In order to maximize an EV’s range for a given battery capacity and vehicle weight, engineers try to eke out as much performance as possible from the electrical and mechanical systems. Using a process called efficiency mapping, they determine the “sweet spots” of a powertrain—the regions of the torque-speed curve where the system operates at… Read more »
Posts By: Tom Lombardo
Sealing expert KACO expands portfolio of shaft grounding rings
KACO, a maker of sealing technologies, has expanded its product line to include shaft grounding rings designed to protect the bearings and gearing of electrical machines. The company offers a portfolio of shaft grounding rings ranging from single washers to complex customer-specific solutions with various carrier parts. KACO’s modular system of shaft grounding rings, specially… Read more »
InnoSwitch3-AQ supports EV designs with expanded 30-1,200 V input range
Power Integrations has expanded its InnoSwitch3-AQ family of devices, which combine a MOSFET, primary and secondary controllers and Fluxlink reinforced isolated feedback into a single IC. The new family members feature a 900 V primary MOSFET, which is designed for safe and reliable operation during system voltage transients while reducing the number and cost of… Read more »
Silicon Mobility improves inverter and motor efficiency through digital control
Silicon Mobility, a provider of digital controls for EV powertrains, says its control system improves inverter and motor efficiency by 2% to 4.6% compared to the industry-standard SVPWM control technique. During the 34th International EV Symposium, Silicon Mobility and Cascadia Motion presented their latest research results, in which Optimized Pulse Pattern (OPP) modulation increased the… Read more »
Skeleton Technologies raises €70 million to develop EV batteries and supercapacitors
Skeleton Technologies, a maker of energy storage devices, has secured an additional €29 million in Series D financing, bringing its total Round D financing to €70.4 million. “Unlike Tesla, Panasonic or LG, who use similar raw materials and compete in engineering, Skeleton has focused on vertical integration based on our proprietary curved graphene material,” said… Read more »
BMW begins E-drivetrain production for its iX and i4 electric models
Production of BMW’s fifth-generation high-voltage batteries and battery modules for use in the BMW iX and i4 is now underway at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing, Germany. At the same time, the company is increasing production capacity for its fifth-generation electric motor, which has been built in Dingolfing for the iX3 since… Read more »
Marposs updates its Optoquick inspection system from motor shafts and other cylindrical components
Marposs, a specialist in measurement, inspection and test technologies, has announced a new generation of its Optoquick measuring system, which combines a touch measuring system and an automatic stylus changing system. Within a measuring cycle, the contact sensor stylus can automatically be exchanged with the new multi-axis G65 contact gauge, enabling measurement of non-visible features… Read more »
Dukosi selects Keysight’s Scienlab for battery module development
Dukosi will be using Keysight Technologies‘ SL1001A Battery Test System to support the development of battery degradation tracking and prediction algorithms, as well as state-of-charge monitors. Dukosi is working with the Battery Advances for Future Transport Applications (BAFTA) project to develop a framework to optimize performance and system management for safer and more efficient battery… Read more »
Dow introduces new silicone technologies for EVs
Chemical giant Dow has introduced three new silicone technologies for EV electronics applications. The products—DOWSIL TC-2035 CV Adhesive, DOWSIL TC-4551 CV Gap Filler and DOWSIL TC-4060 GB250 Thermal Gel—are designed for reliable performance, high thermal conductivity, efficient heat dissipation and easy processing. “EVs require material technologies that optimize their sophisticated electronics, including power electronics and… Read more »
Wabtec’s battery locomotive lowers fuel consumption by 11 percent in pilot
Wabtec has announced that its FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive delivered more than an 11 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of 6,200 gallons and 69 tons, respectively. The 430,000-pound FLXdrive features 18,000 lithium-ion cells with a total capacity of 2.4 MWh. The locomotive charged at the rail yard and recharged during… Read more »