Mercedes has begun production of the EQC, a pure electric SUV that represents the German automaker’s first native EV (built to be electric, not adapted from a legacy vehicle). The company has begun taking orders, and deliveries are expected to start next month. Mercedes says the EQC SUV is already sold out for the year…. Read more »
Nanostructure specialist Xtalic has created new nanostructured metal alloys and coatings for EV applications, including: • Extending the life of charging connectors • Producing stable components for high-temperature environments • Lightweighting • Improving corrosion resistance Equipped with Xtalic’s nanostructured allows, XTRONIC and LUNA, charging connectors achieve more than 10,000 charge cycles in real-world conditions, according… Read more »
Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD has launched a new generation of its 8Y-battery electric yard trucks. The company’s first delivery will include 14 second-generation electric yard trucks to two facilities operated by BNSF Railway in Southern California, where a demonstration project began with six of BYD’s first-generation electric yard trucks in 2018. The demonstration project is… Read more »
Charging network operator EVgo has contracted with its energy suppliers to provide 100 percent renewable energy. The company is purchasing Green-e certified wind and solar energy across the US. Last year, EVgo powered more than 75 million electric miles, according to the company, boasting 88 percent growth from 2017. Light-duty EV fleets and ride-share drivers… Read more »
DuPont has introduced a new adhesive, BETASEAL TC, for EV and hybrid battery assemblies. The material is designed to ensure retention of thermal conductivity between battery cells and cooling plates by creating a strong, long-lasting contact with no gaps. DuPont says that BETASEAL TC, part of its AHEAD (Accelerating Hybrid-Electric Autonomous Driving) initiative, has a… Read more »
Tesla has a plethora of projects in the pipeline – the Tesla Semi, Model Y, the Tesla Pickup – and making these real will require vast sums of cash – as much as $2.5 billion in capital expenditures this year, according to Bloomberg. So it wasn’t much of a surprise when the company announced last… Read more »
SST Vacuum Reflow Systems, a subsidiary of photonics and microelectronic company Palomar Technologies, has launched the SST 8300 Series Automated Vacuum Pressure Soldering System for IGBT power modules in high-reliability automotive and commercial applications. Offered in either single- or triple-chamber systems, the series enables above average void rates, heating up to 500° C, and fast… Read more »
Buick unveiled the brand’s first electric model, the Velite 6, at the recent Shanghai auto show. According to Buick, Velite 6 isn’t quite a hatchback or a crossover or a wagon, but something in between: a “multiactivity vehicle” (MAV). The all-electric Velite 6 is built on a new platform that GM designed together with its… Read more »
SAE International has published a second version of Recommended Practice (RP) SAE J2954, its standard for wireless power transfer (WPT) for EVs of up to 11 kW power levels. The RP establishes specifications for interoperability, electromagnetic compatibility, EMF, minimum performance, safety, and testing for wireless charging of light-duty electric and plug-in EVs. SAE is seeking… Read more »
Voltaiq, a battery software platform company, and A&D Technology, a test automation and lab management company, are partnering to combine Voltaiq’s experience with battery data analytics and A&D’s experience in battery technology and EV powertrains. The partnership’s target customers are battery manufacturers and transportation companies. “As A&D expands our focus on electrification to meet growing… Read more »
