Category: E-Mobility Engineering

Researchers in Japan have used a quantum sensor with a wide dynamic range and high sensitivity to measure the current in a battery pack more accurately than traditional techniques (writes Nick Flaherty). The team, from Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, took a quantum sensor built from artificial diamond […] More…

Lithium-ion battery maker Microvast Holdings and EV platform supplier REE Automotive have signed a supply and purchase agreement. Under its terms, Microvast will provide its MV-C Gen 4 HpCO lithium-ion battery packs for REE’s EV platforms. The packs can be fully charged in 30 minutes. Their pouch cells in the MV-C Gen 4 provide 53.5 […] More…

ABT e-Line has announced that every existing IC-engined Volkswagen Transporter 6.1 model can now be converted to battery-electric drive. The base vehicle only has to be a diesel with a direct shift gearbox. The ABT e-Transporter 6.1 has a WLTP range of 105-138 km, depending on the body and weight, which might vary slightly during […] More…

Keysight Technologies has updated its regenerative DC emulator to support higher power up to 270 kW for powertrain testing (writes Nick Flaherty). The Scienlab SL1800A Series regenerative DC emulator enables engineers to emulate the large batteries in EVs. The bidirectional power flow allows emulation of power sourcing applications such as traction inverter tests, as well as […] More…

Hypercars to HGVs Viritech’s CTO tells Rory Jackson how fuel cell developments for its Apricale hypercar will feed into its upcoming heavy goods vehicles Anyone who works in electrified and low-carbon automotive engineering should remember that developing solutions to the zero-emissions challenge is not a zero-sum game. Just as solar, wind, tidal and nuclear power […] More…

UK composite construction specialist Far-UK is developing a primarily carbon fibre skateboard chassis concept that can be applied to light vehicles with different configurations of wheelbase, track and either three or four wheels (writes Peter Donaldson). The platform is designed to help reduce barriers to entry for new vehicles by optimising the cost and time […] More…

Energy storage solutions provider Leclanché says it has achieved a breakthrough in the environmentally friendly production of G/NMCA cells, by reducing the cobalt content in NMCA cathode material from 20% to 5% and manufacturing the electrodes using a water-based process. In doing so, Leclanché says it completely dispenses with the use of the highly toxic […] More…

Elaphe and McLaren Applied are collaborating to provide an in-wheel propulsion system, coupling McLaren Applied’s inverter technology with Elaphe’s direct-drive in-wheel motors and vehicle controls. The combination is said to give a torque response five times faster than existing systems. Elaphe has demonstrated an energy efficiency of more than 97% on vehicles such as the […] More…

Proventia has launched a modular rugged battery pack for off-road construction equipment (writes Nick Flaherty). The ePRO500+ platform uses lithium titanate oxide (LTO) cells from Toshiba with different versions for high power at 20 Ah or high energy delivery at 26 Ah, both with a nominal voltage from 48 to 800 V. The high-power, 552 […] More…

Supply and demand Peter Donaldson provides some highlights of this key event, focusing on new products and technologies that offer solutions to pressing challenges Held in Novi, Michigan, in mid-September, the Battery Show North America focused attention on numerous new products, from test equipment for battery development and manufacture to batteries, safety devices, power electronics […] More…

Webasto has launched a compact and scalable thermal management solution called the eBTM, which it says increases the performance and service life of traction batteries in electric vehicles and machines. It allows continuous monitoring of the operating temperature to ensure that the heating and cooling circuits are balanced in order to maintain the battery temperature […] More…

A team of scientists from the US, Canada and Germany (led by researchers at Texas A&M University, TAMU) have combined novel imaging techniques and large data sets to try to gain a better understanding of why lithium-ion energy storage systems fail, and hence how they can be improved (writes Rory Jackson). A key focal point […] More…

Bus power conversion company Kleanbus has developed its first modular electric platform. Its ‘e-drivetrain in a box’ can convert a single- or double-decker bus from IC engine power to fully electric. Installed in an Optare Solo, the company is now entering pilot trials with bus fleet operators. In general, the conversion consists of a full […] More…

EV manufacturer Tevva has become the first British company to receive European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) for its 7.5 t battery-electric truck. It allows the company to start producing and selling the truck in volume across the UK and Europe. The first trucks have started to be delivered to customers including Expect Distribution, […] More…

Synchronising motors and controllers is a key aspect of EV powertrain development, and Friwo’s electrification kits come with an algorithm that automates that potentially tricky process while enabling vehicle developers to program in their own modes to tailor motor output for economy or performance, for example (writes Peter Donaldson). Motors and controllers need synchronising to […] More…

The inside story  Nick Flaherty explains the various non-invasive methods of analysing the workings  of battery cells and their materials Testing battery cells, modules and packs presents a series of challenges. First of these is that taking measurements of the current and voltage changes the state of charge (SoC) of the cell and has an […] More…