Henkel develops REACH-compliant silicone material for sealing electronic component modules

Automotive adhesives maker Henkel has developed a new material for silicone liquid gasketing for automotive electronic components.

Loctite SI 5972FC is a one-part RTV silicone form-in-place-gasket (FIPG) solution that expedites electronic module sealing. The liquid silicone material adheres to metal and plastic surfaces and is designed to pass OEM leak or blow-out pressure tests immediately after assembly, reducing the need for time- and space-intensive staging. 

The material’s non-corrosive outgassing and low volatility (D4-D10<0.1%) make it suitable for sensitive electronic components, electronic control units (ECUs), bussed electric centers (BECs), battery disconnect units (BDUs), electrical power steering (EPS) power packs and ADAS radar components. Its tin-free catalyst and alkoxy curing system make this one-component dispensable silicone material REACH-compliant for electronics sealing.

“Today, it is vital to fully understand the impact of materials used in a component—whether this relates to the impact on manufacturing efficiency or the risks to human or environmental safety,” said Arthur C. Ackerman, Business Development Manager Automotive Electronics at Henkel. “Loctite SI 5972FC has been created to help manufacturers address this spectrum of challenges.” 

Source: Henkel

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Ford Pro and XCel Energy partner to deploy 30,000 EV charging ports for fleets by 2030

Ford Pro, the commercial division of Ford, is collaborating with electric utility Xcel Energy to deploy 30,000 EV charging ports in Xcel service territories across the US by 2030.

The companies’ 30×30 initiative is a part of Xcel Energy’s Electric Vehicle Supply Infrastructure (EVSI) program. As part of this effort, Xcel Energy will offset most of the up-front costs for EV charging equipment and installation for qualifying businesses, and Ford Pro will offer its suite of end-to-end charging solutions to Xcel business customers.

Business fleets can also benefit from Ford Pro Intelligence, which offers smart charging software and connected solutions such as Ford Pro Telematics, which helps businesses to optimize when and where EVs are charged, while ensuring that they’re charged and ready when needed.

Ford Pro offers the F-150 Lightning Pro pickup and E-Transit van, a range of charging hardware—including 48- and 80-amp Level 2 chargers and 180 kW and 240 kW DC fast chargers—and Ford Pro Charging software, which supports home, public and depot chargers.

Ford Pro and Xcel plan to analyze telematics data from vehicles participating in the initiative to promote commercial charging during off-peak times, helping reduce electric grid emissions and potentially saving customers money.

Starting in 2024, 30×30 will be available through Xcel Energy’s EVSI program in Colorado and Wisconsin. The program will be expanded to more states over the next six years (pending regulatory approvals), including Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas.

“Ford Pro and Xcel Energy are pioneering a new way to scale EV charging infrastructure,” said Xcel Energy Executive VP Amanda Rome. “Ford Pro is a trusted provider in fleet electrification, scaling charging infrastructure for fleets with smart vehicle, charging and software solutions. And Xcel Energy is a trusted advisor in transportation electrification, providing energy, infrastructure and innovative solutions for customers’ homes, businesses and EVs.”

“We know electrification can be complex for businesses,” said Ted Cannis, Ford Pro CEO. “We’re focused on helping them make that transition at the right time in the right way that’s best for their business.”

Source: Ford Pro

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

bp pulse opens central London charging hub with eight 150 kW chargers

bp pulse, the EV charging arm of oil giant bp, has opened what it calls its most powerful charging hub in Central London. Located at Q-Park Pimlico in the Borough of Westminster, the hub features eight 150 kW chargers. Sixteen EVs can charge simultaneously.

The new hub is the latest addition to bp pulse’s network in Greater London, where it operates over ​​​​570 charge points, including some fifty 150 kW chargers. It’s open to individual customers as well as bp pulse’s fleet customers, including Uber, whose drivers will be served by two dedicated charge points.

bp pulse and Uber formed a strategic partnership in 2022, and the companies offer various incentives for Uber drivers to go electric. 

“Uber drivers tell us that one of the greatest barriers to electrification is the lack of rapid charging points in the right places, so bp pulse’s new hub is a great step towards helping drivers switch to electric vehicles,” said Uber’s General Manager in the UK, Andrew Brem. “London is Uber’s top city for EVs worldwide, with well over 10,000 electric vehicles on the platform. Partnerships like this are crucial to meeting our goal of [going] 100% electric by the end of 2025.”  

