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Hybrid approach to safe transport

Horizon Aircraft has developed a hybrid electric vertical take-off (eVTOL) aircraft with safety at the heart of its design (writes Nick Flaherty). The Cavorite x5 eVTOL fan-in-wing platform is designed with a redundant gas/electric powertrain to enable safety certification for carrying up to five people. The high-wing canard design has six motors in each wing...

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Virtual AC system controllers

Curtis Instruments has launched a series of programmable AC motor controllers for vehicle traction designs from 24 to 96 V and up to 425 A continuous current (writes Nick Flaherty). The 1238SE series uses the Curtis Vehicle Control Language (VCL), which allows vehicle developers to write powerful logic functions...

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Combined approach to HV tests

Vector and CSM have combined their measurement technologies to validate e-mobility platforms up to 800 V (writes Nick Flaherty). The layouts of the powertrain, the charging components and the HV elements present new requirements for test and validation, which vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on the electrical system topology...

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Quiet word on e-motor

A consortium in the UK is to develop a new quiet motor for urban electric aircraft (writes Nick Flaherty). The two-year InCEPTion – Integrated Flight Control, Energy Storage and Propulsion Technologies for Electric Aviation – project will develop a modular electric propulsion unit for VTOL and conventional take-off and landing aircraft...

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In-vehicle SiC/GaN inverter tester

Yokogawa has developed the fourth generation of its ScopeCorder test system, with a focus on the development of e-mobility systems (writes Nick Flaherty). The DL950 is aimed at applications such as testing EVs with SiC and GaN inverters, as well as ECUs, sensors and in-vehicle comms networks...

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Car data comms chip is a safe bet

Maxim Integrated has launched a 14-channel data management and comms chip for BMSs that can be used in the highest level of safety design, ASIL-D (writes Nick Flaherty). The MAX17852 is aimed at EVs, HEVs and other transportation systems for smart junction box and 48 V automotive...

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Pilot run for solid-oxide fuel cell

Doosan Fuel Cell is to develop a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for ships (writes Nick Flaherty). It will use the cell to drive large marine motors of 9-10 kW, the power depending on the propeller’s design and speed of rotation. Solid-oxide fuel is easier to transport for shipping, and produces...

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Redox flow battery has ships in sight

A European project is using a vanadium flow battery for an electric power system for ships (writes Nick Flaherty). Conoship in The Netherlands and Vega Reederei in Germany are using technology from Vanadium Corp in Canada to develop a next-generation redox fl ow battery stack. It will use a high energy-density...

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Monitor tests insulation remotely

Danisense has launched a residual current monitor (RCM) with a 70 mm primary cable/busbar aperture for testing insulation (writes Nick Flaherty). The aperture allows monitoring of the residual currents in electrical power systems without the need for fast system shutdown. The monitor, called the RCMH070IB+, measures DC and AC...

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Inverter doubles as a charger

Bel has developed a three-phase wide range bidirectional inverter that can be used as an onboard charger as well as a power source for external equipment (writes Nick Flaherty). The key innovation for the BCL25-700-8 is a wide DC output range from 250 to 800 V, with a constant current of 60 A across the voltage range and both single and three-phase...