Researchers from Hydro-Québec and the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) used a new high-voltage cathode to produce what they say is the world’s first 5 V, 1.2 Ah Li-ion cell. According to ARL scientists Jan Allen and Richard Jow, who published their findings in the Journal of Power Sources, the cells enable higher energy densities and improved… Read more »
Tag: The Tech
Big River Steel to invest $1.2 billion in expansion, increasing electrical steel production
Steel production and recycling specialist Big River Steel will invest $1.2 billion in the expansion of its Arkansas Flex Mill facility, doubling its hot-rolled steel production capacity to 3.3 million tons per year. A key feature of this expansion will be the ability to produce higher grades of electrical steel, demand for which is expected to be… Read more »
Xalt launches expandable battery rack system, obtains DNV GL approval for marine use
Battery system specialist XALT Energy has unveiled its XRS XPAND Rack system, which combines the company’s XPAND Battery System with its proprietary battery management system (BMS). These products have received DNV GL Type Approvals, which means that they can be installed in vessels classified by maritime registrar DNV GL. The modular systems also show promise for… Read more »
Comparing liquid-dispensed gap fillers and thermal pads in battery packs: WEBINAR
Heat generated in high-density automotive battery packs is often managed by connecting battery cells and/or modules to a heat sink via a thermal interface material (TIM). The TIMs promote heat conduction by displacing any air that resides within the large gaps and microscopic rough surfaces that exist between the substrates to be bridged. In practice, battery… Read more »
ZapGo’s Carbon-Ion tech combines power density of supercapacitors and energy density of batteries
Williams Advanced Engineering has selected ZapGo, a spinout of Oxford University, to join a consortium working to develop next-generation battery systems for EVs (part of the UK government’s Faraday Battery Challenge). ZapGo’s Carbon-Ion technology, based on carbon nanomaterials including graphene, is intended to combine the power density of supercapacitors and the energy density of rechargeable… Read more »
New thermoelectric superlattice doubles rate at which waste heat is converted to electricity
Researchers from Hokkaido University and colleagues in Japan and Taiwan have improved the ability to transform wasted heat into usable electricity by narrowing the space through which spread electrons move, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. Currently, more than 60 percent of the energy produced by fossil fuels is lost as waste… Read more »
ZF’s Axle Hybrid concept electrifies its AMT to improve shifting performance
German automotive supplier ZF has unveiled a new Axle Hybrid concept which uses an electrified Automated Manual Transmission (eAMT). This system combines ZF’s traditional electric axle drive system (eVD) with its automated manual transmission (AMT). The eAMT eliminates tractive force interruption and features AWD capabilities. “With eAMT, ZF has developed a fully-fledged plug-in hybrid drive for front-transverse vehicles,”… Read more »
Eaton expands electrification market share with new eMobility business
Power management company Eaton aims to take advantage of increasing demand for EV technologies with the creation of its new eMobility business, which will focus on intelligent power electronics, power systems, power distribution and circuit protection. Eaton’s existing line of electrified products includes DC/DC converters, PDUs, hybrid and EV transmissions, and high-voltage fuses. The company… Read more »
Tesla inks agreement for Shanghai factory
Tesla has reached an agreement with the Shanghai government to build the company’s much-anticipated Chinese Gigafactory. And none too soon – last week, in response to new US tariffs, China increased the import duty on American-made cars to 40 percent, forcing Tesla to raise prices by as much as $30,000. “We expect construction to begin… Read more »
Scheugenpflug’s high-speed thermal paste dispenser offers faster battery production and less downtime
Thermal paste is essential for preventing overheating and short circuits during battery operation. Unfortunately, its application is one of the slowest processes in battery pack production, as potting material is highly viscous and abrasive. Scheugenpflug, a provider of adhesive bonding, dispensing and potting solutions, has developed a new dispensing solution for thermal potting material that… Read more »
