It’s becoming more common to see power supply circuits with wide-bandgap semiconductors rather than traditional silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). There are clear performance benefits to this switch, and with costs coming down, silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors are more accessible than ever before.
While the fundamental circuit design process doesn’t change, substituting a component as vital as a semiconductor causes a domino effect in the component selection process. With the shift towards wide-bandgap semiconductors, engineers need to step back and take a fresh look at factors like voltage rating, capacitance value, equivalent series resistance (ESR) and equivalent series inductance (ESL) in the design process.
In this white paper, we’ll cover basic snubber derivation for a simple switching circuit. While snubber circuits are much more complex in practice, this exercise is useful for understanding how these switches impact snubber capacitor sizing.
DGeo, the packaging division of US-based Labelmaster, has expanded its large-format lithium battery packaging solutions to include collapsible, clippable wooden crates.
Part of DGeo’s Obexion line of protective packaging, Obexion MAX crates are UN-certified and offer a repeatable fastening system that delivers a simple and cost-efficient packaging solution for transporting large lithium batteries.
The crates are designed to be easy to assemble and disassemble by snapping and unsnapping the wooden pieces together using Clip-Lok metal clips and no screws, bolts or nails. The crates are flat-packed, stackable, and available in seven seizes to optimize warehouse space and shipment savings.
“Partnering with Action Wood 360 to offer clippable and reusable wood crates as part of our Obexion line of protective packaging allows us to extend our wide range of lithium battery packaging solutions that help companies ship and handle large batteries simply, safely and efficiently,” said John Glaser, Director, Packaging Development, Labelmaster.
Nissan, Japan’s third-biggest automaker by volume, plans to begin producing solid-state batteries for EVs at scale by early 2029, and will also use Tesla-style gigacasting machines in order to increase efficiency and drive down costs on its future EV models.
Solid-state batteries are expected to deliver faster charging and longer lifespans than current Li-ion designs. Even as some automakers begin to deploy them in limited numbers, battery suppliers such as Samsung SDI and CATL disagree over their potential.
Nissan says it will develop solid-state batteries at a new pilot plant in Yokohama before building up production capacity. The company expects to make its first solid-state batteries at the site in 2025, and hopes to produce 100 MWh worth per year starting in 2028.
The automaker also announced plans to use heavy-force machines to produce the rear floors of EVs, a process that it hopes will lower manufacturing costs by 10% and bring down the weight of components by 20%. Nissan has used casting boards for structural parts of air conditioners for over 15 years at its Tochigi plant.
The automaker considered several new processes for manufacturing car bodies, Hideyuki Sakamoto, Executive VP for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, told Reuters. “In the end, we decided to use a 6,000-ton gigacasting machine to make the rear body structure of cars using aluminum casting.”
Nissan plans to launch 30 new models over the next three years. Sixteen of these will be electrified, including eight BEVs and four PHEVs.
The automaker says it hopes to bring down the cost of the next generation of plug-in vehicles by 30% to make them competitive with ICE models by 2030.
As the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), a new charging standard for heavy-duty EVs, enters the final stages of standardization, automakers and EVSE manufacturers are busily putting the new system through its paces. Commercial implementations of MCS, which industry experts are calling a game-changer for electric trucks, are expected to begin later this year.
The latest testing milestone was announced by Siemens Smart Infrastructure, which completed its first successful one-megawatt charge, in a pilot using a prototype Siemens MCS charging station and “a long-haul prototype eTruck from a well-established OEM.”
Siemens has introduced a prototype of the SICHARGE Megawatt Charging System, which consists of multiple SICHARGE UC150 power cabinets, a switching matrix and a customized MCS dispenser. The switching matrix bundles the output power of the charging stations and, depending on requirements, directs power to the MCS dispenser. Siemens says an output of around one MW could enable a typical e-truck battery to be charged from 20 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.
Markus Mildner, CEO eMobility, Siemens Smart Infrastructure: “Especially in long-distance transport, electric trucks and coaches will need fast MCS during the legally prescribed driving time break. To ensure nationwide distribution of this, various requirements must be met including on the governmental side. However, the successful test brings us a big step forward on the technology side.”
Renogy’s 12V/24V 50A DC/DC battery charger seemed the perfect addition to our van life build-out. We’re on a continuous quest to upgrade and improve our Chevy Astro Van (fondly named Pinto) converted into a camper. The goal is to be able to go off-grid for longer, out in the wild … [continued]
Battery manufacturer ZAPBATT has developed its Battery Operating System (bOS) in a strategic partnership with Toshiba, initially focused on Toshiba’s battery SCiB lithium titanium oxide (LTO) chemistry for integration across several applications, including EVs.
ZAPBATT’s bOS is a battery management system, which enables the adoption of optimal battery chemistries without significant investment in battery infrastructure or modifications to existing electrical components. It acts as a universal adapter, integrating SCIB and other advanced battery chemistries into various applications—from cordless tools and appliances to e-bikes and industrial automation.
The combination of software and hardware enables adaptive and scalable input and output voltage regulation, enhancing safety with no risk of overcharge or thermal runaway and ensuring performance with meticulous cell-by-cell control. The fully programmable voltage output allows the battery to mimic how any device operates, while the programmable voltage input gives access to fast charging off standard infrastructure.
