Charged Magazine

NH Research has released a higher-voltage, higher-power version of its single-channel 9210 series battery test system. The 9210 Series provided a 12 kW power module operating at 40, 120 or 600 Volts, which allowed paralleling with similar systems to increase the power. The new 9300 system provides a 100 kW power module with a software-selectable high-voltage range (1,200 VDC/167 A) and high-current range (600 VDC/333 A), which is designed to allow efficient testing of single- …read more

Tesla is on a serious roll this time. Both deliveries and production set new records in the first quarter of 2017, a promising sign for the Model 3 ramp-up. As the good news piles up, TSLA stock is soaring, making Tesla the most valuable American carmaker.
According to a company press release, deliveries are up 69 percent from a year ago to a quarterly record of 25,000 vehicles – about 13,450 units of Model S and …read more

Toshiba, in cooperation with Waseda University, has completed a year-long field test of electric buses equipped with its wireless rapid rechargeable battery system. In the test, a small and a medium-size bus, both customized to run on Toshiba’s SCiB batteries (the medium-size bus used a 52.9 kWh battery pack), provided regular service between All Nippon Airways facilities in Kawasaki and Haneda Airport in Tokyo for a year.
The test showed that replacing legacy diesel buses with …read more

Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI) has completed the integration of its EDI PowerDrive technology into a new OEM platform, Freightliner. The newly available Freightliner M2 truck rounds out EDI’s portfolio of Class 3 to 6 zero-emission utility vehicles.
The new utility vehicle features the EDI PowerDrive 6000 plug-in electric drivetrain. According to EDI, it delivers over 25 miles of electric range and reduces emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional utility vehicles.
EDI’s utility vehicles offer an …read more

France-based Silicon Mobility, a provider of semiconductor control solutions, has introduced a software library and an application optimized for its OLEA chips.
OLEA is Silicon Mobility’s family of products for automotive applications, and includes a hardware-flexible interface for real-time data processing and deterministic control of actuators and sensors and SILant, as well as a functional safety acceleration unit for detecting and correcting system faults.
OLEA LIB is a software library optimized for OLEA dedicated to the control …read more

Alstom and NTL have presented a new electric public transport vehicle with a unique design. The layout of the new Aptis is based on that of a tram, incorporating low-floor accessibility and 360° views. Two or three large double doors enable easy on-and-off passenger flows and smooth access for wheelchairs and strollers. Aptis has four steerable wheels, so it occupies 25% less surface area in curves, and minimizes the space needed to park at stops.
NTL …read more

Switzerland-based Leclanché has received certification for its LTO battery cells that will allow it to provide battery solutions for EVs in China. This certification, which was performed by an independent testing lab, corresponds to the latest standards from the Standards Administration of China, and covers lifetime, safety and performance requirements.
Leclanché is in discussions with several parties in China to develop strategic partnerships in technology licensing and manufacturing.
“With the expected doubling of electric vehicle battery capacity …read more

Volvo has chosen AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) to develop a custom charging station for the brand’s plug-in vehicles. Incorporating customer design elements and Volvo-specific branding, the new wall-mounted charger will be “a premium custom EV charger that aligns with the premium image of the Volvo XC90 and a growing line of Volvo Cars’ plug-in hybrid vehicles.”
AeroVironment already makes the TurboCord portable charging cable that comes standard with the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid.
AeroVironment’s new …read more

Consolidated Metco (ConMet) and Protean Electric are working together to develop an electric in-wheel drive system for the medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle markets.
ConMet, a subsidiary of Amsted Industries, is a global supplier of components to the commercial vehicle market. The ConMet/Protean in-wheel electric drive system will deliver a hybrid propulsion system designed to help ConMet’s OEM and fleet customers to improve fuel efficiency and address the tightening of safety and emissions regulations.
The jointly developed …read more

Following the news that Source East, a charging network supported by the English government’s Plugged in Places program, will be shutting down at the end of March, charging provider NewMotion has offered to incorporate Source East’s chargers into its own network and to replace legacy charging points (some of which are outdated and/or non-functional) with state-of-the-art smart chargers, free of charge.
The company has not said whether Source East’s owners have responded to its proposal.
NewMotion, which …read more