Sponsored by HBM Test and Measurement In-vehicle testing provides engineers with a method to benchmark competitors’ vehicles, calibrate drivetrains, and validate the performance of the product. In the emerging electric vehicle market, electrical power measurements on motors and inverters are becoming necessary to evaluate the powertrain of the vehicle. Previously, mobile power measurements were difficult due… Read more »
How does the weather affect the performance of electric buses in real-world operation? Telematics specialist ViriCiti looked into that question, analyzing over 100 e-buses in the Netherlands over the course of several seasons and months. ViriCiti gathered, anonymized and analyzed data from 79 12-meter buses and 27 18-meter buses active across 7 cities in the… Read more »
Zero-emission truck startup Nikola has secured an order for at least 2,500 electric refuse trucks (expandable up to 5,000) from Republic Services, the second-largest solid waste hauler in the US. Nikola says on-road testing is “likely to begin in early 2022,” and deliveries will begin in 2023. The new trucks will use Nikola’s Tre powertrain…. Read more »
Lightning Systems, a Colorado-based manufacturer of commercial EVs, has launched a new division that will offer charging technologies and services to commercial and government fleets. The new Lightning Energy division designs, installs, services and manages charging solutions, providing fleet operators with turnkey options to make electrification easier. Lightning Energy offers a range of purchased or… Read more »
One of the challenges of urban charging is a simple lack of space on streets and sidewalks. Some see wireless charging as the solution, but the Austrian firm Easelink has developed a cable-free physical charging system. “The competition between parking spaces and walkways as well as the lack of surfaces for installing cable-based charging systems… Read more »
Ampcera has introduced a low-cost flexible solid electrolyte (SE) membrane technology for solid-state batteries (SSBs). Ampcera’s SE membranes can be as thin as 25 microns, offer room temperature lithium ionic conductivity greater than 1 mS/cm, and are stable against a lithium metal anode. According to the company, they would enable solid-state lithium metal batteries with… Read more »
Infineon Technologies has introduced the HybridPACK DC6i, a new IGBT power module tailored to the needs of EV traction inverters in the 80 kW to 100 kW power class. It combines Infineon’s EDT2 IGBTs with package technologies for compactness, thermal management at reduced material cost and easy installation. Within Infineon’s portfolio, the HybridPACK DC6i is… Read more »
MAHLE has introduced a new condenser for EVs that’s designed to ensure the battery is cooled during fast charging, protecting it from thermal damage. MAHLE’s new condenser also provides passenger compartment cooling capacity. “Battery cooling is crucial for the performance of electric vehicles. In developing our new condenser, we were able to draw on our… Read more »
The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), a non-profit transportation advocacy group, has released a new Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses. The guide, authored by CTE staff members Meredith Linscott and Amy Posner, highlights key considerations for deployments of zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure. The guidebook is designed to educate transit agencies on… Read more »
A new lithium-based electrolyte invented by Stanford University scientists could pave the way for the next generation of EVs. In a study published in Nature Energy, Stanford researchers demonstrated how their novel electrolyte design boosts the performance of lithium metal batteries. “Most electric cars run on lithium-ion batteries, which are rapidly approaching their theoretical limit… Read more »
