High voltage power distribution and EV charging for commercial vehicles (Webinar)

Electric commercial vehicles need to drive farther and charge faster to be an effective solution for fleets. But what does this mean for system safety, reliability & scalability? How best to optimize this power distribution within the system and into the charging infrastructure?

EV manufacturers and fleets need reliable technology to handle higher power levels while delivering the safest vehicle systems possible, and fleets need this technology to be serviceable and cost effective. In addition, fleet owners need scalable, compatible and networked charging to keep their vehicles on the go.

Join this presentation at next week’s Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, presented by Eaton, where we will discuss the unique requirements and solutions for high voltage power distribution in electric commercial vehicles to help improve platform flexibility, system efficiency, serviceability. In addition, as fleets receive these vehicle, we will also discuss how they can deploy scalable, reliable and flexible fast charging solutions to lower their total cost of ownership (TCO) as well uptime to meet their business goals.

Reserve your spot—it’s free!

Wevo’s new silicone-based materials inhibit thermal runaway

Wevo-Chemie has developed a range of silicone-based materials for battery modules and packs to prevent thermal runaway propagation.

The thermally conductive gap fillers of the WEVOSIL 260XX FL series are certified UL 94 V-0. The company says its formulation has high heat and flame resistance, lower weight compared to mineral or metal-loaded compounds, and no outgassing during manufacture compared to foams.

“If these tailor-made Wevo solutions are implemented in an early development phase, the overall safety of battery modules can be significantly improved by optimizing thermal management for specific applications and customizing the configuration of thermal, mechanical and electrical barriers,” says the company.

EPRI’s Vetted Product List helps utilities and agencies approve EV charging projects faster

What roadblocks and bottlenecks might slow or stall the deployment of an EV infrastructure project? Oh, let us count the ways! We recently learned of yet another variety of red tape: a utility approved vendor list.

Chris Kaiser, a veteran of the clean energy industry, recently posted an article about utility approved vendor lists and how they can be the bane of EV charging projects. He also spoke with John Halliwell of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) about a possible solution.

As Kaiser explains, utilities and state agencies often provide incentives to install clean energy technology—not out of benevolence, but because they’re required to do so by a regulatory agency or by legislation. “The regulation/law will lay out the framework of the incentive/grant, but it’s often up to the utility or state agency to fill in the technicalities of how it will all work, and the organizations often use consultants like CLEAResult or ICF to help administer the program.”

Project designers and installers are often required to choose hardware from an approved vendor list. As Kaiser writes, “There’s nothing more frustrating than having a great product/solution that’s perfect for a project, but not available because it’s not on a specific utility’s/state’s approved vendor list.”

“The problem when utilities vet their own approved vendor list is that their lists are often woefully short or inadequate or out of date,” Kaiser writes. “I can tell you many instances over the past year where an approved vendor list had only two approved vendors for Level 2 EV charging. We’re often forced to use an inferior solution for our customers because some utility ran a half-assed process 5 years ago and hasn’t updated the approved vendors while new and better products have entered the market.”

To address this problem, EPRI has created a Vetted Product List to make it easier for utilities and agencies to choose the latest and greatest products for infrastructure projects.

EPRI says its Vetted Product List is “the nation’s most comprehensive and consolidated resource for industry stakeholders, to include utilities and state agencies, to vet products and equipment for the deployment of electric vehicle charging and hardware systems. EPRI’s Vetted Product List evaluates equipment against criteria developed by industry consensus, utility input, and review of government agency requirements for the EVSE industry.”

Vendors may apply to have their equipment vetted against the list.

“If you’re an EV charging hardware vendor and you aren’t on the list…get on it now!” says Chris Kaiser. “If you’re a decision-maker at a utility or state agency…please adopt the list ASAP and stop using out-of-date bureaucratic processes to approve vendors.”

Source: Chris Kaiser


Source: Electric Vehicles Magazine

Rheinmetall announces first order for e-truck gearboxes

Rheinmetall’s Castings business unit recently booked a new order from “a well-known truck manufacturer” for gearboxes specifically designed for use in e-trucks. 

The five-year production run will begin in the first quarter of 2026. However, Rheinmetall and the manufacturer have agreed to a total project lifetime of more than 15 years. The gearboxes will be supplied as fully machined components, which will result in synergies for the Rheinmetall Group, since casting will take place at its plant in Neckarsulm and final machining at its Langenhagen facility.

The company’s e-truck is still at an early stage of development. By cooperating with an established truck producer, the Group aims to jointly develop its gearboxes and introduce them throughout Europe.

Volkswagen ID.7 flagship electric sedan full specs and images leaked

Sedans are making a comeback. Volkswagen’s all-new upper midsize electric ID.7 sedan has finally shown its face without camouflage. Ahead of its world premiere on Monday, April 17, in China, the full details and images of VW’s fully electric ID.7 saloon have emerged.

more…

The post Volkswagen ID.7 flagship electric sedan full specs and images leaked appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward