Microchip’s new plug-and-play mSiC gate driver works out of the box to reduce high-voltage design time


Microchip Technology has added a new offering to its line of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor solutions. The new 3.3 kV XIFM plug-and-play mSiC gate driver uses the company’s patented Augmented Switching technology, and is designed to work out of the box with preconfigured module settings to reduce design and evaluation time. “The complex development work… Read more »

Octopus Electric Vehicles launches DriveFree EV leasing program in Texas


UK-based EV leasing company Octopus Electric Vehicles has launched its DriveFree plan in the Houston area. The program, which customers access online, includes the lease of a pre-owned EV, as well as a maintenance contract and smart home charging through Octopus Energy. “With DriveFree, we wanted to address all the concerns people have about switching… Read more »

Hyunda/Kia’s Active Air Skirt technology is designed to help EVs go faster


Hyundai Motor and Kia have unveiled a technology that reduces aerodynamic resistance generated during high-speed driving. The Active Air Skirt (AAS) technology controls airflow entering through the lower bumper and reduces turbulence around the vehicle wheels by operating variably depending on vehicle speed during high-speed driving.  AAS is installed between the front bumper and the… Read more »

Aggregates producer CRH to test Caterpillar’s electric off-highway trucks and charging solutions


Yellow-machine icon Caterpillar has signed an electrification strategic agreement with building materials firm CRH, a major North American producer of aggregates, to advance the deployment of Caterpillar’s zero-emission off-road vehicles. CRH will participate in Caterpillar’s Early Learner program, testing and validating 70- to 100-ton-class battery-electric off-highway trucks and charging solutions in real-world applications. CRH will… Read more »

FreeWire’s new Boost Power Pro supports blackout charging and bidirectional power flow


FreeWire Technologies, a provider of battery-integrated EV charging stations and energy management solutions, has announced Boost Power Pro, the flagship offering within FreeWire’s new Pro Series product line. FreeWire’s chargers feature built-in energy storage, which enables site hosts to rapidly deploy public fast charging, avoiding expensive upgrades to local electrical service. Ports can be customized… Read more »

WeaveGrid collaborates with Toyota to enable V2G integration with selected utilities


Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is expected to support a cleaner, more resilient electrical grid, while enabling EV owners to save money while charging their vehicles. However, some sort of managed charging platform will be needed to match up EV owners with local utilities. Software provider WeaveGrid, in collaboration with Toyota, has developed just such a platform…. Read more »

GM insiders explain why Ultium EV production stalled


As the popular narrative has it, GM, Ford et al are walking back on their electrification plans because EV sales have slowed. Seldom mentioned in the headlines is the fact that GM and others have very few EVs for sale at the moment, and have fallen way behind their putative schedules for releasing new models…. Read more »

Elkem develops new powder for 3D printing of electric motors


Chemicals company Elkem and its project partners VTT, Siemens, Stellantis and Gemmate Technologies have developed a 3D printing powder for EV motors. The development is part of the SOMA project, which aims to develop lightweight solutions for e-mobility by using additive manufacturing for soft magnetic alloys. Elkem has developed a new specialized iron silicon powder … Read more »

Infineon and GlobalFoundries extend long-term agreement for automotive microcontrollers


Infineon Technologies and GlobalFoundries have signed a multi-year deal to offer AURIX TC3x 40 nm automotive microcontrollers, power management, connectivity and security solutions. The extra capacity will help Infineon develop from 2024 to 2030. GlobalFoundries and Infineon have developed distinctive automotive, industrial and security semiconductor technology and products since 2013. This partnership centers on a… Read more »

REE begins customer deliveries of electric truck


REE Automotive has begun customer deliveries of its electric chassis cab. REE’s P7-C medium-duty electric commercial truck is a fully steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire and drive-by-wire vehicle. REE has initiated customer deliveries of the first batch of P7-C demonstration trucks for multiple fleet evaluations in North America via its dealer network. US dealer Pritchard EV is the… Read more »