Unifrax, a manufacturer of specialty materials, has announced plans to build its first large-scale SiFAB (silicon fiber anode material) manufacturing line at its north-central Indiana facility. SiFAB is a proprietary silicon anode battery technology designed to enable greater energy density in lithium-ion batteries. The company also expects SiFAB to provide faster charging and longer battery… Read more »
As the world’s automakers prepare for an electric future, what do the world’s auto dealers have to say about what’s going on? As regular readers of Charged know, dealers have long been considered a major roadblock for EV adoption. (Advocacy group Plug in America, believing that the problem is one of education rather than will,… Read more »
FTEX, a maker of motor controllers for small EVs, has introduced the GaNRunner, the company’s first programmable motor controller featuring gallium nitride (GaN) technology. Built to control brushless DC motors, the GaNRunner works with standard electric motor architectures and includes standard HIGO connectors. It’s available in 750 W (GNRR-750) and 1500 W (GNRR-1500) single- and… Read more »
Charging management for commercial fleets is one of the hottest topics in the EV world today. So, as Ford stakes out a position in the commercial EV market with its new Ford Pro business unit, it’s only logical that it is seeking to deepen its infrastructure expertise by acquiring Electriphi, a provider of charging management… Read more »
EV experts have waxed ecstatic about President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, which would include up to $174 billion in funding to boost EV adoption. However, given the political situation in the US Senate, it’s becoming apparent that this proposal is unlikely to become law. Now the talk in Washington is of a “bipartisan compromise,” which… Read more »
Every company, in or out of the EV industry, seems to be want to build Gigafactories these days. Aspiring EV manufacturer Canoo is pursuing a different strategy, or at least a different terminology. The company plans to rely on several “mega microfactories,” and has now announced that the first will be built near Tulsa, Oklahoma…. Read more »
TE Connectivity, a manufacturer of connectors and sensors, has introduced the new IPT-HD power bolt high-voltage connector. TE’s IPT-HD power bolt high-voltage connector complies with ISO and LV standards. It offers a new shielding design, and provides low-contact resistance and thicker options for conductor cross-sections used in MCU, E-axle and E-motor applications for EVs operating… Read more »
Proterra (NASDAQ: PTRA) and Miami-Dade County have announced a major fleet electrification project. The Florida metropolis will acquire an additional 42 Proterra ZX5+ electric transit buses, bringing its total fleet of Proterra electric buses to 75. Proterra will install 75 of its branded chargers, packing a total of 9 megawatts of power, at 3 bus… Read more »
Sponsored by Hesse Mechatronics Benefits of Smart Welding There are many types of welding used for the interconnection of battery packs. Laser, resistance, spot, etc. are just a few of the common types. Smart Welding was developed by Hesse Mechatronics to offer an alternative option. Smart Welding is “wire bonding without the wire” as it continues to… Read more »
Elon Musk has revealed some details of Tesla’s new Plaid carbon-wrapped electric motor, and teased an even hotter, higher-rpm version that will appear with the next-gen Roadster. The Plaid motor is based on new technology that allows Tesla to build smaller, more powerful and efficient motors than ever. It’s small enough to be picked up… Read more »