EV charging network operator EVgo has opened its first public EV charging station built using the company’s new prefabrication approach. Located at the Bay Colony Town Center in League City, Texas, this EVgo station is the first of several prefabricated stations slated to open this year.

EVgo expects its prefabrication process to reduce station construction costs by an average of 15% at suitable sites, and to reduce installation timelines by as much as 50%.

All EVgo’s prefabricated stations are expected to include 350 kW DC fast chargers. The prefabrication model can also incorporate features that enhance the customer experience, including WiFi connectivity, lighting and security cameras and integrated canopies. Outside of Texas, EVgo plans to open prefabricated stations in Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina and California in 2024.

“The opening of our first prefabricated site is a testament to the innovation driving cost reductions and accelerating deployment timelines to scale our growth engine,” said Dennis Kish, President of EVgo. “As demand for public fast charging infrastructure continues to grow, we anticipate leveraging this model at eligible sites to quickly deploy charging stations across the US.”

Source: EVgo

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Ireland-based ADS-TEC Energy, a developer and producer of battery storage–based platforms, has for the first time installed its ChargeBox ultra-fast EV chargers at a multiunit residential development: the 470-unit Marina Palms Yacht Club and Residences in North Miami Beach, Florida.

ADS-TEC says the chargers require no major construction or upgrades to electrical infrastructure. They use built-in batteries to draw power from the grid, store it and output it at speeds of up to 320 kW per vehicle, to charge vehicles in minutes.

The ChargeBox is intended to alleviate the problem of residents having to wait hours to use a Level 2 charger. The company says it can service 100 EVs per week using only two parking spaces, as opposed to a Level 2 charger, which would require 20 spaces.

“Rewiring a multilevel parking structure for Level 2 charging is costly, approximately $5,000–$15,000 per parking space, according to estimates our customers have received,” said ADS-TEC Energy CEO Thomas Speidel. “With ChargeBox, condominium associations, building managers and investors can bypass Level 2 infrastructure that will be obsolete in a couple of years and instead deliver the future.”

Source: ADS-TEC

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Sweden-based truck maker Scania will expand its BEV truck offerings with the introduction of additional models, cab alternatives and power takeoff (PTO) solutions, as well as 6×4 bogie axle configurations for extra traction.  

The EM C1-2 truck model, designed for construction-oriented operations, now comes in both 210 kW and 240 kW versions that respectively provide 285 and 326 horsepower.

“We are steadily adding more and more customer value and specification choices with our continuous introductions,” says Fredrik Allard, Senior Vice President and Head of E-mobility at Scania.

Source: Scania

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

As we transition to a world of Electrified products, energy distribution must be modernized, upgraded, and integrated with innovative infrastructure to support our changing demands.

One of the key value propositions that Panduit brings to the EV Supply Equipment industry is its unwavering commitment to reliability and performance. In an environment where downtime is not an option, Panduit’s solutions ensure uninterrupted charging operations, providing EV owners and operators with the confidence and assurance of a seamless charging experience. 

From their VeriSafe Absence of Voltage Tester to their space optimizing duct, Panduit offers end-to-end solutions that optimize efficiency, enhance scalability, and reduce total cost of ownership for EV charging infrastructure deployments.

Download the EVSE Brochure:
To learn more visit Panduit and TTI and for more information contact 1.800.CALL.TTI

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Aqua Metals has developed a process for recycling lithium-ion batteries that it says is much cleaner, more efficient and more cost-effective than current methods (see our recent in-depth interview with company execs). Now Aqua has signed a strategic supply agreement with battery materials supplier 6K Energy to establish a more sustainable supply chain for battery critical minerals.

Starting in 2024, Aqua Metals will deliver sustainably recycled battery materials from its Sierra ARC facility in Reno, Nevada, which 6K Energy will use to manufacture cathode active material (CAM) at its PlusCAM facility in Jackson, Tennessee. At full scale, Aqua will provide 30% of the nickel and lithium carbonate needed at 6K’s PlusCAM facility.

Based on today’s metals prices, the materials supplied under this offtake agreement will have an estimated value of over $50 million annually once the two facilities reach capacity.

“Our strategic agreement with 6K Energy represents a pivotal moment in our mission to build a more sustainable battery ecosystem from the ground up here in North America,” said Steve Cotton, President and CEO of Aqua Metals. “Together, we are demonstrating the viability and economic benefits of closed-loop recycling for critical battery metals and laying the foundation for the US to claim leadership in this rapidly accelerating global industry.”

Like Aqua’s recycling processes, 6K Energy’s UniMelt manufacturing process can be powered entirely by clean energy, and has a clear pathway to net-zero operations in the future. The companies’ patented processes also eliminate the production of thousands of tons of sodium sulfate waste—a byproduct of traditional cathode production and recycling methods.

“This agreement extends beyond a supply contract—it’s a partnership aimed at redefining industry standards for environmental responsibility and cost efficiency in battery material production,” stated Sam Trinch, President of 6K Energy. “6K Energy will be the first in North America to incorporate large quantities of sustainably recycled metals into our battery materials, using our low-cost, low-carbon-footprint CAM production technology.”

Source: Aqua Metals

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Power electronics is a growing field with the push for electric vehicles and advancing grid technologies. Developing power electronics controllers requires in depth testing to improve performance, efficiency, and reliability. Development requires trying different active and passive components with different topologies and extensive testing.

