Designers of electrified vehicles need to ensure that power electronics modules deliver high levels of reliability. To do this they need instruments that can detect potential degradation of IGBTs caused by a range of standard drive cycles, and identify the causes of damage. Mentor Graphics (NASDAQ: MENT) has announced a new tool for design engineers…. Read more »
Along with electrification, autonomy and connectivity are part of a triple trend that is revolutionizing the transport sector. At least one automaker understands how closely the latter two are connected – data delivered wirelessly from Tesla vehicles helps the company to improve its Autopilot technology, as Elon Musk recently explained. “The ability to pull high-resolution… Read more »
China’s overall economy is in the doldrums these days, but the lithium-ion battery industry is booming, according to market intelligence firm CCM. Nearly 80% of the world’s new investment in Li-ion batteries was in China in 2014. China’s electrochemical energy storage market recorded a compound annual growth rate of 110% from 2010 to 2015, about… Read more »
Elon Musk and JB Straubel held forth for over three hours at Tesla’s 2016 annual shareholder meeting. They recapped the history of the company, and discussed its ambitious plans for the future, before taking questions from the audience. Mr. Musk answered what is probably the most pressing question among the legions of future Model 3… Read more »
Volkswagen is considering construction of a multi-billion-euro battery factory, the German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported, citing unnamed company sources. If VW follows through, it could reduce its dependence on the Japanese and Korean firms that dominate the battery market – and also send a strong signal that it’s serious about its much-hyped electrification plans. According… Read more »
California electronics manufacturer GIGAVAC has announced the latest addition to its line of high-power switching devices. The HX460 is a hermetically sealed HVDC contactor designed to deliver massive power switching capabilities in a compact package – approximately 6×6 inches. The HX460 power connection busbars allow continuous application circuit currents of 600 amps and beyond. The… Read more »
Tesla will need a big pot of new capital to get the Model 3 production line up and running. The company opted to raise a few bucks in a new equity offering, which turned out to be a big success. The underwriters, led by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, exercised their options to buy as… Read more »
Battery manufacturer Amprius has demonstrated a new system for inline, continuous, and roll-to-roll production of three-dimensional silicon nanowire anodes that it says will enable it to scale up manufacturing more quickly. Silicon is widely considered to be the next big thing in anode technology – battery-builders and automakers (including Tesla) are working on ways to… Read more »
London’s famous red buses are slowly but steadily going electric, and its iconic black cabs could eventually follow suit. Zhejiang Geely, owner of the London Taxi Company, which builds the boxy black beauties, has raised $400 million to finance the development of the TX5, a plug-in hybrid version of the classic 1958 FX4, according to… Read more »
Vehicle autonomy is developing on a parallel course with electrification. Tesla is at the forefront of this trend with its Autopilot features, keeping it a nose ahead of any potential competition from other automakers. Every day, more Autopilot-driven miles are added to the body of data that the company is amassing. Tesla said in April… Read more »
