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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...

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Texas unveils ASIL-D wireless BMS

Texas Instruments (TI) has combined its proprietary comms protocol with its sensor chips to create a wireless BMS (writes Nick Flaherty). The use of a wireless BMS is key to the economics of EVs, as it reduces the weight and complexity of wiring and allows the battery packs to have...

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Bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery for 2021 Toyota Aqua

Toyota’s new Acqua compact HEV comes with a bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery, a world first for a road vehicle according to the Japanese automotive giant (writes Peter Donaldson). Conventional non-bipolar nickel-hydrogen batteries have a much lower energy density than lithium-ion versions but much longer service lives. Compared with the nickel-hydrogen battery in the previous-generation Aqua, says […]

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Solid-state batteries will be big in EVs – eventually

The promise of much safer electrolytes makes solid-state batteries attractive for EVs, particularly passenger cars, and EVs are expected to be their biggest single market (writes Peter Donaldson). However, the technology is far from mature and several challenges remain, according to Dr Xiaoxi He, principal technology analyst at IdTechEx, which has published an in-depth report […]

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Nanotubes boost copper wiring

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US have created a composite that increases the electrical current capacity of copper wires (writes Nick Flaherty). The research aims to boost the performance and life of components such as electric motors and power electronics. The carbon nanotube (CNT) material can be deployed...

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GaN switch at 650 V ‘sweet spot’

Texas Instruments (TI) has produced a 650 V gallium nitride (GaN) power switch for EV designs (writes Nick Flaherty). It is combined with a silicon gate driver in a single package to simplify the design and management of power systems. The combination has been under test with customers for the past two years, gathering...