Grid

Electrolyte detection outs cell leaks

Cell leakage in lithium ion batteries is bad news, so battery makers want to find any that happen during manufacture or assembly so their quality control teams can prevent early failures and minimise warranty costs, while drivers need confidence, safety and low servicing costs. Sandra Seitz from vacuum analysis and test instrument specialists Inficon explained […]

Grid

Dyno development

For ICE powertrain companies looking to transition into e-powertrain engineering, the construction of the new test cells poses on of the biggest cost-barrier to entry, writes Rory Jackson. High-speed dynamometers and test benches capable of measuring the performances of e-motors are inevitably pricey, and many such companies already possess significant testing equipment for cycling combustion […]

Grid

Battery chip boosts EV range

A sensing and balancing chip for battery packs that can extend the range and reliability of EVs has been launched (writes Nick Flaherty). The TLE9012AQU from Infineon Technologies supports up to 12 battery cells with an accuracy of ±5.8 mV over a pack’s temperature and voltage range as well as its life cycle. This accuracy extends an EV’s range...

Grid

ATMP goes electric

Researchers at the University of Exeter, in the UK, have teamed up with Supacat to develop an electric version of the 6 x 6 All-Terrain Mobility Platform, or ATMP (writes Nick Flaherty). The ATMP, first developed in the 1980s, already operates in a range of harsh terrains for military applications using a diesel engine. The conversion to an electric powertrain had to be rugged...

Grid

Relay device retains memory

Researchers at the University of Bristol, in the UK, have developed a new type of electromechanical nanodevice that can be used as a non-volatile memory in high-temperature power systems in EVs and aircraft (writes Nick Flaherty). The leakage current in transistors used as electronic memory devices increases with temperature, so an electromechanical relay built on a micromachined...

Grid

Solar roof sees the light of day

Electric solar car developer Lightyear is working with Dutch multinational Royal DSM on the technology for its solar roof (writes Nick Flaherty). The companies will integrate solar power roofs in various EVs, including cars, vans and buses...

Grid

SiC chips board buses in China

Power modules from StarPower Semiconductor are using the next generation of SiC semiconductors for the first time for electric buses in China (writes Nick Flaherty). Bus maker Zhengzhou Yutong Group is using a 100 A, 1200 V SiC MOSFET transistor from Cree for the StarPower module in an 800 V powertrain design. This will provide the first electric bus design in China to use the SiC widebandgap semiconductor MOSFETs...

Grid

Magnets made using 3D printing

Researchers in Austria have developed a technique to build magnets using additive manufacturing (writes Nick Flaherty). The team, at Friedrich-Alexander- Universitat, worked with researchers at the Graz University of Technology, the University of Vienna and the research institute Joanneum Research to produce the specially...

Grid

Upgrade bring multiple comms

A controller for EV charging systems has been upgraded with a range of comms links (writes Nick Flaherty). The CC613 charge controller from Bender adds connections to Ethernet, Modbus and a powerline communication modem to give developers flexibility in the design of a charging system. This is increasingly important...

Grid

Three-phase SiC module cuts losses

Cissoid in Belgium has launched a three-phase water-cooled SiC MOSFET intelligent power module (IPM) for e-mobility (writes Nick Flaherty). The 1200 V/450 A module has built-in gate drivers, and is designed to optimise the electrical, mechanical and thermal design of the power module and control for electric car OEMs...