A consortium led by the Bosch Group aims to establish standards for the diagnosis and repair of high-voltage systems in EVs. The DINA group, which also includes several German automotive firms and research institutes, has developed a standardized diagnostic system designed to enable service techs to clearly identify defects in an electrical powertrain, from the… Read more »
Demand for advanced batteries, which are used not only in electrified vehicles, but also in consumer electronics and grid-management applications, continues to grow at a healthy pace. According to a new report from Navigant Research, the industry shipped 53.3 GWh of batteries in 2014 – that represents more than $14 billion in sales, a 7.1-percent… Read more »
This new book (written in March 2015) offers an overview of the world’s best-selling EV. It’s a slim volume (90 pages) that’s aimed at prospective purchasers, not at engineering types. There’s little in the way of technical detail, but if you’re considering buying a LEAF, you’ll find the answers to most of your questions here…. Read more »
Times are tough at the Volkswagen Group these days, and some rank-and-file workers are surely wondering about their job security, even in labor-friendly Germany. This may explain why workers at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen plant have agreed to concessions worth several hundred million euros in order to secure production of the company’s battery-electric Mission E. Earlier this… Read more »
Uncle Santa left a few small presents under the tree for EV advocates this year, in the form of provisions included in a federal transportation bill that was approved earlier this month. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST), signed into law by President Obama, authorizes a vast array of highway and public transportation projects,… Read more »
Sony, the company that introduced the world’s first commercial lithium-ion battery in 1991, is already well along the road to a Li-ion replacement, according to Nikkei Technology. The company is reportedly developing high-capacity lithium-sulfur and magnesium-sulfur batteries, aiming for a 40% increase in volumetric capacity to 1,000 Wh/l, and plans to commercialize the new chemistries… Read more »
Aachen, Germany-based FEV has announced that its transmission and battery technology is being used in a PHEV that is now in series production. The unspecified vehicle has a 10 kWh battery pack and an electric range of about 30 miles. FEV was involved in developing the battery hardware and software from the development of the… Read more »
Battery manufacturer XALT Energy (formerly Dow Kokam) has agreed to supply its NMC graphite Li-ion battery packs to Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), for use in the company’s PHEV PowerDrive and electric power export solutions. Shipment of the initial order should be completed in the first quarter of 2016. EDI will use XALT’s first-generation battery system… Read more »
Silicon-based semiconductors are approaching their performance limits, so researchers are investigating materials such as gallium nitride (GaN) as potential replacements. A team of engineers from Cornell, Notre Dame and the semiconductor company IQE has created GaN power diodes capable of serving as the building blocks for future GaN power switches. Alas, GaN is prone to… Read more »
In January, the DOE is expected to make around $56 million in new funding available for transportation-related R&D projects. The Vehicle Technologies Program Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement describes how organizations can apply for grants to support the development of such vehicle technologies as advanced batteries, power electronics and electric motors. Areas of Interest include: EV… Read more »
