Sponsored by Serma Specialized in electronics services for 30 years, SERMA Group carries out expertise and tests on batteries, power electronics and electric motors. In order to support the strong growth of the electrical energy sector, SERMA opened in 2019 an additional test, expertise and services platform of more than 5000m² in France, near Bordeaux…. Read more »
The charging experience is one of the largest differences between vehicles with a battery and vehicles with a fuel tank. The core charging requirements are established and standardized, however, both the technology and applications are still in the early stages of maturity. Therefore, they are subjected to intense market pressure to expand, evolve, and improve…. Read more »
UnitedSiC has launched version 2 of its FET-jet calculator, a tool used to select Schottky diodes and field-effect transistors (FETs). The user selects the topology of the desired AC-DC or DC-DC converter, isolated or non-isolated. Changing between continuous, critical, or discontinuous modes is automatic. The input, output, and power required are selected, and the tool then… Read more »
The DOE has announced $30 million in new funding for 13 national lab and university-led research projects to develop new technologies to help secure the supply of critical clean tech materials, including cobalt, neodymium and platinum. Research funded in this announcement is intended to advance the understanding of how rare-earth elements and platinum group elements… Read more »
As Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system slowly evolves, it seems to be requiring ever more computing power. Back in 2016, Tesla announced a hardware upgrade, including a new computer from Nvidia, which it said would enable full self-driving capability, with future software updates. Since then, Tesla has upgraded the computer twice. In 2019, it introduced the… Read more »
Polish bus builder Solaris has unveiled its latest vehicle, the 9-metre low-entry Urbino 9 LE electric. It’s designed both for city and intercity routes, and Solaris calls it “an excellent link between the urban and suburban road network across conurbations.” The new e-bus has been standardized with all Solaris’s other 4th-generation vehicles. Alongside the Urbino… Read more »
TE Connectivity has launched three new products for the hybrid and electric commercial transportation market. The new IPT-HD power bolt connector performs in temperatures ranging from -40 to +125 degrees Celsius and, thanks to its low-contact-resistance design, can withstand excessively high engine-level vibrations. The IPT-HD connector features a new shielding that complies with ISO and… Read more »
Battery manufacturers face quality and process control challenges when battery components need to be inspected without being destroyed. The cells are inspected to map the electrode’s microstructure in 3D, the heterogeneities, foil stacking, welding joints, contacts, and their effect on battery aging and performance through several cycles of charging and discharging. X-ray microscopy and computed… Read more »
We already knew things were hopping for Tesla in China. Tesla-watchers predicted that Chinese sales would prove to be a big part of the company’s all-time record deliveries in Q3,and Elon Musk confirmed it at the shareholders meeting, announcing that Gigafactory Shanghai had surpassed the Fremont factory in production volume. (We also suspected that the… Read more »
DuPont’s BETATECH thermal interface material (TIM) has been specified by Renault for supply to its Maubeuge and Douai production facilities in northern France. A multi-year technical partnership with the Alpine F1 team was also announced. BETATECH helps manage and control heat from higher-density batteries during both charging and operation. This is accomplished by maintaining thermal… Read more »