Toshiba’s SCiB technology has demonstrated potential in industrial applications and robotics. Using bOS with SCiB enables rapid charging, extended lifespan, enhanced safety, rapid discharging, the ability to access the full battery and supply full energy even under demanding loads and operation in extreme cold.
“The bOS acts much like an operating system that can run on any phone—or, in our case, work with any battery chemistry,” explains Charles Welch, CEO of ZAPBATT. “As more advanced chemistries continue to emerge, ZAPBATT will streamline their integration into various markets in a cost-effective and straightforward manner.”
Milence, an EV charging joint venture of Daimler Truck, the TRATON Group and Volvo, has expanded its operations to the French and Swedish markets.
In late 2023, Milence opened its first charging hub in Venlo, the Netherlands. Now the company has opened a charging hub in Heudebouville, 40 km south of the city of Rouen. The new heavy-duty EV charging hub is located along an important route for heavy-duty vehicles travelling between Paris and logistics hubs in the Normandy Region, such as Le Havre (France’s largest container port), Caen, Dieppe and Rouen.
The new charging hub features four CCS chargers in four charging bays. Milence plans a swift transition to Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology as soon as it becomes available. The second phase of the project, scheduled to be completed at the end of the year, will add additional charging bays with MCS chargers, as well as Milence-operated facilities such as toilets and showers for truck drivers.
All Milence charging hubs are open to all electric trucks, regardless of brand. To ensure accessibility for every truck on the market, Milence has signed contracts with various e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs) in Europe, and accepts their cards for payment.
Milence has also begun work on a heavy-duty EV charging hub in Varberg, between Gothenburg and Malmö in southwest Sweden. In the first phase, the Varberg hub will have 8 charging bays with four CCS chargers, each providing up to 400 kW of power. The second phase will include additional charging bays with MCS chargers.
“Over the past two years we have extensively prepared our organization, developed the right technology, and secured sites in 15 countries,” said Milence CEO Anja van Niersen. “We are now in full roll-out [mode], and this is just the beginning. We have more plans to expand our network with several key sites this coming year, some of which are already under contract and in development, and all of which are located along key strategic areas and open to all trucks.”
Adamas Intelligence data shows that 408,214 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) were deployed globally in new passenger EV batteries last year, up by 40% from 2022.
Europe and the Americas accounted for 40% of global deployment, rising by 38% to 163,423 tons in 2023. Across the three continents, Tesla took the top spot with 44,757 tonnes of LCE deployed across its S, 3, X and Y model lineup, nearly as much as the next five brands combined and an increase of 34% over 2022.
Volkswagen came in second in the Americas and Europe, deploying 11,750 tonnes of LCE in 2023, up by 39% year on year. The third and fourth largest lithium consumers in 2023 were Mercedes and BMW. Mercedes deployed 10,051 tonnes, an increase of 53% compared to 2022, while BMW’s LCE deployment rose by 54% to 10,016 tonnes. Rounding out the top five was Volvo. The Swedish marque, owned by China’s Geely since 2010, put 1,168 tonnes of LCE onto roads across Europe and the Americas in its EVs sold last year, representing an expansion of 36% compared to 2022.
Lithium deployment is highly concentrated, as the top five deployed a combined 86,543 tonnes of LCE, representing 53% of overall lithium consumption in the regions in 2023.
EV fleet solution provider Synop has launched a new app designed to further streamline EV charge management for its customers. The new Fleet Driver Mobile App will provide Managed Access Charging functionality to EV fleets.
Synop’s fleet customers typically give their drivers RFID cards that grant them access to on-site chargers. However, these cards are easily lost or damaged. The Synop Fleet Driver Mobile App allows drivers to add their RFID card information to their profiles, making authorization and instant payments easier.
Drivers can securely save their payment details in the app. They can also use the app to locate in-network charging sites on their routes; to find the most suitable chargers based on their requirements, charging speeds and current pricing; and to initiate and monitor charging sessions directly from their mobile devices.
Synop’s mobile app seamlessly integrates with the Synop web application. Charging prices created on the web application are visible to users on the mobile app, ensuring consistency and transparency. The app can also be white-labeled, providing all the same Synop functionality with user branding.
Furthermore, because the Fleet Driver Mobile App enables Synop’s Managed Access Charging capabilities, fleets can extend access to their private charging depots to commercial partners, potentially creating a new revenue stream.
“Our new mobile app marks a significant milestone in the evolution of electric vehicle fleet solutions,” said Gagan Dhillon, co-founder and CEO of Synop. “Through advanced features like seamless charger discovery, optimal charging options and effortless payment processing, we’re removing the headache and annoyance often associated with EV charging on the road for fleet operators and drivers.”
Dry coating of lithium-ion batteries has the potential to revolutionize battery production through a reduced solvent, energy, and footprint demand. However, dry coated electrodes suffer from poor adhesion between the dry film and current collector that leads to the demand of a pre-coating. In this webinar, we will discuss how carbon coatings of current collectors can enable dry battery manufacturing and improve battery cell performance.
Key takeaways:
Operating principles of conductive coatings in battery cells
The essential role of conductive coatings in dry-coated batteries
Insights into slurry-based vs dry-coated electrodes
This webinar will be hosted by CHARGED on Wednesday, May 29th, at 11 am US EST.
