The quest to provide convenient, scalable and cost-effective EV charging, and make a profit by doing so, has spawned many interesting technological solutions over the years. The latest audacious proposition to cross our desk comes from EV Safe Charge, which has developed a mobile EV charging robot called ZiGGY. EV Safe Charge says ZiGGY will… Read more »
Materials and surfaces developer Meta Materials has signed an agreement to acquire all the assets and intellectual property of Optodot, a nano-composite battery separator and coating technology company. The acquisition, valued at $48.5 million, includes 67 patents and 22 pending patents. One of Optodot’s patents is for its third-generation NPORE ECS (electrode-coated separator) technology. “Optodot… Read more »
BMW’s i3 was a ground-breaking EV that introduced a number of new technologies when it went on sale in 2014. It was always a bit of a niche vehicle—a small but classy city car—and sales in the US have been fairly modest. In some European markets, however, it’s been a pretty big hit, and BMW… Read more »
A team of researchers from MIT and Samsung have invented a new approach for manufacturing oxide-based and thin solid-state electrolytes that doesn’t require sintering. In an article published in Energy & Environmental Science, the researchers write: “We report a ceramic manufacturing method termed sequential decomposition synthesis (SDS), which results in ceramic films with thicknesses between… Read more »
Enel X Way, a subsidiary of the Enel Group, has been selected by Florida Power & Light (FPL) to support the utility’s FPL EVolution Home program. Through the program, FPL customers can receive an Enel X Way JuiceBox Level 2 smart charger, along with unlimited off-peak renewable electricity, for a $31 fixed monthly fee (or… Read more »
Volvo Energy has acquired a 10% stake in UK-based second-life battery energy storage specialist Connected Energy for 50 million Swedish kroner ($4.93 million). Volvo Energy is one of five new investors in the company. Volvo Energy, a business area within the Volvo Group, is “dedicated to providing essential support and infrastructure during the first-life, i.e…. Read more »
Chinese battery supplier CATL has announced that it will provide lithium iron phosphate batteries for Solaris Bus & Coach electric buses produced for the European market. CATL says the batteries have “exceptionally long battery life and high thermal stability.” The batteries have Cell to Pack (CTP) technology. “By removing the conventional module parts, the innovative… Read more »
Spanish plastics firm AIMPLAS is working on structural battery casings for a battery swap system intended for lightweight EVs. The casings are made of recyclable, long-fiber thermoplastic composites that are flame-retardant and designed to protect the battery from electromagnetic interference (EMI). “Thermoplastic matrix composites could play a key role in industry in the 21st century… Read more »
Electric drivetrain manufacturer Schaeffler has introduced a new 4-in-1 e-axle. “Such highly integrated complete systems are attractive for both established automobile manufacturers and new players,” says the head of Schaeffler’s E-Mobility business division, Dr. Jochen Schröder. The e-axle’s 4-in-1 layout combines the electric motor, power electronics, transmission and thermal management system into one unit. “This… Read more »
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a streamlined approach to testing new battery designs which they say could cut the time for both simulation and physical testing by as much as 75%. The new study, “A generic battery cycling optimization framework with learned sampling and early stopping strategies,” was published in Patterns-Cell Press…. Read more »
