A set of three recent studies funded by the Korean government investigated a family of lithium-ion batteries composed of nickel, cobalt and aluminum. NCA batteries offer high energy density, but degrade significantly with each charge/discharge cycle. The high heat of vehicle environments can intensify the degradation, and even cause complete battery failure. Researchers at the… Read more »
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Simulation of battery pack cooling systems: measure twice, cut once
The experts at Mentor Graphics walk us through the simulation and analysis of a battery pack cooling system. In the business of battery pack design, one of the main considerations is cooling. The pack must have a uniform and stable temperature for the batteries to perform adequately during worst-case conditions. Even within a single cell,… Read more »
New software uses big data to calculate a more accurate estimate of remaining range
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed new software that promises a better way to estimate the remaining range of an EV. The system requires drivers to plug in their destination and automatically pulls in data on several variables to predict energy use. The team described their work in a paper, Big-Data Framework for… Read more »
Scientists increase manufacturing speed of electrode foils by 3x, promising lower costs
Researchers around the world are working on improving various aspects of battery performance – capacity, charging speed, usable life. Scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are focusing on the speed with which they can be manufactured, which has a direct effect on costs. The researchers have increased the manufacturing speed of electrode foils… Read more »
GM releases details of next-generation Volt powertrain
GM has released some details of the second-generation Voltec electric-drive system that will power the 2016 Volt. According to Volt Lead Engineer Andrew Farah, the primary goals for the new powertrain were to improve performance, raise overall efficiency, and cut engine noise. The new Volt has a pair of electric motors, either or both of… Read more »
New battery, using titanium dioxide anode, can be recharged in two minutes
The latest battery breakthrough comes from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), where researchers have developed a lithium-ion battery that they say can be recharged up to 70 per cent in only two minutes, and can endure more than 10,000 charging cycles. NTU Singapore’s scientists replaced the traditional graphite anode with a new gel material made… Read more »
Proterra to use Toshiba SCiB batteries in its next-generation electric bus
Proterra has selected Toshiba as the battery supplier for its next-generation electric bus. Toshiba’s SCiB batteries feature a lithium titanate oxide chemistry, making them resistant to thermal runaway and lithium metal plating. The 20 Ah prismatic cells have nominal voltage of 2.3 V, gravimetric energy density of 90 Wh/kg and volumetric density of 177 Wh/L…. Read more »
New book excerpt: The early days of Tesla
This article is an excerpt from Tesla Motors: How Elon Musk and Company Made Electric Cars Cool, and Sparked the Next Tech Revolution by Charged Senior Editor Charles Morris. This 270-page book is a comprehensive history of Tesla, told by the entrepreneurs who made it happen, as well as an assessment of the company’s lasting influence… Read more »
CD-adapco’s new set of battery simulation tools
CD-adapco has developed a set of Li-ion battery simulation tools designed to enable faster design and development of EV power systems. The new technology is available within CD-adapco’s flagship software package STAR-CCM+ and the application-specific Battery Design Studio. The new software tools were developed as part of the DOE’s Computer Aided Engineering of Electric Drive Batteries… Read more »
OXIS and Multi Source Power work together to develop marine lithium-sulfur batteries
UK-based battery maker OXIS and Multi Source Power (MSP), a manufacturer of hybrid and electric marine drivetrains, have formed a partnership to develop lithium-sulfur batteries for marine applications. The new product will be part of the Ghost Power Brand, and is scheduled for launch in the spring of 2015. It will be a versatile battery… Read more »