Grid

Combat-ready lithium power

Epsilor has developed a 6T lithium iron phosphate battery for the military that provides an energy density of 2.76 kWh (writes Nick Flaherty). The ELP-24V2740Wh-6T LFP 24 V battery has a lifecycle of more than 3500 charging cycles and improved safety through a high thermal runaway onset temperature and a lower probability of igniting if crushed or...

Grid

‘Full stack’ monitoring system

Fleetonomy has developed an end-to end fleet management system for EVs that includes system data (writes Nick Flaherty). The ‘full stack’ system is based in the cloud and manages the performance and operation of fleets of electric cars. It is currently being used in a project in London called HAVN with a fleet of...

Grid

Interface for standard EV chargers

Delta-Q Technologies has launched a standards-based vehicle charge interface module (VCIM) for AC charging stations (writes Nick Flaherty). The hardware works with Delta-Q’s recently released stackable charging system (SCS) to include compatibility with standard EV supply equipment (EVSE). The module manages the AC current limits in the EVSE and communicates that data to the ‘master’ charger of the...

Grid

E-bike from Nepal uses Ion cloud

Battery management technology developer Ion Energy is working with Yatri Motorcycles in Nepal on an electric motorbike design (writes Nick Flaherty). The bike, called Project Zero, is built from carbon fibre and uses a 30 kW motor running off a 6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that provides a range of 230 km (150 miles) from...

Grid

Schottky diodes start to motor

Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) operating at 200 V and with low leakage current are being increasingly used for hybrid and full electric powertrains and inverters (writes Nick Flaherty). There is currently a strong effort towards mechanical integration in 48 V hybrid drive systems, by combining the motor and peripheral circuits...

Grid

Fifth-gen cell voltage monitors

Smart Test Solutions has launched its fifth generation of cell voltage monitoring (CVM) systems for fuel cells, batteries and electrolysis for hydrogen generation (writes Nick Flaherty). This latest version has an extended temperature range of up to 105 C, up from the previous 85 C. The power supply range has also been extended. Instead of using a 5 V supply...

Grid

Gear IC has traction

Allegro Microsystems has launched the industry’s first gear-tooth sensor IC to provide incremental position data for traction motors (writes Nick Flaherty). The ATS17501 provides high-speed switching up to 40 kHz to directly measure rotating ferrous gears up to 30,000 rpm, and provides an incremental encoded output...

Grid

Wheel motor test platform

Nissan has developed a test vehicle to evaluate the use of electric motors on each wheel (writes Nick Flaherty). It is based on the Leaf e+ platform, with front and rear motors and what Nissan calls a new chassis control system. New control technology being developed by the company integrates its electric propulsion and four-wheeldrive control technologies...

Grid

Going everywhere for testing

BorgWarner has converted an Aerial Nomad all-terrain vehicle to all electric operation to test its electric motor technologies and other electric components from suppliers at the system level (writes Nick Flaherty). It is the first high-voltage, all-electric demonstration vehicle to be developed by the company’s Corporate Advanced Engineering group. The new technologies in the test platform include traction inverters...

Grid

Cloud control for e-bus systems

Siemens has launched a cloud-oriented charging system for commercial vehicles that supports power levels from 50 to 600 kW (writes Nick Flaherty). The Sicharge UC family is intended for charging electric buses and utility vehicles at the depot and en route using charging plugs and offboard or onboard pantographs. The 1000 V system works with applications...