells

There is something of an ongoing debate in the world of e-mobility as to hydrogen’s place in the energy ecosystem (writes Lawrence Butcher). While manufacturers such as Toyota are throwing their weight behind the fuel, and actively marketing fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), others such as...

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Testing and simulation systems

Rory Jackson explains how various test methods work, why they are important and how EV developers can set up their own facilities. Throughout the course of electric and hybrid vehicle development, it is important to remember that the overall system consists of a number of different parts, each in need of...

Digest

Xing Mobility Miss R

Modular, immersion-cooled batteries are key to this EV’s startling range of applications. Lawrence Butcher reports. Xing Mobility is a Taiwanbased EV company with a slightly unconventional approach to powertrain technology that sets it apart in an increasingly crowded market. Through its two technology demonstrator vehicles, the Miss E and the Miss R – the first of which is...

In Operation

EVIE Street Sweeper

Rory Jackson explains what went into developing this battery powered road sweeper. Integrating a zero-emissions powertrain into a street-sweeper. vehicle makes sense for a number of reasons. The principal purpose of such vehicles – to maintain a clean environment in cities and towns, without...

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Battery management systems

BMS technology is still evolving, so EV designers need to know the nuances of incorporating one into an electric powertrain. Nick Flaherty reports. A battery management system (BMS) is key to the reliable operation of an electric vehicle. The functions it has to handle vary from balancing the voltage of the battery cells in a pack to monitoring temperature and...

Deep Insight

Artificial Intelligence

Nick Flaherty looks at the latest advances in – and uses for – AI in the electric vehicle market. There are many uses for machine learning and predictive algorithms, often combined as Artificial Intelligence (AI), in the development and operation of electric vehicles. AI techniques can be used as part of...

Deep Insight

Uniti One

Lawrence Butcher reports on how a Swedish start-up plans to design and manufacture a market-ready EV from the ground up. If one looks across the automotive EV market, it seems barely a week goes by without one company or another announcing that it will revolutionise the electrification of...

Dossier

Phi-Power PHI301 axial flux motor

Lawrence Butcher investigates the technology and engineering behind this compact but powerful motor design. Something of the new kid on the block in the world of electric machines is the axial flux motor. It is a topology which in recent years has seen increased adoption in many e-mobility applications, with the arrival of..

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The Gradual Evolution

After a promising start in the closing decade of the 19th century, the development of electric road vehicles – and to a lesser extent, the adoption of electric power in other spheres of transport – has been a slow process (writes Lawrence Butcher). The main stumbling block has been the means of storing or generating electricity. Range has always been a challenge, with battery technology lagging behind the...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo 2018

Lawrence Butcher rounds up some of the innovation highlights at this show – the largest such event in North America. The annual EV and Hybrid Technology Expo returned to Novi, Michigan, in September 2018, with a host of companies displaying a range of...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 2018

Rory Jackson reports on some of the latest developments in maritime propulsion technology that were on show at this pre-eminent exhibition. Taking place in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, the Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo is the largest aquatic propulsion trade show in the world. This year’s event was the biggest yet...

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...

Dossier

Volabo ISCAD motor

Lawrence Butcher talks to two of Volabo’s founders about their concept for a traction motor that runs off a mere 48 V. t is generally accepted that in order to use an electric traction motor in a vehicle, where a relatively high power output is...

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Thermal Management 2018

Nick Flaherty explains the issues surrounding the design and manufacture of temperature control systems for electric powertrains. Thermal management is a key part of the design and construction of an electric platform, whether it be ground-based or airborne. The thermal performance of the electronic control system, battery management system and battery packs determines...

In Conversation

Steve Doyle

Ricardo’s head of hybrid and electrical systems tells Lawrence Butcher about the EV projects on the company’s books at the moment. Anyone who has been involved in the development of internal combustion engines will know the name Ricardo. The company, founded in 1915 by pioneering engineer Harry Ricardo, has been instrumental in...

Dossier

Pipistrel Alpha Electro

Lawrence Butcher explains how this electric two-seater, airworthy certified aircraft was developed and how it acts as a pointer to the future. Electric aircraft are by no means a new invention: the first recorded electric powered flight was in 1973, by...
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