Swiss technology startup Morand has launched a hybrid energy storage system that combines the characteristics of an ultracapacitor with that of a chemical battery to create “a durable and ultra-fast energy pack that can be usefully recharged in seconds.” Morand says its eTechnology is designed for applications that require fast, frequent charges of around 5… Read more »
Tag: Newswire
Continental’s new Green Caliper for EV brakes reduces weight and residual torque
As EVs move into the mainstream, companies are looking for ways to improve every component of a vehicle in order to squeeze out more range and/or better performance. The latest innovation comes from Continental, whose new Green Caliper for disc brakes is more compact and lighter than those for legacy vehicles, but boasts the same… Read more »
Solvay and Orbia to supply North American market with polyvinylidene fluoride Li-ion binder and separator coating
Solvay and Orbia have teamed up to produce suspension-grade polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for the North American market. According to Orbia, demand is increasing for PVDF, a thermoplastic fluoropolymer used as a lithium-ion binder and separator coating in batteries. The Solvay-Orbia joint venture aims to fill a supply gap for this critical battery component. Solvay will… Read more »
SAE International launches initiatives centered on EVSE reliability
The abysmal dependability of public chargers is a major problem, and fixing it is going to require some serious technical expertise and industry-wide cooperation. So it’s encouraging to see industry heavyweight SAE International, which calls itself “the oldest and largest technical society for engineers in the US, and the largest mobility standards organization in the… Read more »
Ricardo to help Toyota develop a hydrogen fuel cell light commercial vehicle for the UK
Automotive supplier Ricardo is working alongside Toyota and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to develop a hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicle and to build a prototype in the UK. The Toyota Hilux hydrogen variant will be manufactured and assembled at Toyota’s Derby-based facility and is scheduled for prototype production in 2023. Toyota chose Ricardo due to… Read more »
Two thirds of Ford dealers opt to get certified to sell EVs, install public DC fast chargers
Auto dealers are widely considered to be a bottleneck for EV adoption, but it doesn’t have to be that way. EV-savvy automakers such as VW, GM, and Ford have no plans (that we know of) to abandon the dealership model, but they are taking steps to make sure their dealers have the assets they need… Read more »
NXP introduces new series of microcontrollers for EV control applications
NXP Semiconductors has introduced its S32K39 series of automotive microcontrollers (MCUs) for EV control applications. The company says these MCUs include networking, security and functional safety capabilities beyond those of traditional automotive MCUs. The S32K39 MCUs are designed for the intelligent and high-precision control of traction inverters that convert the EV battery’s DC power to… Read more »
SK On signs 5-year lithium hydroxide supply deal with SQM
Battery manufacturer SK On has signed a lithium hydroxide supply deal with Chile’s SQM. The terms of the agreement will enable SK On to purchase up to 57,000 tons of lithium hydroxide over the course of five years starting in 2023—enough to produce batteries for approximately 1.2 million EVs. Obtaining lithium from SQM will help… Read more »
Marposs announces system for electrical testing of prismatic battery cells
Marposs, a provider of measurement, inspection and testing products, has released a new system for testing prismatic battery cells. According to the company, this machine can be easily reconfigured to adapt to different cell sizes, and is suitable for end-of-line control or verification and grading at the beginning of a module assembly line. Originally designed… Read more »
Will bidirectional EV charging kill generators? Generac downgraded by stock analysts
In the wake of the recent hurricanes in Florida, we saw the usual flood of anti-EV articles claiming that it’s better to have a gas vehicle in a natural disaster. Your favorite correspondent also got an article out of the situation, and concluded that on balance, you’re better off in an EV (although a lifted… Read more »
