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 »
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Specialized motor materials and constructions (Part 1)
When demand drives innovation, the state of the art can progress quite rapidly, but if the demand is not there yet, the end result is often the proverbial “solution in search of a problem.” One of the most prominent examples of this is the lithium-ion battery, which was developed in the 1970s, but didn’t really… Read more »
New research: Using ionic liquids to recycle neodymium magnets
Researchers have demonstrated the use of ionic liquids for recycling bonded neodymium (NdFeB) permanent magnets—-the type often used in EV motors. Their work, which could ease the strain on rare earth materials, is published in the open-access journal Green Chemistry. “Ionic liquids (ILs) are known to be excellent green solvents for many types of synthetic… Read more »
DOE offers up to $40 million for battery and electrification research
The Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $133 million for advanced vehicle technologies research, including $40 million for research into batteries and electrification. Those research topics include: Developing Li-ion batteries using silicon-based anodes Low-cost electric traction drive systems using no heavy rare earth materials Utility managed smart charging supporting projects that will demonstrate… Read more »
BMW revamps battery materials supply chain, signs supply contract for raw lithium
BMW Group has signed a €540-million contract with China’s Ganfeng Lithium for the supply of raw lithium from mines in Australia. The carmaker has restructured its supply chains for its upcoming fifth generation of battery cells. From 2020 on, it will directly source both lithium and cobalt. The raw materials will then pass on to… Read more »
Magna wins DOE grant to develop cheaper EV motor with 8x more power density
The US DOE has awarded a grant to Canadian parts supplier Magna to develop e-motor technologies for next-generation propulsion systems that are both cheaper and more powerful than today’s technology. The supplier has partnered with the Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin-Madison for the initiative. The organizations aim to develop an e-motor that… Read more »
BMW i4 to arrive in 2021 with a 373-mile range
BMW’s i3 was ahead of its time, but it has had few upgrades since its 2013 unveiling, and the company has fallen behind in the electrification race. Now the Bavarian automaker is making a bid to get back on the lead lap, launching three new EV models over the next couple of years. The iX3,… Read more »
Read past issues of Charged – Electric Vehicles Magazine
< Newer Issues Issue 34 – November/December 2017 Featuring: The Goldilocks zone: Calienté explains that battery pack heating is just as important as cooling EV Safe Charge installation service connects the dots for EV buyers A redesigned Nissan LEAF arrives in 2018, joining the new generation of plug-ins A closer look at power factor correction… Read more »
Protean’s corner module concept includes motor, suspension and 360-degree steering
In-wheel motor pioneer Protean Electric has introduced a new ‘corner module’ concept that integrates a vehicle’s powertrain, steering and suspension within a single product. The new Protean360+ module offers a limitless 360-degree steering capability combined with suspension, pneumatic ride-height control, and a ProteanDrive in-wheel electric motor. The 360-degree steering capability is made possible by a… Read more »
Jaguar and BMW collaborate on next-gen electrification tech
Jaguar Land Rover and BMW will partner to develop next generation electric motors. The partnership will include joint investment in R&D, engineering, and procurement. Engineers from both companies will work to develop the fifth generation of BMW’s eDrive technology, which contains the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics in a single housing, and does not… Read more »