It’s hard to overestimate the importance of the Tesla Model 3 (although the media has been doing its best). There’s no question that it’s a momentous motorcar on (at least) three levels. First, Model 3’s success is widely assumed to be an existential issue for the company – if it fails to deliver on its… Read more »
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US Army partners with Brown University to study SEI on silicon anodes
The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and Brown University researchers have teamed up to study the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer that forms on the anodes of lithium-ion batteries, with particular emphasis on experimental silicon anodes. The Army is working to replace its alkaline and nickel-metal hydride field batteries with Li-ion batteries. “The Army is… Read more »
ECO COMBAT project aims to develop better and more sustainable batteries
Ten European industry and research organizations are partnering in the EU-funded project ECO COMBAT (Ecological Composites for High-Efficient Li-Ion Batteries), which aims to develop next-generation Li-ion batteries. Better performance is not the only goal for the new battery. The project also aims to develop a battery that’s more sustainable, by reducing the need for expensive… Read more »
Wolfspeed launches a new silicon carbide MOSFET for EV inverters
Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technologies have attracted a lot of attention and research funding in the past decade. Both public and private institutions around the world have been obsessed with accelerating the evolution of WBG tech into commercial power electronics applications. What’s all the fuss about? WBG materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium… Read more »
POSCO begins lithium production in Korea
Korea-based steel-maker POSCO has begun commercial production of lithium in South Korea for the first time. In February, POSCO completed a lithium extraction plant with an annual capacity of 2,500 tons. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jong-joo Kim, the Director of the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, noted that Korea, a major battery… Read more »
Tesla Model 3 could take the title of most American-made car
The world car has been a reality for many years now. Automakers source parts and expertise from around the world, and they build vehicles in different regions to be closer to markets or to take advantage of cheaper labor. Buying American is a worthy cause, but it isn’t as simple as buying an American brand…. Read more »
Converting bulk alloys to oxide nanowires could produce cheaper battery membranes
Image: Alloy in solvent A simple technique for producing oxide nanowires directly from bulk materials could dramatically lower the cost of producing the one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. That could enable the production of thermally stable, strong battery membranes able to withstand temperatures of more than 1,000° C. In “Transformation of bulk alloys to oxide nanowires,” recently published… Read more »
BMW’s plug-in models surpassing sales expectations, especially in Europe
BMW is having a banner year. Sales for July, and for the first half of 2016, set new records. While that isn’t surprising – automakers around the world are logging record sales – the interesting bit is that sales of BMW’s electrified models are exceeding expectations, especially in Europe. In Western Europe in July, 4%… Read more »
Rimac Automobili invents the Croatian auto industry
Detroit is gradually losing its position as the epicenter of the auto industry. Nowadays, news of cutting-edge developments is more likely to come from Silicon Valley, Europe or China. The Eastern European nation of Croatia is pretty far from the centers of automotive power, but it’s here that a highly innovative firm called Rimac Automobili… Read more »
Li-ion batteries a bright spot in China’s economy
China’s overall economy is in the doldrums these days, but the lithium-ion battery industry is booming, according to market intelligence firm CCM. Nearly 80% of the world’s new investment in Li-ion batteries was in China in 2014. China’s electrochemical energy storage market recorded a compound annual growth rate of 110% from 2010 to 2015, about… Read more »