Newswire

Calex launches new 1,000-watt DC-DC converter

Calex Manufacturing has launched the 24S53.19FXW DC-DC converter, the final product in the company’s FXW series of DC-DC converters. The new converter features a power density of 181 W/in³ over a 9-36 VDC input range. The 1,000-watt converter measures 2.5 x 4.7 x 0.52 inches. In a bid to optimize performance, Calex has equipped the… Read more »

Frito-Lay manufacturing site to deploy electric trucks from Tesla, Peterbilt, BYD

Frito-Lay plans to make its Modesto, California manufacturing site, one of the company’s largest in the US, a “near zero-emission freight facility.” A grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (aka Valley Air) will cover half of the $30.8-million cost of the project. Frito-Lay will replace all its existing diesel-powered freight equipment… Read more »

Tesla’s acquisition of battery manufacturer Hibar points to new plans to build battery cells

Tesla has quietly acquired Ontario-based Hibar Systems, which specializes in battery manufacturing. The California carmaker has made no official announcement, but Electric Autonomy Canada learned from federal lobby registration documents that Hibar became a subsidiary of Tesla sometime between July and October. Hibar Systems was founded in the early 1970s to make small cell batteries,… Read more »

AC Fast Charging: The right fit for medium-duty EVs

What’s the largest mass transit system in the United States? Is it the public transit network? Nope. Commercial airlines? Guess again. Passenger rail? Not even close. Here’s a hint: the vehicles are colored yellow. Give up? It’s school buses, and in terms of sheer numbers this fleet is 2.5 times larger than all other forms… Read more »

V2G value propositions: Fermata Energy is focused on building financially viable solutions for vehicle-to-grid

David Slutzky, an accomplished entrepreneur, has an eclectic background. In addition to having founded several successful companies, he’s served as a local elected official as well as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Clinton White House and the EPA. He’s been teaching at the University of Virginia for some time, on the Commerce, Architecture and… Read more »

Cree to build silicon carbide device manufacturing facility in New York

Silicon carbide manufacturer Cree plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Marcy, New York. The fabrication facility for 200 mm power and radio frequency wafers, which will have a footprint of 480,000 square feet upon completion, will help increase capacity for the company’s Wolfspeed SiC and GaN business. The facility is the result of… Read more »

Piotrek and CSIRO partner on solid-state battery research

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and Japanese chemical manufacturer Piotrek have partnered to produce the next generation of solid poly electrolytes (SPEs) for lithium batteries, using Piotrek’s ion conducting polymers (ICP) and CSIRO’s reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymer technology. Piotrek General Manager Ihei Sada said, “This partnership will help Piotrek make our batteries safer… Read more »

VW and Northvolt join to build battery facility in Germany

Volkswagen and Swedish battery maker Northvolt have created a 50/50 joint venture to build a factory for lithium-ion batteries. Construction of the production facility is scheduled to start in Salzgitter, Germany in 2020. The companies plan to start production by the end of 2023 and initially produce 16 GWh per year. VW has invested €900… Read more »

Freudenberg launches new conductive seals for electric powertrains

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is launching a new line of conductive seals that are designed to allow for durable connections between housings and shafts, while preventing bearing damage from electricity and electromagnetic radiation. The first functional models should be available within the next few months. Tim Leichner, Head of Strategic Product Advance Development at Freudenberg, said,… Read more »

NewMotion and Chargepoint networks sign UK roaming partnership

NewMotion, Shell’s charging network subsidiary, and ChargePoint have announced a roaming partnership that will enable EV drivers in the UK to access both charging networks without the need to create a new account. ChargePoint users will gain access to NewMotion’s public charging network both in the UK and across Europe. The agreement also includes the… Read more »