UK awards Electrified Automation £6 million to develop its motor manufacturing process


Electrified Automation, a robotic technology specialist based in England, has been awarded £6 million in government funding to develop its process for manufacturing electric motors. The grant was awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development program, which supports the development of innovative low- and zero-carbon automotive technology. Electrified Automation is part… Read more »

Engineers find a novel way to control dendrite propagation in solid-state batteries


Solid-state batteries are a major focus for battery researchers, as they could offer weight and size reductions, as well as greater safety, compared to current Li-ion designs. However, they have a major drawback: dendrites, root-like structures that build up on the lithium surface and penetrate the solid electrolyte, eventually crossing from one electrode to the… Read more »

A closer look at high-power interconnects and disconnects


In the electrical/electronic world, the terms interconnect and disconnect both refer to a means of joining two sides of a circuit together. The subtle—and entirely informal—difference is that an interconnect is directly or manually operated (inserting a plug into a jack, for example) while a disconnect is indirectly or automatically operated, for example the moving… Read more »

New Flyer heavy-duty transit bus to use Modine Battery Thermal Management System


Bus OEM New Flyer of America has selected Modine Manufacturing’s EVantage Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) to use in its Xcelsior CHARGE NG heavy-duty transit bus. New Flyer’s latest Xcelsior CHARGE NG bus incorporates three distinct technological improvements over the previous model, including new batteries that extend range up to 13%, protective battery packaging for… Read more »

SK On to supply Hyundai North America with EV batteries from 2025


Hyundai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korean EV battery manufacturer SK On, to secure a battery supply for the North American market. Under the MOU, SK On will supply batteries to Hyundai’s US plants after 2025, as the Korean automaker aims to bolster its EV presence and sales in the North American Market…. Read more »

Researchers aim to improve rare-earth-free magnets through microstructure engineering


Researchers from the DOE’s Critical Materials Institute (CMI) and Ames National Laboratory have developed a new method of manufacturing manganese bismuth (MnBi) magnets based on microstructure engineering.  They describe their wok in “Engineering microstructure to improve coercivity of bulk MnBi magnet,” published in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. Permanent magnets used for electric… Read more »

New electrode material preserves its volume, solving a major limitation of solid-state batteries


Solid-state batteries (SSBs) offer several potential advantages over current lithium-ion batteries, including improved safety and faster charging. However, SSBs suffer from a problem that limits their durability. When lithium ions are inserted into or extracted from the electrodes, the crystalline structure of the material changes, making the electrode expand or shrink. These repeated changes in… Read more »

New electrode material preserves its volume, solving a major limitation of solid-state batteries


Solid-state batteries (SSBs) offer several potential advantages over current lithium-ion batteries, including improved safety and faster charging. However, SSBs suffer from a problem that limits their durability. When lithium ions are inserted into or extracted from the electrodes, the crystalline structure of the material changes, making the electrode expand or shrink. These repeated changes in… Read more »

Thermal runaway early detection: critical sensors and connections for safe battery management


Battery management systems (BMS)—the electronic brains that monitors and maintains lithium ion battery packs—are essential for the safe and efficient operation of the batteries powering a variety of applications, including electric vehicles. The growth of electric vehicle technology is driven by the desire for reduced emissions, quieter and less expensive vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems… Read more »

TWAICE guarantees accuracy of its battery analytics, backs it up with insurance


Predictive battery analytics provider TWAICE is so confident in the accuracy of its data, it’s willing to provide insurance. The company’s contractual guarantee is backed by Great Lakes Insurances, a subsidiary of reinsurance giant Munich Re. TWAICE provides predictive analytics software for companies working with batteries, addressing key concerns such as health, warranty and safety…. Read more »