Volta, which operates a network of free EV chargers funded via sponsored content, has given its charging stations a new look. The new design includes lighting that communicates charging status and, like previous Volta chargers, the station incorporates 55-inch displays to present advertisements. Volta expects to begin installing the new chargers by the end of… Read more »
As regular Charged readers know, dozens of cities in North America and Europe (and a couple in South America) are gradually adding electric buses to their fleets. But Western transit agencies are doing small-scale pilots. New York City’s MTA has 10 fully electric buses in service, and another 15 on order, out of a total… Read more »
Electronic parts maker ROHM has announced four new automotive-grade 1,200 V-rated insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) for inverters used in electronics compressors and for switching circuits used in positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters. The IGBTs feature a short-circuit resistance of 10 μsec (Tj=25° C). ROHM says the devices’ unique structure reduces VCE(sat) to 1.70 V, which… Read more »
Data collected by Nissan indicates that a LEAF battery should last as long as 22 years, according to Francisco Carranza, Managing Director of Renault-Nissan Energy Services. Nissan monitors various parameters, including charging patterns and battery degradation, on the over 400,000 LEAFs it has sold in Europe since 2011. Carranza did not discuss the issue of… Read more »
EV charging equipment manufacturer Tritium has introduced its Veefil-PK 350 kW DC charger to Australia. Two Veefil-PK chargers are installed at the Toombul Shopping Center in Brisbane, operated by charging network provider Chargefox. The Veefil-PK can charge two EVs simultaneously and is equipped with CCS2 plug types. According to Tritium, the charger can add up… Read more »
Scientists at the DOE’s Argonne National Lab have developed a new cathode coating by using an oxidative chemical vapor deposition technique that can help keep the cathode electrically and ionically conductive, ensure safety after many cycles, and help with other challenges as well. The findings are reported in the May online edition of Nature Energy…. Read more »
Magnet wire manufacturer Essex, supplier of motor wiring for EVs like the Nissan LEAF, has introduced a high-temperature insulation for the windings of traction motors used in hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs. Essex’s EnduroTemp 260+ is a thin-film insulation with a 265° C thermal endurance. It’s designed to extend the life of traction motors by, in… Read more »
EV charger manufacturer Tritium will supply IONITY, a joint venture of several automakers that’s building a fast charging network in Europe, with Veefil-PK 350 kW DC high-power chargers (HPC) for 120 sites in 23 European countries. Four to 6 chargers will be installed per site. The deal follows a similar agreement for 100 charging sites… Read more »
Portuguese energy company Efacec has launched a new fast charger called QC45 Generation 2, improving on the company’s first-generation QC45. Features of the QC45 Generation 2 include: • Compatibility with all brands of EVs • Zero to 80 percent charge in under 30 minutes • Plug and play installation • 50 kW DC power •… Read more »
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute have integrated current and temperature sensors, 600 V-class power transistors, freewheeling diodes, and gate drivers onto a gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor chip. The new circuit measures 4 x 3 mm and enables high switching frequencies and a high power density, while providing fast and accurate condition monitoring, according to the… Read more »
