Engineers who design power electronics supplied by the mains have had to contend with meeting various electrical noise and safety standards for decades now, but their counterparts in the automotive industry were mostly free to do as they pleased. This was mainly because 12 V isn’t considered a shock hazard and cars are effectively rolling… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "conversion"
VW hires EV West to retrofit e-Golf powertrain to Type 2 Bus
VW of America recently commissioned California-based EV conversion specialist EV West to construct an electrified VW Type 2 Bus to showcase the company’s e-Golf powertrain. The stock powertrain and 35.8 kWh battery system from the donor 2017 e-Golf gives the e-Bus an approximate range of 125 miles. The powertrain will reside in the rear compartment… Read more »
Littelfuse launches new high-speed semiconductor fuses
Circuit protection manufacturer Littelfuse has added 275 new fuses to its line of POWR-SPEED PSR high-speed fuses. The new fuses come in various sizes and amperages, and feature bolted and DIN rail mounting options. Littelfuse designed its PSR series fuses for use in power conversion and conditioning equipment for critical semiconductor devices such as diodes,… Read more »
Read past issues of Charged – Electric Vehicles Magazine
< Newer Issues Issue 28 – November/December 20169 Featuring: Seaworthy EVs: Leclanché designs and manufactures Li-ion cells and systems Chroma Systems Solutions invests in the next generation of EV testing products 2017 Prius Prime: Toyota launches an all new PHEV that some call “the best Prius ever” Turnkey drivetrains: UQM, Eaton and Pi Innovo collaborate… Read more »
The evolution of cell interconnect technologies for battery pack manufacturing
Sponsored by Hesse GmbH By Sebastian Holtkämper, Product Manager, Hesse GmbH Looking back a decade ago on a tough worldwide EV market, hundreds of thousands of hybrid electrical vehicles (HEV), but only a few thousand battery vehicles (BEV) were yearly sold. Compared to the total car market, electric driving was a true niche experience at… Read more »
Pre-Switch promises to add 5-12% more EV range by eliminating switching losses
How would you like it if your EV could go ten percent farther with the same size battery? You’d love it, of course, and so would every EV manufacturer out there. Range is one of the most important parameters in the EV industry, as many potential EV drivers are apprehensive about lower range ratings. Manufacturers… Read more »
Zwickau VW plant to produce six electric models
The Volkswagen Group’s plant in Zwickau, Germany is undergoing a massive modernization process. When it’s done, the facility will be one of the biggest all-electric car factories in the world. The German automaker is investing some €1.2 billion to shift the plant’s production from three legacy models to six pure EVs from VW, Seat and… Read more »
DOE announces $89 million in grants for energy storage manufacturing technologies
The DOE has announced it will award $89 million to support innovative, advanced manufacturing R&D projects. This DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) specifically requests proposals in three areas: 1.Innovations for Manufacturing Advanced Materials: Focuses on employing machine learning to develop better batteries, phase change storage materials for heating and cooling applications, and new semiconductors that… Read more »
HELLA develops two new battery systems for mild hybrids
Lighting technology and electronics company HELLA has developed two new battery systems for mild hybrids. The two systems, the Dual Voltage Battery Management System and PowerPack 48 Volt, allow for savings of five to six grams of CO2 per kilometer, according to the company. Designed for compact and mid-range vehicles, the Dual Voltage Battery Management System… Read more »
SiC vs GaN semiconductors for EV power converters: Tech Opinion
Just as engineers are starting to get used to the advantages (and quirks) of silicon carbide (SiC ) devices, another semiconductor material joins the fray: gallium nitride, or GaN. Though there are some superficial similarities between these two materials, and even some overlap in their areas of best use, it is my opinion that only… Read more »

