Furrer+Frey and Opbrid have developed the Opbrid Bůsbaar, an overhead high-power charging system for heavy-duty vehicles, which is now being used to charge the Volvo Electric Hybrid bus in a couple of pilot projects in Sweden. Their new product, the Opbrid Trůkbaar V3, brings automatic fast charging to electric trucks. City buses are natural candidates… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "US Hybrid"
Midtronics’ new DSS-7000 Battery Diagnostic Service System
Midtronics has released detailed information about its newest battery diagnostic platform. The DSS-7000 Battery Service Diagnostic System features full battery service management with VIN-driven testing and integration with the Midtronics Battery Management Information System (BMIS). Features include: Complete Battery Management – Enterprise-wide battery management reporting and analysis is enabled with database-driven testing, VIN-based vehicle service… Read more »
Membrane technology and the importance of venting EV electronics
Protecting a car’s sensitive electronics throughout its lifetime is a must, whether it’s a conventional ICE vehicle or an EV. However, the larger electronics in plug-in vehicles have more power, more heat and higher pressure differentials that present new technological challenges to OEMs and suppliers. Any power semiconductor inevitably generates heat while conducting current, due… Read more »
Should PHEVs offer a choice of battery pack sizes?
Would plug-in hybrid buyers be interested in having a choice of battery pack sizes? The authors of a new study seem to think so, recommending that manufacturers should develop a modular design for PHEVs and EREVs, allowing them to offer a choice of storage capacity to meet individual customer requirements. The study, written by a… 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 »
New microcontrollers integrate hardware peripherals for reduced costs, high performance
Renesas Electronics has announced the new RH850/C1x series of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), designed for motor control in hybrid and electric vehicles. The new RH850/C1x devices can be used with the RAA270000KFT RH850 family power supply management IC (PMIC), which integrates into one device all the power supply systems required for MCU operation, two external sensor… Read more »
Audi’s 48-volt electrical system increases efficiency and reduces emissions
Yet another sign of how electrification technology is steadily creeping into legacy ICE vehicles: Audi plans to upgrade part of its vehicle electrical system from 12 to 48 volts. Current technology has taken 12‑volt electrical systems to their limits. Especially at low temperatures, the various static‑load consumers can account for the entire power generated by… Read more »
New report examines Chinese battery management system market
The Battery Management System (BMS) is a key component of any plug-in or hybrid vehicle, and China is rapidly developing as a major market for “new energy” vehicles. Many in the auto industry are sure to find the topic of this new report from China Market Research Reports timely. Global and China Power Battery Management… Read more »
Increase the power output of your Volvo V60 PHEV with this new optimization package
Polestar, Volvo’s racing and tuning partner, has announced a new upgrade package for the V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid (which, sadly, isn’t available in the US). The Polestar Performance package adds an extra 15 hp and 22 lb-ft of torque, bringing total output up to 298 hp and 494 lb-ft. The enhanced V60 is the most… Read more »
Special EV license plate created with safety in mind
Rhode Island has created a special license plate for plug-in vehicles – not just so charged drivers can show how cool they are, but in order to save lives. The point is to give emergency crew members a warning when they encounter an EV, so that they don’t electrocute themselves while using the jaws of… Read more »

