Researchers at Oregon State University have shown that a chemical mechanism known as proton-hopping may provide a new method of energy storage for EVs and other high-power applications. “Coming up with Faradaic electrodes that afford batteries energy density and capacitors power with excellent cycle life has been a big challenge. So far, most of the… Read more »
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a new method for cooling electric motors, which could help reduce the weight of EVs. With the new cooling method, motors can be housed in lighter-weight polymer materials, and they also benefit from increased efficiency and power density. The… Read more »
A research team from South Korean research university KAIST has developed stable, high-rate lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) by using hierarchically porous titanium nitride (h-TiN) as a sulfur host. In a paper in the journal Advanced Materials, the researchers report that h-TiN/S shows a reversible capacity of 557 mAh g-1 even after 1,000 cycles at 5 C rate with only… Read more »
Volkswagen is investing $10 million in Colorado-based startup Forge Nano, which is researching a material coating technology that could improve the performance of battery materials. Volkswagen will provide support for industrial trials of this technology. Forge Nano is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, and is researching processes for scaling atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create new… Read more »
The DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory has invented a new magnet technology, called HyMag, which could lead to greater efficiency and lighter weight in EV and hybrid motors. HyMag increases a permanent magnet’s usable magnetic flux density, a property of permanent magnets that can be harnessed for power generation. “The higher the flux density you use… Read more »
French aerospace technology company Safran has acquired an equity interest in OXIS Energy, a manufacturer of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell technology for battery systems. Safran is participating in a £7-million round of fresh funding alongside Aerotec and new investors, including French materials company Arkema. The investments made by these companies, which include Samsung in a previous… Read more »
Tesla’s battery research group in Halifax, which is led by battery superstar Jeff Dahn, has applied for a patent on a new battery cell chemistry that promises to deliver faster charging, longer life and lower cost. In the application, entitled “Novel battery systems based on two-additive electrolyte systems,” Dahn and his team explain that adding… Read more »
Automotive supplier Dana has announced the acquisition of SME Group, an Italy-based manufacturer of motors, inverters and controls for off-highway electrified vehicle applications. SME’s low-voltage motors and inverters target the electrification of off-highway equipment for applications including agriculture, automated guided vehicles, construction, and material handling. The acquisition will expand Dana’s portfolio of electrified products. “Dana’s… Read more »
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has acquired a majority share of XALT Energy, a manufacturer of battery solutions for heavy-duty EVs. XALT produces high-energy storage solutions for industries including automotive, rail, marine, industrial operations, and commercial transportation. The majority stakeholder acquisition comes with a multi-million dollar investment that will allow XALT to increase production at its Michigan… Read more »
Honda and EV battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) have signed a cooperation agreement to develop EVs. CATL will provide Honda with 56 GWh worth of EV batteries by 2027. CATL will also set up a local office in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya, the location of Honda’s Automobile R&D Center. The cooperation agreement will… Read more »