Ideanomics passed a considerable milestone Wednesday as the company announced it successfully tested WAVE’s 500kW ultra-fast wireless charger, a first of its kind that can charge class 8 electric trucks in under 15 minutes.

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Source: Charge Forward

The electric version is called the Ford E-Transit Custom and it has a WLTP range of 236 miles (380 kilometers).
Source: Electric Vehicle News

Every EV driver is familiar with the “guess-o-meter,” the dashboard display that estimates a vehicle’s remaining range. A team of researchers from Japan claims to have found a way to make EV range estimates more accurate. Furthermore, they point out that inaccurate range estimates lead to inefficiency and waste.

The MEXT Q-LEAP Flagship project, led by researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Yazaki Corporation, has developed a prototype diamond quantum sensor that can measure currents over a wide range with milliampere-level precision. The researchers say their technology can improve detection accuracy from 10% to around 1%.

An EV battery’s state of charge (SoC) is measured based on the current output of the battery, and this measurement is used to estimate the remaining driving range of the vehicle. According to Tokyo Tech Professor Mutsuko Hatano, the battery currents in EVs can reach hundreds of amperes, but commercial sensors that can detect such currents cannot measure small milliampere-level changes. This leads to an ambiguity of around 10% in the battery charge estimation.

In a study published in Scientific Reports, Hatano and his team describe a diamond quantum sensor-based detection technique that can estimate a battery’s state of charge with 1% accuracy. “We developed diamond sensors that are sensitive to milliampere currents, and [are] compact enough to be implemented in automobiles. Furthermore, we measured currents in a wide range [and] detected milliampere-level currents in a noisy environment,” explains Professor Hatano.

Measuring SoC more accurately could deliver more than just convenience for drivers—the Tokyo team says their technology could enable the driving range of an EV to be extended by 10%, and increase the efficiency of battery usage. The implications could be profound. “Increasing battery usage efficiency by 10% would reduce battery weight by 10%, which will reduce 3.5% running energy and 5% production energy of 20 million new EVs in 2030,” says Professor Hatano.

Cell-to-Pack is the direct bonding of individual battery cells to the battery pack’s cooling plate, and it’s a new trend in the EV market. It improves performance by providing higher pack energy density, improved part complexity, lower thermal loads on the battery pack, and simpler, lower-cost manufacturing of packs. To support Cell-to-Pack (CTP), new thermally conductive adhesive technology is necessary. These adhesives should have high thermal conductivity with low viscosity, like the new urethane adhesive we have developed. Those experts working on the design and manufacturing of battery systems, especially automotive OEMs, would find these new developments important.

This session at our Fall Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, presented by Parker Lord, will highlight the key factors motivating EV manufacturers to move away from traditional modular designs to new CTP designs.

Reserve your spot—it’s free!

MintAir has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Dallas-based Jaunt Air Mobility to purchase up to 40 Jaunt Journey electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Jaunt is working on an eVTOL aircraft using Slowed Rotor Compound (SRC) technology, which slows the rotor once aloft (the rotor tip speed equaling the aircraft’s pace) thereby reducing drag and associated vibration. In combination with a small wing sized for cruising, this produces a lift-to-drag ratio equivalent to that of a fixed-wing airplane, providing an exceptionally efficient flight with very low noise, according to Jaunt. In the event of a total loss of propulsion, the aircraft can perform a safe, controlled landing by autorotating or gliding.

“The Jaunt Journey’s aircraft design offers the safest air taxi configuration that is operationally efficient, quiet, and sustainable,” says Martin Peryea, CEO of Jaunt.

Jaunt Air Mobility aircraft will be designed and manufactured in Montreal, Canada.

MintAir plans to work with Jaunt to launch commercial passenger air transportation operations in several Korean markets.

“Our mission is to develop the safest Advanced Air Mobility service in both urban and rural environments based on sound ESG management,” said Eugene Choi, CEO of MintAir. “Jaunt Air Mobility is committed to those same principles throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle.”

The Volkswagen Group and the Government of Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which they will investigate opportunities for Canada to contribute to VW’s global and regional battery supply chains.

PowerCo, VW’s newly founded battery company, will establish a new liaison office in Canada, and will have a central role in the planned cooperation in the fields of battery value creation, raw material supply chains and cathode material production. A key focus will be the supply of critical raw materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt.

PowerCo has plans to establish a battery gigafactory in North America, and is currently examining possible production sites.

“Canada is quickly becoming the green supplier of choice for major auto companies,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “By partnering with Volkswagen, Canada is strengthening its leadership role as a world-class automotive innovation ecosystem for clean transportation solutions. Canada is committed to building a strong and reliable automotive and battery supply chain here in North America.”

“Volkswagen has been vigorously pushing the transformation to e-mobility,” said Volkswagen Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess. “Working hand in hand with governments around the world is an absolute prerequisite to meet our climate goals. The supply of battery raw materials and the production of precursor and cathode materials with a low carbon footprint will allow for a fast and sustainable ramp-up of battery capacity.”

“We see compliance with stringent sustainability criteria as a top priority,” said Volkswagen Group Board Member Thomas Schmall. “For us, the availability of power from renewable sources and a raw materials sector with mines supplying materials conforming to the globally recognized environmental and social standards are crucially important. That is why Canada is an ideal partner for our e-mobility and battery strategy.”

After sharing sporadic details since last fall, XPeng Motors has officially launched its new G9 SUV in China, featuring some of the most cutting edge technology overseas. In addition to sharing how the trims break down, we’ve included some of the unique features on the XPeng G9 including ultra-fast charging, advanced ADAS that could be the best in the world to date, and vehicle-to-load capabilities. Oh and pricing, check it out.

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Source: Charge Forward

A portable, self-contained charging station would be mighty handy in a variety of applications—events, emergency backup power, or maybe just a location where it’s not practical to install a permanent grid-connected charger. We’ve reported on several companies that offer such products, including Envision Solar and 3ti.

Now Paired Power has introduced a new entrant to the category. PairTree is a “transportable solar canopy with built-in EV charging capabilities.” It features a modular, fast-install design, and can be used with or without a grid connection. The company says PairTree can be installed in a single day with just two workers, using standard hand tools, with no need for permits or heavy equipment.

PairTree can optionally include up to 40 kWh worth of LFP batteries, and is designed to optimize EV charging loads. It is available in 5 kW modular units, each with ten bifacial solar panels, and is designed to be installed side-by-side in multi-unit configurations. The unit offers Level 2 EV charging, and 120 V outlet panels can be added to provide emergency or temporary power.

PairTree can be equipped with customizable specifications such as branding, lighting and media options. Customers have access to online support and payment methods through the Paired Power app, which was developed in partnership with EvGateway.

The ballasted steel foundation is designed to withstand various climates and environmental conditions. PairTree offers additional options of batteries or ground screws to secure the charger in high winds.

The company says PairTree requires minimal maintenance, as there are no moving parts, and cellular connectivity enables the company to make updates and run diagnostics remotely—services that are included with purchase. 

“The installation of traditional EV chargers and solar canopies is a time- and labor-intensive process, not to mention the disruption and delays of construction,” said Tom McCalmont, CEO and co-founder of Paired Power. “We designed PairTree to make the transition to solar and EV charging simple and scalable, while also being modular enough to accommodate future needs. One of the biggest benefits of PairTree’s solar canopy design is that you can start charging on day one. There are various reasons why site owners don’t want to wait or might have restrictions on grid-connected EV charging, and PairTree is the solution to bring any location quickly into the EV future.”

Orders for PairTree can be placed now, and deliveries are expected to start in Q2 2023.

At a recent event at its headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts, mobile charging provider SparkCharge unveiled new features for its Currently mobile app, along with updates to its Roadie mobile DC fast charger system.

“SparkDay is more than just a launch of new products,” said Josh Aviv, CEO and founder of SparkCharge. “It is a celebration of the hard work and dedication that the SparkCharge and Currently team has put in over the past year.

The new Roadie V3 Charger delivers charging power levels of 90-125 kW, which the company says can add up to 10 miles of range per minute. Each Roadie V3 Battery can deliver up to 250 miles of range, SparkCharge says. The Roadie V3 Hybrid is a grid-independent version.

SparkCharge also introduced two updates for its Currently app. Currently Concierge is a mobile on-demand concierge charging service. Currently Connect allows members to give Currently technicians access to a vehicle’s charge port, so they can pop the charge port open and begin charging immediately upon arrival. The mobile app will now be able to capture an EV’s state of charge, identify current mileage, unlock and lock the charging port, and access the vehicle’s GPS.

SparkCharge also announced its upcoming expansion into three new cities: San Diego, Sacramento and Boston.

It is the first electric version of the popular Traffic, which is Europe’s third best selling light utility van.
Source: Electric Vehicle News