Sponsored by AxleTech Widescale commercial vehicle electrification requires intelligent systems engineering Electrification continues to gain traction throughout the commercial vehicle industry. Driven primarily by rapidly falling battery costs, and thus lower total operating costs, vehicle makers are racing to electrify existing models and launch all new electric vehicles. Tightening emissions regulations and corporate social responsibility targets… Read more »
Global automotive supplier DENSO has taken a stake In Infineon Technologies, a company that makes in-vehicle semiconductor products, including microcomputers for control applications, semiconductor sensors and other components for electrified vehicles. The Triple Trend of vehicle electrification, autonomy and connectivity is driving increased demand for semiconductor products, so DENSO aims to increase its expertise in… Read more »
KEB America has released a new inverter for commercial hybrid and electric vehicles in the North American market. The T6 Auxiliary Inverter is a multi-inverter system made for auxiliary motors including compressors, pumps and electric power take-off systems. The T6 can handle up to six electric motors with three different power ratings. It has an… Read more »
For the last couple of years, EV fans have been eagerly awaiting a new version of the LEAF with a 200-mile range to match that of the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3. Nissan did launch a redesigned 2018 LEAF, with a 40 kWh battery pack and 150 miles of range, early this year, but… Read more »
The Von Roll Institute for high-voltage insulation in Breitenbach, Switzerland has been testing electrical insulation systems for 100 years. Now it’s continuing the tradition, but with electric motors. The institute recently opened a brand-new eDrive testing lab to meet the high demands placed on drive systems for the next generation of EVs. Von Roll head… Read more »
The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority recently placed an electric commuter ferry into service, with an electric drive system from Torqeedo. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attended the launch ceremony, traveling by skytrain, subway and foot through Bangkok’s crowded streets before ending his mixed-mode commute with a trip aboard the emission-free passenger ferry. The 47.5-ft fiberglass vessel… Read more »
Bidirectional charging technology (vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-building) has the potential to help reduce utility costs by using EV batteries to store energy and release it at times of peak consumption. Now Nissan, in partnership with Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid systems company, has launched a pilot program that uses LEAFs equipped with bidirectional charging capability to partially… Read more »
Champlain Cable has patented a flexibility testing apparatus for automotive wire and cable. The idea for the product came from a European specification for wire – LV-112, used by German OEMs – that described a wire flexing requirement, but did not describe the apparatus used to test the wire. According to Champlain, the test could… Read more »
Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus showed a production-ready fuel cell-powered double decker bus at the recent Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham, UK. Wrightbus developed the Streetdeck FCEV with funding from the EU-backed Joint Initiative for hydrogen Vehicles across Europe project (JIVE, which some would call a fitting name). The new Streetdeck FCEV bus features a… Read more »
UK-based Zapinamo has developed a new charging system that uses battery storage to “power boost” a domestic electric grid connection and reduce charging time. According to Zapinamo, a typical home charger adds 4 miles of charge in 30 minutes, whereas the new Hubz unit can add 50 miles in 30 minutes. The Hubz product range… Read more »