Rice University scientists have reported what they believe to be a partial solution to the mounting disposal problem of worn-out lithium-ion batteries. It relies on a unique “flash” Joule heating process they have developed to produce graphene from waste. The lab of Rice chemist James Tour is said to have reconfigured the process to quickly… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "second life"
Thermal runaway early detection: critical sensors and connections for safe battery management
Sponsored by TTI and Amphenol. Battery management systems (BMS)—the electronic brains that monitors and maintains lithium ion battery packs—are essential for the safe and efficient operation of the batteries powering a variety of applications, including electric vehicles. The growth of electric vehicle technology is driven by the desire for reduced emissions, quieter and less expensive… Read more »
A closer look at high-power interconnects and disconnects
In the electrical/electronic world, the terms interconnect and disconnect both refer to a means of joining two sides of a circuit together. The subtle—and entirely informal—difference is that an interconnect is directly or manually operated (inserting a plug into a jack, for example) while a disconnect is indirectly or automatically operated, for example the moving… Read more »
How to make heavy-duty electric trucks work in practice
Fleets tested Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 tractors for three years: Here’s what they learned. Large commercial trucks and other heavy equipment have run on diesel fuel for many decades now. Requirements for more aggressive emission after-treatment and the hardware to achieve that add cost and complexity for fleet operators. Rising fuel-economy standards during the… Read more »
It’s about time: the 6 phases of thermal runaway propagation
Sponsored by Aspen AerogelsThermal runaway propagation is a complex challenge. No matter the cell chemistry or pack architecture, lithium-ion batteries are at risk of experiencing a thermal runaway event. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, battery engineers do not need to reinvent the wheel when developing a solution to meet critical safety requirements. By understanding… Read more »
Advanced charging solutions for next-gen commercial EVs
Sponsored by Littelfuse Three scenarios with dedicated power electronic solutions As the electrification of heavy-duty or commercial vehicles gains more acceptance, charging larger batteries than the ones in electric passenger cars increases in importance. Because time is money, especially in logistics, the preferred options are increasing charging power or assigning idle times for charging. These… Read more »
Don’t just delay cell-to-cell thermal propagation, stop it.
Sponsored by Aspen Aerogels Battery engineers face the daunting challenge of maximizing thermal runaway protection while optimizing vehicle performance. This task becomes even more critical as cell-to-pack and cell-to-chassis designs increase in popularity because manufacturers lose the added protection that can be built into a module-based design. Although newer chemistries such as LFP and solid-state… Read more »
Power electronics thermal limits and how to not exceed them
To someone who isn’t involved in power electronics design, it might seem unreal that the amount of power a component can handle depends more on how effectively waste heat can be removed from it than it does on the specific electrical ratings. Sure, the voltage and current ratings are important (especially the voltage rating), but… Read more »
Benchmark Minerals: Battery production scrap will be the main source of recyclable material this decade
As demand for lithium-ion batteries accelerates, recycling of raw materials will be an essential part of the circular EV ecosystem. However, in the near term, the primary source of recyclable battery material will be scrap material from battery production, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s latest Recycling Report. Benchmark forecasts that scrap will account for 78%… Read more »
MAHLE and Siemens cooperate to develop wireless charging
Technology group MAHLE and electronics giant Siemens have signed a declaration of intent to collaborate on wireless charging systems for EVs. The companies will jointly develop and test infrastructure and automotive engineering systems, and one of the areas of focus will be promoting standards for inductive charging technology. MAHLE has reinforced its wireless charging expertise… Read more »