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Multi-kilowatt superconductors

Researchers in Germany have developed a coil with superconducting wires that are capable of transmitting up to 5 kW of power with minimal losses (writes Nick Flaherty). The team, at the Technical University of Munich, worked with Wurth Elektronik eiSos and superconductor coating specialist Theva Dunnschichttechnik on the design of a coil which they believe […]

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Cell test systems do double duty

EA Elektro-Automatik in Germany has launched a series of bidirectional DC power supplies and regenerative DC loads for testing fuel cell stacks (writes Nick Flaherty). Fuel cells are characterised by determining their electrical resistance, and the performance is usually indicated via polarisation curves by measuring the voltage and current. A durability test after a fuel […]

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Test system reduces SWaP needs

Dewesoft has developed an new integrated 2000 A and 2000 V sensing system for automotive testing (writes Nick Flaherty). The Sirius XHS-PWR integrates a new current sensor architecture with the DewesoftX software, XCP, or OPC/UA on PoE Gigabit Ethernet with PTPv2 time synchronisation, including high-end data acquisition...

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Inverter enables fast prototyping

Semikron and Silicon Mobility have developed a low-voltage inverter design (writes Nick Flaherty). The 24-96 V inverter platform is aimed at battery-powered and industrial off-road vehicles using a powertrain between 10 and 50 kW. The design combines the SKAI 3LV inverter system from Semikron and the OLEA electric motor...

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New tyre boosts range of solar EV

Bridgestone has designed a tyre specifically for solar-power EVs (writes Nick Flaherty). It has been designed for Netherlands based solar car designer Lightyear and its Lightyear One car to reduce the weight and rolling resistance and so increase its range compared with the regular production tyre. The Lightyear One has a range of 450 miles...

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Nanotech cells process

Nanom in Iceland has developed a nanotechnology process that can turn carbon fibre structures into solid-state batteries (writes Nick Flaherty). The company says this can provide a more than nine-fold increase in performance for lithium-ion batteries, and that it is talking to a wide range of transportation...

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Aluminium batteries advance

Researchers in the US have taken a key step forward towards using aluminium for rechargeable batteries that have far higher capacity than current lithium-ion cells (writes Nick Flaherty). The team, at Cornell University, coated the metal with carbon fibres to improve the performance over more than 10,000 charging cycles and 3600 hours when cycled at a charging rate...

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Note: electric version now available

Nissan has developed an electrified version of its Note vehicle using a gasoline engine as a generator, as well as its first full EV since the Leaf (writes Nick Flaherty). The Note e-Power uses a three cylinder IC engine to charge a small, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion NMC battery pack that drives dual electric motors in a four wheel-drive hybrid design. This allows the 60 kW/103 Nm engine...

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IGBT-SiC chip cuts inverter costs

Infineon has launched a 650 V hybrid silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon transistor for inverter designs (writes Nick Flaherty). The CoolSiC Hybrid Discrete for Automotive combines a 50 A fast switching IGBT and a CoolSiC Schottky diode to reduce the cost compared to a pure SiC part but provide the high reliability needed...

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High-efficiency inverter

Pre-Switch has developed a 200 kW inverter architecture that achieves more than 99% efficiency with silicon carbide (SiC) transistors (writes Nick Flaherty). The 100 kHz CleanWave200 evaluation inverter uses three discrete, low-cost 35 mΩ SiC MOSFETs from UnitedSiC per switch location...