Building the Pimlico hub presented some special challenges, as it’s located in an underground car park with limited headroom. To install the eight chargers, bp pulse collaborated with Radius Group and Comtec Srl to develop a tilting frame that ensures a safe method of positioning each unit during installation. The companies may use this bespoke solution in the future to install chargers in similar settings.

“We have seen ultra-fast charging sessions on the bp pulse public network in London double over the last two years, so it’s clear that there is appetite for this technology,” said Akira Kirton, VP, bp pulse UK. “At bp pulse, we’re focused on ultra-fast charging and plan to roll out hundreds of hubs this decade in places EV drivers need them.”

Source: bp pulse

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Wildcat will build a US plant to produce nickel-free and cobalt-free cathodes

Battery makers are scrambling to build North American supply chains, and at the same time they’re increasingly turning to chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in order to reduce reliance on problematic elements such as nickel and cobalt.

Wildcat Discovery Technologies sees opportunity in these trends, and is now finalizing site negotiations for a new US plant where it will produce “a portfolio of safe, sustainable and abundant cathode materials.”

Wildcat says its new plant will have an initial annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons, which will eventually be expanded to 30,000 metric tons. The plan is to begin producing LFP in late 2026, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) in 2027, and disordered rock salt (DRX) in 2028.

Wildcat is already producing LFP samples for customers, and is partnering with “a major commercial truck manufacturer” to develop a differentiated LMFP.

The company also has a joint development agreement with BMW to advance the development of DRX. Wildcat’s testing indicates that DRX cathodes can reach an energy density 10-20% higher than that of the best nickel-based cathodes, while delivering a superior safety profile.

“After 15 years of battery materials research, our new purpose is to produce high-performance US-made cathodes,” said Wildcat President and CEO Mark Gresser. “This is a breakthrough opportunity for us to capitalize on the growing need for US-made cathodes for electric vehicles, grid storage and other purposes.”

Wildcat says its unique high-throughput platform enables comprehensive experiments to be done 10 times faster than conventional methods. The process enables premium materials benchmarking, cell optimization and systematic scale-up to pair the cathode with the right anode and electrolyte combinations.

“Battery cells are complex systems, and Wildcat recognizes that the best cathode in the world doesn’t guarantee a successful battery,” Gresser said. “That’s why we partner with customers to help align and integrate all elements of the full battery cell for optimal performance and maximum value.”

Source: Wildcat Discovery Technologies

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

First electric Munro Series-M 4×4 leaves Scottish production line

Munro Vehicles is a Scottish manufacturer of electric off-road 4x4s that are designed to be as rugged as the mountains that lend the company its name.

Munro appears to have accomplished quite a bit since its 2019 founding—the first pre-production unit of the Series-M Utility, a hard top five-seater 4×4, recently rolled out of the factory in East Kilbride. Munro aims to build 50 vehicles by mid-2024, to make a transition to a new purpose-built site near Glasgow later in the year, and to deliver 2,500 units annually by 2027.

The Munro is engineered to be simple, easy to maintain and durable. Components such as body paneling are designed to be easily replaced. Munro’s goal is to create all-electric 4x4s capable of 50 years of service. The company is targeting demanding sectors such as agriculture, construction, defense, disaster relief and forestry.

The Munro sports an LFP battery pack, and supports 130 kW DC fast charging. The vehicle is offered in Standard M170 (170 kWh battery pack) and High-power M280 (280 kWh) versions, and in Utility (hard-top) and Truck (open-bed) configurations.

The truck boasts a range of up to 200 miles on paved surfaces—presumably a bit less on “the most challenging off-road terrain in the world that it was designed to conquer.”

“After listening to our customers, we introduced numerous improvements,” said Munro CEO and co-founder Russell Peterson. “These included an adjustable steering column with steering wheel controls, plus a raft of ergonomic enhancements. A full suite of safety equipment, including airbags, ABS brakes, stability and traction control is also now offered.”

Munro says it has over 250 pre-orders for both the Utility and Truck models on its books.

“The Series-M Utility is the first light vehicle to enter mass production [in Scotland] since the Linwood car factory closed in 1981,” said Marcus Mackle, Munro Head of Vehicle Sales. “With a two-year customer pipeline worth £68 million for the innovative and sustainability-focused Munro Series-M Utility hard-top and Series-M Truck open-bed, we can look forward with confidence.”

Source: Munro Vehicles

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine