Electric Vehicle News

Siemens offers a new charge controller and calibration kit for EV charging tech

Siemens offers charging system suppliers a new plug & play solution, which now enables calibration of the Powerline signal level in line with CCS CharIN Association Implementation Guidelines. The solution comprises the company’s Simatic ET 200SP TM ECC PL ST charge controller and its TM ECC CCS calibration kit. When calibrating the signal quality of a DC CCS charge controller using the Siemens solution, there is no need for a spectrum analyzer, which accelerates the process. Siemens says charging station manufacturers can save engineering effort, time and costs during commissioning and can reduce servicing to remedy charging interruptions by up to 50 percent. Engineering is in the TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal. 

When engineering and commissioning charging systems, cable lengths or different material types can lead to attenuation of the signal strength. This often has a negative effect on adherence to standardized Powerline frequency ranges, resulting in charging interruptions due to faulty communication between the EV and the charge controller. 

Using the calibration kit, the charging system is calibrated, as per CharIN Association recommendations, to a transmission power of 75 dBm/Hz with a tolerance of +/- 3 dB, which minimizes EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) problems and ensures communication between the vehicle and the charging station.

Ford accelerates battery R&D with dedicated team and new global battery center

Ford has announced a new global battery center—Ford Ion Park—to accelerate R&D in battery technology.

The Ford Ion Park team is exploring better integration and innovation opportunities across all aspects of the value chain—from mines to recycling—working with all units within Ford, including experts at Ford’s new Battery Benchmarking and Test Laboratory and Customer Service Division, as well as key suppliers and partners.

Meanwhile, a $185-million collaborative learning lab in Southeast Michigan dedicated to developing, testing and building vehicle battery cells and cell arrays is slated to open late next year. This lab will include pilot-scale equipment for electrode, cell and array design and manufacturing, and is expected to pilot new manufacturing techniques that will allow Ford to quickly scale battery cell designs with novel materials once the company vertically integrates battery cells and batteries.

Dane Hardware, Ford Motor Co. design and release engineer, and Mary Fredrick, Ford Motor Co. battery validation engineer, examine internal components like cell arrays, wiring and contactor switches at Ford’s Battery Benchmarking and Test Laboratory in Allen Park, Michigan.

Ford’s new Battery Benchmarking and Test Laboratory in Allen Park, Michigan houses battery cell and pack test rooms, test benches and benchmarking facilities to support battery cell design validation, controls calibration, pack development and pilot battery pack projects with different chemistries. The lab team can replicate the performance of full-scale production batteries under extreme weather and customer use cases, speeding implementation in future vehicles.

“We’re already scaling production of all-electric vehicles around the world as more customers experience and crave the fun-to-drive benefits of EVs with zero emissions,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s Chief Product Platform and Operations Officer. “Investing in more battery R&D ultimately will help us speed the process to deliver more, even better, lower-cost EVs for customers over time.”

Renault Trucks to offer an EV in every market segment from 2023

Renault Trucks has announced that, from 2023, it will offer an all-electric model in each of the segments it serves: distribution, construction and long distance.

Renault Trucks now offers all-electric trucks from 3.1 to 26 tons. Its electric lineup consists of the D Z.E., D Wide Z.E. and Master Z.E., which serve the urban transport, delivery, distribution and waste collection markets. The company seeks to extend electrification to all vehicle segments, and is preparing to market a new Z.E. tractor to meet the needs of regional and inter-regional transport, as well as an EV designed for urban construction, by 2023.

To market its Z.E. range and support its EV customers, Renault Trucks has set up a new entity responsible for electric mobility projects. This team is working to develop partnerships involving stakeholders such as haulers, distributors, public authorities and energy suppliers.

In addition to vehicles, the Renault Trucks brand offers a comprehensive transport solution, including batteries, charging station installation, energy optimization, repair and maintenance, financing and insurance.

Renault Trucks has set the modest goal of making its lineup carbon-neutral within 30 years, and currently believes that both battery-electric and fuel cell vehicles will be needed to achieve this gradual transformation.

“Electric mobility is the pillar of our strategy and we aim to lead the field,” announced Bruno Blin, President of Renault Trucks. “We’re aiming for 35% of our sales to be electric in 2030. By 2040, all our vehicle ranges will be 100% fossil-free.”