As far as we know, all EVs in production by major automakers use a conventional lead-acid battery for the 12 V system (surprising, but true – more on why in a bit) and this battery needs charging, just as it does in an ICE vehicle. While you could hang an alternator off the traction motor… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Extreme E"
US administration proposes to weaken vehicle air pollution standards
As expected, the US administration released a proposal that would freeze rules requiring automakers to build cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars, and that would also challenge the right of states to set their own, more stringent pollution standards. The new proposal, jointly published by the EPA and the Transportation Department, would revoke the existing federal standard,… Read more »
Tritium signs deal with IONITY for 100 high-power charging sites across Europe
IONITY, a joint venture of several automakers that’s building a fast charging network in Europe, has chosen Brisbane-based Tritium as its technology partner for the construction of 100 high-power charging sites in Germany, France, UK, Norway and Sweden. Each station will have up to six chargers, each capable of delivering 350 kW of power. Tritium’s… Read more »
ITT Cannon supplies liquid-cooled 350 kW charging tech to Efacec
ITT’s Cannon brand has signed an extended contract with Portugal-based charger manufacturer Efacec Electric Mobility. The two companies have a long-standing partnership, and now Efacec plans to use Cannon’s High-Power Charging (HPC) solution, comprised of a connector, cable and cooling unit, to power highway charging stations in the US and Europe. Cannon’s liquid-cooled DC charging… Read more »
Fired Tesla employee: saboteur or whistleblower?
Tesla has fired and sued a former employee whom it accuses of hacking its computer systems and disclosing company secrets to an unidentified third party. According to Tesla, Martin Tripp, a former technician at the Nevada Gigafactory, stole confidential photos of manufacturing systems and gave journalists false information about the company. Tesla has hired lawyer… Read more »
Porsche takes a 10% stake in Croatian EV startup Rimac
Porsche has invested in the Croatian EV startup Rimac Automobili, taking a minority stake of ten percent. As part of its electrification efforts, Porsche is seeking a development partnership with the young company. Rimac was literally born in a garage in 2009, and showed its Concept_One electric supercar at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011…. Read more »
Tesla Autopilot adds “full self-driving features,” Roadster gets rockets
Tesla seems to be back into the pattern its investors love to see: Elon tweets out a slow drip of good news items, and the stock ratchets higher (as the media makes an about-face and the short sellers gnash their teeth). The latest tidbit is that the eagerly awaited Autopilot version 9 software upgrade, scheduled… Read more »
A closer look at film capacitors
Plastic film capacitors relentlessly continue to take over many of the duties in EV power electronics that were once performed by the venerable aluminum electrolytic type, mainly because film capacitors exhibit much lower losses and have a much longer operational lifespan, especially at ambient temperatures in the 75-85° C range. The tradeoff is that film… Read more »
Steady growth of Nordic plug-in sales falters
Plug-in vehicle sales in the Nordic countries have been soaring for over two years, setting one sales record after another. However, that trend stalled in the first quarter of this year, Insero reports. In the first three months of 2018, 24,893 plug-in vehicles were sold in Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, compared to 27,640 sold… Read more »
Automotive power testing: How to solve new EV/HEV challenges
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 »