Sponsored by EPCOS, a TDK Group Company By Matt Reynolds, Director of Marketing, Piezo and Protection Devices The technology behind capacitors has been around since late 1745 when a physicist in Germany found that an electrical charge could be stored by connecting a high-voltage electrostatic generator by a wire to a volume of water in a hand-held… Read more »
Tag: The Tech
BYD to complete 24 GWh capacity battery plant
Battery specialist BYD has opened a140 football field-size battery factory in China’s lithium-abundant Qinghai province. The plant is BYD’s third Chinese battery factory, and is part of the company’s plan to increase total production capacity to 60 GWh by 2020. Scheduled for completion in 2019, the plant will be heavily automated, using driverless guided vehicles,… Read more »
Research shows NMC cathode voltage fade is reversible
New research from the University of California San Diego has found one of the causes of voltage fade in lithium-rich layered oxides (LRLO). LRLO is a promising candidate as a cathode material as it can provide 50% more capacity than current alternatives. However, voltage fade reduces the energy capacity of this material over time. UC… Read more »
Hyundai invests in solid-state battery materials specialist Ionic Materials
Hyundai’s venture capital division, Cradle, is investing in Massachusetts-based battery materials developer Ionic Materials. Ionic says its patented solid polymer material enables solid-state batteries that are inherently safe, high in energy density and operational at room temperature. The special properties of Ionic’s polymer electrolyte also support lithium-ion cells with little to no cobalt in their cathodes…. Read more »
Audi Hungaria begins mass production of electric motors for e-tron quattro lanuch
One of Audi’s key manufacturing plants, Audi Hungaria, has officially begun series production of electric motors. Audi’s first all-electric vehicle, the e-tron, will rely heavily on the plant’s electric motor production capacity. The new dedicated 8,500-square-meter floor space uses a modular intelligent-assembly system in order to roll out 400 electric-axle motors per day. Though this number… Read more »
Midtronics sells Stationary Power Division to focus on automotive market
In order to focus on the global transportation market, battery management specialist Midtronics has sold its Stationary Power Division (SPD) to Franklin Electric. The SPD will be combined with Franklin Electric’s Electric Grid Solutions division and will provide the same contact information for product service and support. “The divestiture of the Stationary Power Division enables us… Read more »
A quick guide to automotive DC-DC converter testing
Sponsored by Chroma Systems Solutions An automotive DC-DC converter receives high voltage from the battery and converts it to a lower voltage to power on board devices such as the instrumentation panel, entertainment system, sensors, LED lighting, and any other on board devices requiring low voltage DC power. Manufacture’s strategies in DC-DC converter development include reduction in size… Read more »
Tesla files patent for a system to isolate damaged battery cells
Tesla recently filed a patent on a new technology that could make its battery packs safer. The system is designed to isolate damage caused by failed battery cells, and prevent them from affecting intact cells in the pack. When battery cells fail, they typically release hot gases that can spread the damage to nearby cells…. Read more »
Ecovolta to build automated 200 MWh battery assembly plant in Switzerland
Swiss battery system and production specialist ecovolta (don’t kill us yet folks, the lowercase isn’t a typo) will build a 200 MWh battery pack assembly plant this September in the Swiss canton of Schwyz. The plant will use fully-automated processes to produce both prismatic and cylindrical batteries. The battery packs will have voltage levels ranging… Read more »
Exide and Leclanché launch JV to tackle India’s growing battery market
Exide Industries and Leclanché will participate in a joint venture aimed at providing batteries and power storage solutions for India’s EV and power grid needs. The JV will pair Leclanché’s Li-ion expertise with Exide’s brand recognition and sales network. Leclanché is a specialist in Li-ion battery production and battery management systems (BMS), while Exide is India’s… Read more »
