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ChatGPT for battery chemicals

A team of researchers led by the University of Michigan in the US is developing a generative AI model to produce new molecules for batteries, writes Nick Flaherty. The machine learning framework will be developed using 200,000 node hours on the Polaris, a 34-petaflop supercomputer at Argonne National Laboratory.

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Smart switch protects 800V battery packs

Kyocera AVX has developed a smart semiconductor switch for EV battery pack designs, writes Nick Flaherty. The switch supports voltage levels up to 930 V for 800 V battery packs and is able to withstand short current events up to several thousand amps. Using a scalable design, the switch can be adapted to different power classes up to 640 kW continuous performance and provides both a safety cutoff and also support for higher charging rates.

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LFP cells charge in six minutes

DESTEN has developed the first Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cell that can charge in just six minutes at 6 C writes Nick Flaherty. The 160 Wh/kg pouch cell developed by DESTEN is capable of charging from 20% to 80% SOC in six minutes at a charging rate of 6 C. Moreover, the LFP chemistry means the cell is intrinsically safer than lithium ion cells.

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In wheel motor development

YASA is working with Domin on an in-wheel motor system that weighs under 2 kg, writes Nick Flaherty. The project with Cranfield University in the UK will create a patented in-wheel motor design using YASA’s axial flux motor and Domin’s digitally controlled hydraulic active suspension. The aim is to develop a motor system that is ten times lighter than the current 12 kg motor package design.

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Successful test of aircraft rim motor

Duxion Motors has successful ground tested its patented eJet Motor for electric aviation, writes Nick Flaherty. The successful ground testing of the scaled prototype at Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, included both low-speed and high-speed testing.

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Modular plug-and-play rectifier

OmniOn Power has developed a modular 30 kW rectifier in a 19 in rack format to build EV fast chargers (writes Nick Flaherty). The EV100H3NK and EV101H3N1K AC-DC variants of the rectifier design have efficiencies of up to 96% and integrate CAN automotive comms protocols. Up to 12 rectifiers can be used in parallel in a 19 in rack to build fast-charging 360 kW systems quickly and easily.

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Mini-spoiler alert for faster flight

Researchers at the University of Bath are investigating how deploying spoiler-like devices called mini-tabs could help electric aircraft fly faster (writes Nick Flaherty). Mini-tabs can counteract the damaging vibrations caused by whirl flutter that occurs at high flight speeds. Maxon has provided the motion systems to test

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Refuelling pump seals the FC deal

Researchers in the US have developed a sealed compressor using a linear motor for refuelling hydrogen EVs (writes Nick Flaherty). The hydrogen compressor, developed at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), can improve the efficiency and reliability of hydrogen compression used in the refuelling of fuel cell EVs (FCEVs).

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DiL system cuts physical testing

Horiba MIRA has opened a driving simulator centre in the UK with driver-in-the-loop technology (writes Nick Flaherty). The £4 million centre aims to help established car designers, start-up vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers to develop new vehicles.

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Structural carbon fibre research

Researchers at Chalmers University in Sweden have shown how the manufacturing of carbon fibres can be tailored for developing structural batteries (writes Nick Flaherty). They worked with Carbon Nexus at Deakin University, in Australia, to build a