Traditionally, pure software testing of controller code and circuit simulation tools were used as a starting point, then switching to all real hardware. Switching from a purely virtual environment to an entirely real environment can present unnecessary challenges.

Join this webinar, presented by dSpace, to learn how to use a real controller running production code with real-time simulation of the power electronics stage.

Key takeaways:

• Change circuit component parameters during runtime with fast FPGA models and significantly reduce the number of prototype PCBs you need to use during development
• Run Simscape power electronics circuits in real-time with an oversampled FPGA model
• Change component characteristics during runtime with one click
• Test real ECU software without building prototype PCBs for power electronics

Reserve your spot—it’s free!

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Other sessions at our Spring Virtual Conference include:

Challenges And Solution For Pick And Place Automation Of Thermal Gap Filler Pads

Automation in electronics manufacturing is nothing new, but today many thermal gap filler pads are still placed by hand. With an increasing demand for automation the need to incorporate gap filler pad installation into automated processes is growing.

In this webinar, presented by Fujipoly, we will discuss what makes gap filler pads a challenge for pick and place manufacturing processes and how to address the specific handling challenges of gap filler pads.

Reserve your spot—it’s free!

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Unveiling Adhesive Solutions For Safe Energy Storage Systems

In this webinar, presented by H.B.Fuller, we’ll explore the diverse application areas for adhesive solutions in energy storage, including battery cell bonding, module assembly, and pack encapsulation. We’ll also share examples examples of how adhesives enable design flexibility and facilitate manufacturing processes in energy storage system production.

Reserve your spot—it’s free!

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See the full session list for the Spring Virtual Conference on EV Engineering here.

Broadcast live on April 15-18, 2024, the conference content will span the EV engineering supply chain and ecosystem, including motor and power electronics design and manufacturing, cell development, battery systems, testing, powertrains, thermal management, circuit protection, wire and cable, EMI/EMC and more.

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the solution to the Plight of the Drivewayless (those poor souls who can’t install EV chargers at their homes) is simply lots of curbside chargers (see London and Oslo).

New York City began installing public curbside EV charging stations in 2021 as part of a pilot that was originally expected to end in July of this year. Demand has been strong, and the NYC DOT and Consolidated Edison are now hoping to extend the program for an additional year, and are beginning to plan a larger-scale, post-pilot expansion.

Con Ed issued a request for expressions of interest from EV charging companies last September, and expects to finalize details of the extension in April. The DOT has already received 32 responses from interested companies, including itselectric, Voltpost and FLO, which installed the curbside chargers for the pilot. For the next stage, DOT is seeking innovative designs that are cheaper, smaller and easier to install.

By the numbers, the results of the pilot have been impressive. Roy Rada, Project Manager for E-mobility Innovation at Con Ed, told Bloomberg that his company expected “moderate demand” for the chargers—perhaps usage rates around 15%—but that demand has been “exponentially higher.” According to the New York City DOT, Con Edison’s 100 chargers have seen an average utilization rate of 72%. That’s all the more impressive, considering that ICE vehicles blocked access to the chargers about 20% of the time (NYPD issued 2,197 parking tickets last year).

The chargers have done well in the reliability department, too. Operator FLO claims that they achieved a 99.9% uptime rate in 2024. The company has “a very aggressive maintenance program involving both regular check-ins as well as alarms,” said FLO Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer Travis Allan. It also operates a dedicated parts depot in the city to allow it to quickly swap out components. “I think that this project is going to be a model for many other cities because it has achieved very high reliability,” Allan added.

Source: Bloomberg

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

I was offered a chance to review a KBO e-bike at my Florida home. The K1 step-over was so much fun! It has a frame size and ride that is comfortable and a price point that would appeal to a wide variety of interested e-bike consumers. At our moment in … [continued]

The post KBO K1 Folding E-Bike — CleanTechnica Tested appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Source: CleanTechnica Car Reviews RSS Feed

Don’t miss next week’s Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, which will be broadcast live on April 15-18, 2024. The conference content will span the EV engineering supply chain and ecosystem, including motor and power electronics design and manufacturing, cell development, battery systems, testing, powertrains, thermal management, circuit protection, wire and cable, EMI/EMC and more.

Featured Webinars: Charging Tech and the NACS Transition

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See the full session list for the Spring Virtual Conference on EV Engineering here.

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

The Siemens Foundation has announced a $3-million grant to the Families and Workers Fund’s (FWF) Powering Climate and Infrastructure Careers for All, a fund with a mission to ensure that people from marginalized communities have access to the clean economy. The grant is part of the Siemens Foundation’s EVeryone Charging Forward workforce development initiative, which seeks to provide career pathways for all in the EV charging sector.

FWF will identify and support EV charging workforce programs across the country and provide funding for services to help overcome common barriers to career success, including equipment and uniforms, child care, transportation, affordable housing and mental health support.

“With historic federal investments to modernize our infrastructure and decarbonize our climate, we must ensure participation by everyone in our economy,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of Siemens Foundation. “The acceleration of industry demand for workers means we must work together to ensure all individuals have the resources necessary to secure clean energy jobs.”

“Training for a new career is hard, and life can too often derail people from completing training or apprenticeship programs,” said Rachel Korberg, Executive Director of the Families and Workers Fund. “By connecting overlooked and underestimated talent with supportive services, we can help boost program completion rates, unlock pathways to good careers, and bring new, sorely-needed workers into the clean energy economy.”

Source: Siemens Foundation

Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine