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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
ARPA-E Awards Consortium $4.4M to Develop Next-Generation Magnets; Applications in Motors in Hybrids, EVs, Wind Turbines
November 02, 2009
| Schematic representation of the bottom-up assembly concept to develop high-energy nanocomposite materials for next-generation magnets. Source: Univ. of Delaware. Click to enlarge. |
A consortium led by the University of Delaware won a $4.4 million grant from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) (earlier post) to develop high-performance, next-generation permanent magnet materials, with a 2x target increase over the state-of-the art magnetic energy density.
High-energy permanent magnets are critical components in the new energy economy due to their widespread use in advanced motors for hybrids and electric vehicles and in advanced wind turbine generators, and the currently dominant Nd-Fe-B (neodymium, iron and boron) magnets use materials that are not domestically available and are subject to critical supply disruptions.
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Zytek To Supply Electric Powertrains for Navistar / Modec JV
October 15, 2009
| Zytek’s integrated E-Drive unit. Click to enlarge. |
A range of electric delivery vehicles being developed for the North, Central and South American markets will use a highly integrated 70 kW powertrain from UK specialist Zytek. Developed with the support of a $39 million (£23 million) US Government grant, the vehicles will be manufactured by a new joint venture company being established by US truck supplier Navistar and British electric commercial vehicle specialist Modec. (Earlier post.)
The US Modec / Navistar application will be for a new generation of class 2c-3 vehicles optimized for suburban / urban pick and drop applications. To provide good performance for high productivity combined with excellent hill start capability when fully laden, the new vehicle will use a 70 kW, 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) version of Zytek’s E-Drive, which is also available in 55 kW, 120 N·m (89 lb-ft) and 55 kW 160 N·m (118 lb-ft) versions.
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Continental Supplying the Complete Electric Drive for Planned Volume Production Electric Vehicles
September 18, 2009
| One of the first electric drive systems which will be produced in high volumes for electric vehicles. Click to enlarge. |
Continental’s Powertrain Division is developing and producing the complete electrical drive train, including the control system, for the electric vehicles of an as yet unnamed car manufacturer, which should be available in large numbers on the Europe market from the start of 2011.
Continental Powertrain has developed low-cost, production-ready drive components and complete systems for electrifying the drive train. The core components are the energy storage unit (i.e. the battery), the power electronics and the electric motor.
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UK Technology Strategy Board Awards £10M+ for Development of Efficient Electrical Systems for Hybrids and EVs
September 10, 2009
The UK Technology Strategy Board is awarding more than £10 million (US$16.5 million) to projects to develop ultra-efficient electrical systems for electric and hybrid vehicles. This is the first set of awards resulting from a competition run under the Integrated Delivery Programme, a £200-million (US$331-million) investment program that will help accelerate the introduction of low carbon vehicles onto UK roads. More than 30 UK companies and seven universities will take part in the development projects, which have a total value, including contributions from the companies, of £20 million (US$33 million).
This is the second major recent investment in electric vehicle technology by the Technology Strategy Board, which is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). In June, TSB announced it will invest £25 million to enable more than 340 low carbon vehicles to be road-tested across the UK over the next eighteen months. (Earlier post.)
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Smith Electric Vehicles in £2.8M Project to Develop More Efficient Electric Driveline; Introduces Two New Passenger EVs at LCV2009
September 09, 2009
Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV) is part of a consortium working on a £2.8-million (US$4.6-million) project to develop a new, more efficient electric driveline, along with smarter, more energy efficient ancillary systems, such as heating and air conditioning. Combining all these elements together, Smith’s engineers believe they can improve the range of its electric vans by up to 20 miles (about 20%) on a full battery charge. Current maximum range is around 100 miles for urban operations.
Separately, Smith Electric Vehicles, a producer of commercial electric vehicles, introduced two new electric passenger vehicles at LCV2009, a showcase for low-carbon vehicles, in the UK. The first is a new electric people carrier, the second, a new electric executive minibus.
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Zytek Shows Electric A-Class Demonstrator with Uprated 55kW E-Drive; Developed in 10 Weeks
September 08, 2009
| The 55kW E-Drive fits neatly onto the existing engine mounting points with just three additional connections (water, high voltage electrics and low voltage electrics). Click to enlarge. |
Zytek has unveiled a fully engineered, electric version of the Mercedes A-Class that it developed in just ten weeks. Designed to demonstrate the capability of the company’s production-ready 55kW E-Drive electric powertrain, the five-seat electric family car project is a Zytek in-house activity and is entirely independent of Mercedes-Benz.
For the A-Class demonstrator, Zytek developed an uprated version of its 55kW E-Drive, using a higher current switching system to increase the maximum torque from 120N·m (89 lb-ft) to 160N·m (118 lb-ft). Zytek also increased the maximum motor speed from 12,000rpm to 13,000rpm to provide a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h) while providing sufficient torque to ensure good low speed performance and the ability to comfortably climb steep gradients.
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Aura System’s Generator Incorporated into Azure’s Balance Hybrid for USPS
September 06, 2009
| The AuraGen. Click to enlarge. |
Azure Dynamics Corporation incorporated Aura Systems’s AuraGen motor/generator into its Balance Hybrid Electric vehicle delivered to the United States Postal Service fleet (USPS). The Balance Hybrid Electric vehicle is a two-ton step van, and will participate in the USPS fleet in Long Island, New York for a twelve-month pilot program. The vehicle utilizes Azure Dynamics’ hybrid electric drive train on the Ford E-450 chassis.
The AuraGen is a solid rotor axial flux induction machine, comprising two stators and a solid rotor sandwiched between the stators. The stators are made from a steel ribbon with copper windings. The rotor is made from a dual casting of steel and aluminum. The AuraGen is an axial gap induction machine, rather than a squirrel cage radial gap machine.
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UQM Technologies and BorgWarner Collaborate on Electric Powertrain Systems; Initial Project is the CODA Sedan
September 03, 2009
UQM Technologies is collaborating with BorgWarner on electric powertrain products for all-electric and hybrid-electric passenger automobiles.
Initially, the companies are working together to integrate UQM Technologies’ PowerPhase electric propulsion system with BorgWarner’s 31-03 eGearDrive transmission (earlier post) for the all-electric CODA front-wheel drive five-passenger sedan, scheduled for introduction in the California market in mid-2010. (Earlier post.)
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President Obama Announces 48 Projects to Receive $2.4B in Grants for Next-Generation of Batteries and Electric Vehicles; To be Combined with $2.4B in Industry Cost-Share
August 05, 2009
President Obama announced 48 new advanced battery and electric drive projects that will receive $2.4 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects, selected through a highly competitive process by the Department of Energy (DOE), are intended to accelerate the development of US manufacturing capacity for batteries and electric drive components as well as the deployment of electric drive vehicles.
The announcement marks the single largest investment in advanced battery technology for hybrid and electric-drive vehicles ever made. Industry officials expect that this $2.4 billion investment, coupled with another $2.4 billion in cost-share from the award winners, will result directly in the creation tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs in the US battery and auto industries.
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UQM Technologies to Supply EV Propulsion Systems to Coda Automotive
July 27, 2009
UQM Technologies has completed an agreement with Coda Automotive, a California-based electric car and battery company, to supply UQM PowerPhase 100 electric propulsion systems to Coda Automotive for a period of ten years.
Initial shipments under the agreement are expected to begin later this calendar year and ramp up prior to scheduled deliveries of the Coda 4-door, 5-passenger, all-electric sedan in the California market in mid-2010. (Earlier post.) The agreement provides for the purchase of 20,000 propulsion systems over the initial two-year period following the launch of volume production.
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Project Seeks to Optimize Composition of Magnets for Traction Motors to Improve Economic Competitiveness
July 08, 2009
A research project currently underway at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Austria), in cooperation with the University of Sheffield (UK), is exploring the ideal composition and structure for high-performance permanent magnets intended for use in hybrid and electric car motors—specifically, how the proportion of dysprosium can be reduced without compromising the thermal stability of the magnets. By optimizing magnets, the researchers suggest, hybrid and electric cars can be made economically competitive.
Overall, an electric or hybrid drive contains around 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of magnetic material in their motors. At present, neodymium iron boron magnets form the basis of this. These have considerably less mass than conventional magnets, but deliver the same level of performance. In order to ensure the magnetic properties are retained even at high temperatures—such as those that occur within a car—the rare earth element neodymium is partially replaced by dysprosium, another rare earth element. This increases the coercive force of the magnet—its stability against demagnetization. However, notes Prof. Thomas Schrefl, project leader:
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CalMotors Partners With Parker Hannifin on Hybrid and Electric Powertrains
June 02, 2009
| CalMotors, powered by Parker. Click to enlarge. |
CalMotors, makers of high performance hybrid (series and parallel) and electric powertrains, has formed a strategic alliance with Parker Hannifin Corporation to produce fully integrated powertrain solutions for the automotive and marine industries. Parker can provide motors, inverters, systems design and manufacturing.
In addition to developing fully integrated powertrains, CalMotors has also designed, engineered, fabricated and tested several advanced technology vehicles for military, commercial, and consumer applications. Ruf engaged CalMotors to combine the lithium-ion batteries with the motor for its electric Porsche, as an example. (Earlier post.)
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DOE Upping Investment in Advanced Power Electronics and Electric Machines Research
May 22, 2009
| In addition to increasing the overall budget, DOE is providing more funding to other segments within APEEM in FY2009. (Difference in pie chart size is representational, and not to scale.) Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy (DOE) increased the budget for Advanced Power Electronics and Electric Machines (APEEM) research to $17,358,000 in fiscal 2009, up 12% from the FY 2008 budget of $15,462,000. The APEEM effort comprises power electronics, electric machines, thermal control and integrated systems—components that are unique and critical to electric-drive or assisted vehicles.
All elements within the APEEM category must advance to achieve lower cost, smaller and lighter footprints, and higher efficiency to meet marketplace demands—and the DOE development targets—said Susan Rogers, who runs the APEEM programs within the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicle Technologies program, at the DOE Merit Review meetings this week in Washington.
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Adura’s MESA Electric Powertrain Combines Controls, Switched Reluctance Traction Motor and MicroTurbine
April 20, 2009
| Components of the Adura MESA powertrain. Click to enlarge. |
Adura Systems, Inc. unveiled its new MESA (Modular, Electronic, Scalable Architecture) electric powertrain for use in series hybrid, all electric and fuel cell mass transportation buses, large utility vehicles and other automotives.
Adura’s MESA powertrain features patent-pending, highly modular systems electronics, an innovative intelligent control software platform and the industry’s first scalable, field installable energy storage system that can be configured, depending upon users’ requirements, to provide 25, 50 miles or 100 miles of initial travel in pure electric mode with subsequent travel in hybrid mode.
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DOE to Award Up to $2.4B for Advanced Batteries, Electric Drive Components, and Electric Drive Vehicle Demonstration/Deployment Projects
March 19, 2009
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released two competitive solicitations that will provide up to a combined $2.4 billion in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in support of the development of advanced electric drive vehicles (EDVs) including plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), electric vehicles (EV), and fuel cell vehicles (FCV). President Barack Obama announced the availability of the funding during a visit to Southern California Edison’s Electric Vehicle Center today.
This funding has been divided between two Funding Opportunity Announcements: Recovery Act - Transportation Electrification (DE-FOA-0000026); and Recovery Act - Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative (DE-FOA-0000028). The former will provide up to $400 million for EDV and electrification infrastructure demonstration and evaluation projects. The latter will provide grants to US-based manufacturers of up to $1.5 billion to produce advanced automotive batteries and their components, and up to $500 million to produce other components needed for electric vehicles, such as electric motors.
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Hitachi Restructures, Spinning Off Automotive Systems Business; to Launch Group-Wide Strategies for Li-ion Battery and Renewables Businesses
March 16, 2009
As part of a major restructuring in announced in Tokyo on Monday, Hitachi Ltd. will spin off its Automotive Systems Business into a wholly-owned subsidiary on 1 July. The new automotive business will have a special focus on hybrid and electric drive system components, as well as technologies for enhancing the efficiency of internal combustion engines.
In addition, on 1 April, the company will introduce organizations to plan and propose R&D and business strategies for the whole Hitachi Group regarding lithium-ion battery and renewable energy-related businesses. Hitachi says that it will “take steps to quickly launch businesses in these areas.”
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Siemens Highlights Prototypes of New Drive Systems for Electric Cars
March 13, 2009
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| The powertrain components for the eRUF. Source; Siemens CT. Click to enlarge. |
Siemens Corporate Technology, Siemens’ research organization, supplied the drive systems for the prototypes of two electric cars shown at the Geneva Motor Show. For each of two automotive firms—the Swiss concept car manufacturer Rinspeed and the German company RUF Automobile GmbH—the Siemens research team developed an integrated system consisting of a motor/generator, power electronics and an interface with a battery connection.
This research is taking place within the framework of the exploration by Siemens Corporate Technology of the opportunities and challenges associated with a comprehensive concept of electro-mobility and its value-added chain. Topics under investigation include, among others, energy generation and distribution; traffic and energy management; smart metering; power electronics; software and sensor technology; electric drive train systems; and the recovery and storage of energy.
