EV fast chargers bypass the vehicle’s on-board chargers (OBCs) for rapid direct battery charging. This allows batteries to be charged in just 30 minutes versus 4+ hours from OBCs. But the demands of these systems are significant. Design goals for fast chargers call for highly efficient power electronics and very high power density that’s possible… Read more »
The US DOE has announced up to $30 million in funding for R&D that focuses on extraction, separation, processing, validation and demonstration technologies for critical materials, including rare earth elements, which are essential to high-strength magnets used in EVs and wind turbines. The DOE is working toward reducing both the costs of critical materials and… Read more »
OEMs have made remarkable improvements to the EV powertrain over recent years to extend range, reduce costs, and improve the driving experience. Another key item that will help drive greater consumer acceptance of full-electric vehicles is faster charging times. Progress in achieving 400 A+ and less than 30-minute charging has been slow due to limitations… Read more »
OXIS Energy and the Minas Gerais Development Company have signed a 15-year lease agreement with Mercedes Benz Brazil (MBB) to take possession of a plant located at the MBB manufacturing site in Juiz de Fora in southeast Brazil, to produce lithium-sulfur battery cells. NORDIKA Pharmaceutical of Brazil will undertake the design, engineering and machinery layout…. Read more »
Sponsored by F&K Delvotec Battery packs for e-vehicles are dropping in cost faster than ever predicted – this is one reason why the e-mobility markets are still growing at an expected 25% annual rate even over the next ten years. What is behind this drop in cost? It is not just the cost of cells… Read more »
Sponsored by Demak Group Established in the early 1980s, Demak Group develops new technologies for the dispensing of resins, by producing equipment for the degassing, meter-mixing, and dosing of epoxy, polyurethane, silicone resins, and many others. In addition to formulating and producing chemicals, it can also supply customers with suitable resins for their processes and… Read more »
IRP Systems, a provider of electric powertrain products, has raised $17 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Chinese venture capital firm Fosun RZ Capital. Other investors include JAL ventures, Entrée Capital, Tal Capital, Union Tech Ventures, Cendana Capital and Champion Motors. IRP Systems was originally founded as an aerospace powertrain company,… Read more »
Los Angeles-based Nanotech Energy, a major supplier of graphene, has raised $27.5 million in a Series C funding round. The company’s US-made Nanotech Energy Graphene Super Battery is designed to be non-flammable, and Nanotech claims it will deliver better longevity and much faster charging than current batteries. “We are confident that we have a one-of-a-kind,… Read more »
ZF Friedrichshafen and VisIC Technologies have announced a partnership to create a new generation of EV drivelines. The focus of the joint effort will be on 400-volt driveline applications, covering the largest segment of the EV market. ZF specializes in wide-band-gap semiconductor technology, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Gallium nitride semiconductors are thought… Read more »
Lordstown Motors has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Elaphe Propulsion Technologies. Elaphe will develop the in-wheel motor that will be used in Lordstown’s upcoming Endurance pickup truck—the motors will be built by Lordstown employees at the company’s Ohio headquarters. Initial setup of the 20,000-square-foot production line has already begun. Lordstown will begin using the… Read more »