Aluminum rolling and recycling specialist Novelis plans to create a continuous annealing solution heat (CASH) treatment line in order to add 100 kilotons to its aluminum production capacity. This expansion of an existing facility is expected to begin in 2018 and be fully operational by 2020. The $180-million endeavor will include a fully automated packaging… Read more »
TDK has improved its DC link EPSCOS film capacitors, which can now handle a variety of worst-case-scenario environmental conditions. Besides being a mouthful, the B3277*H series can operate at temperatures as high as 105° C with voltage ranges of 450 VDC-1,100 VDC and capacitance values of 1.5 µF-120 µF. These capacitors are designed for use with DC… Read more »
As transit agencies around the world gradually make the transition to electrified vehicles, some companies are finding ingenious ways to try to improve fossil fuel systems in legacy vehicles. Power conversion specialist Vanner has unveiled a new single-belt electrical system which is designed to decouple electrically-powered vehicle accessories from a diesel or CNG engine. The… Read more »
China-based Tianqi Lithium has purchased a substantial number of shares in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), which claims to be the world’s largest lithium producer, in a deal worth approximately $4.07 billion. Chinese companies have been on a lithium buying spree recently, as prices of the “white gold” steadily climb. Tianqi and SQM… Read more »
Semiconductor specialist Infineon Technologies has announced plans to build a fully automated new facility in Villach, Austria. The new plant will complement Infineon’s existing facility in Villach, and will focus on producing the company’s 300 mm power semiconductors. Infineon will invest $1.6 billion in the plant over the next six years. “Global demand for power… Read more »
Hydro-Québec and Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) have reached a research and licensing agreement that they hope will make Québec a contender in the booming battery business. The government-owned utility Hydro-Québec will assist NMG in developing small-scale mining operations to produce graphite which will be used as anode material for Li-on batteries. NMG’s graphite operation began… Read more »
Aluminum rolling and recycling specialist Novelis has broken ground on a new $300-million automotive aluminum sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. The plant, with an annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons, will begin producing aluminum in 2020. The facility will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines, which prepare aluminum for use in vehicle parts… Read more »
As China evolves into a world leader in battery and EV production, the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced plans to develop a system to track the fabrication, sale and recycling of EV batteries. The new “traceability management platform” will cover the entire lifecycle of batteries from production to recycling, clarifying who… Read more »
Ultracapacitor specialist Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL) has formed a technology partnership with Zhejiang Geely, the Chinese parent company of Volvo and Geely Auto to integrate ultracaps and power conversion electronics into Geely’s global vehicle lineup. Geely will include Maxwell’s ultracapacitor-based peak power subsystem in five mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles for the North American… Read more »
Sponsored by Keysight Technologies Today’s vehicles are designed with more electronic systems including powertrain control, power steering, brake systems, power door/window controls and various sensor functions. Complete solutions providing simulation and test are essential to ensure reliable performance of automotive electronics exposed to extreme voltage/currents, a wide range of temperatures and numerous hazardous conditions. New challenges… Read more »