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Nanotube Structures Could Improve Electric Motors
March 12, 2009
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| Carbon nanotube commutator. Source: Rice University. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers from Rice University and the University of Oulu in Oulu, Finland, have found that carbon nanotubes could significantly improve the performance of electrical commutators that are common in electric motors and generators.
The research, which appeared online this month in the journal Advanced Materials, finds that brush contact pads made of carbon nanotubes had 10 times less resistance than did the carbon-copper composite brushes commonly used today. Brush contacts are an integral part of commutators, or spinning electrical switches, used in many battery-powered electrical devices, such as cordless drills.
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Magna Electronics and BRUSA Collaborate on Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Applications
March 04, 2009
Magna Electronics, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., and BRUSA Elektronik AG, a developer and supplier of high-efficient power electronics and electric motors, have formed a collaboration on electric and hybrid vehicle applications.
This collaboration enhances both companies’ positions in developing and supplying components and systems to the emerging global automotive market for electric and hybrid vehicles. Earlier this week, Magna Steyr introduced the concept mila ev at the Geneva Motor show as a demonstration of its a fully integrated electric vehicle platform which could be used by an OEM as the basis for production-vehicle development of a full battery electric vehicle, or with natural gas, fuel cell or hybrid drive. (Earlier post.)
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Infineon Introduces 3rd-Generation Silicon Carbide Schottky Diodes; Improved Performance Reduces Cost of Power Electronics for Motor Drive and Renewable Energy Applications
February 20, 2009
Infineon Technologies has introduced its third-generation thinQ! SiC (silicon carbide) Schottky diodes. Featuring the industry’s lowest device capacitance for any given current rating, which enhances overall system efficiency at higher switching frequencies and under light load conditions, the new thinQ! diodes help reduce overall power converter system costs.
Main application areas for SiC Schottky diodes are active Power Factor Correction (CCM PFC) in Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) and other AC/DC and DC/DC power conversion applications such as solar inverters and motor drives.
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Volkswagen and Toshiba to Partner on Electric Drive, Power Electronics and Batteries
February 12, 2009
Volkswagen AG and the Toshiba Corporation signed a letter of intent to cooperate for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen’s planned New Small Family. Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of battery systems with a high specific energy density for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Volkswagen’s objective, said Prof. Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of management, is to be the first manufacturer to provide an emissions-free, affordable and safe large-scale production electric vehicle.
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TM4 Partners with Tata Motors and Miljø in EV Project
January 22, 2009
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| Miljø will use TM4’s MΦ120 electric motor, designed for EVs and HEVs. Click to enlarge. |
Miljø Innovasjon, a subsidiary of Tata Motors, has selected TM4, a subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec, to provide electric motors, power electronics and vehicle controllers for an electric car demonstration program to be launched in Norway in 2009-2010. Electrovaya is providing the Li-ion batteries. (Earlier post.)
Under this program, Miljø will produce more than one hundred units of an all-electric version of Tata Motors’ new Indica Vista.
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Michelin to Commercialize Electric Active Wheel Technology
December 01, 2008
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| Michelin’s Active Wheel integrates brake disk, electric motor and suspension motor. Click to enlarge. |
Michelin’s Active Wheel, an in-wheel system comprising a brake, 30 kW (40 hp) electric traction motor and electric suspension motor system, will be used in the Heuliez-produced WILL electric vehicle (battery or fuel cell), due to be available to fleet owners in 2010. The WILL grew out of a concept developed by Heuliez and Michelin and features networked services innovated by Orange.
Michelin has shown earlier versions of the Active Wheel in concepts before, such as the Michelin/PSI Concept HY-LIGHT Fuel Cell Vehicle shown at the 2004 Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. (Earlier post.) The two-wheel motor WILL is its first application in a series production-intent vehicle. The partners showed the WILL at the Paris Motor show in October. Venturi Automobiles also showed an application of the Active Wheel in the premier of its four-wheel motor Volage.
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Daimler and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Begin Research Collaboration on Electric Drive Systems
November 21, 2008
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Daimler AG and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are beginning a research collaboration on electric drive systems: the “e-drive Project House” (Projekthaus e-drive). The effort will span the fields of power electronics and electric machines (PEEM), control systems, and electrical energy storage systems. Pooling expertise from science and industry across these fields is intended to expedite the market maturity of pure electric drive and hybrid vehicles, Daimler said.
The e-drive Project House is positioned as a strategic long-term undertaking, and is setting out to attract further scientific institutes and cooperation partners in order to extend the research consortium.
