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Technology Report

Energy

Ford Unveils Its Universal EV Platform

In a briefing ahead of today's announcement, Ford's chief EV, digital and design chief Doug Field used the C word: China. Field said that the company's Universal EV Platform would through, "really...

Technology Report

Energy

EV Battery Safety: Advanced Coatings, Composite Solutions for Fire and Blast Protection

Thermal runaway in electric vehicle batteries is rare, but it can happen, producing smoke, fire, and explosions. This uncontrollable, self-heating state can transfer intense heat to adjacent cells and cause pressure buildups that exceed the mechanical limits of cell casings. Read on to learn how to avoid it.

News

Electronics & Computers

SAE Books: Vehicle Fire Safety with Erbis Biscarri

A seasoned engineer with a multi-discipline background in electronics, manufacturing systems, and forensic analysis, Erbis Biscarri brought decades of experience to the topic of automotive safety in his latest work. Biscarri’s book, Fires in Conventional and Electrified Vehicles: Theory, Prevention, and Analysis, published by SAE International, offers a comprehensive guide to one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: vehicle fire safety. Read on to learn more.

News

Energy

SAE J-3277 Covers Leak Testing for Every EV Battery

North American EV battery manufacturers currently do not test 100% of the cells they assemble into Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (RESS, or battery packs) for electrolyte leakage....

Articles

Test & Measurement

How Emerging Technologies Can Transform EV Battery Reliability and Safety

As U.S. automakers evolve their lineups with new electric and hybrid vehicles, they face a significant challenge: meeting the increasing demand for affordable,...

Technology Report

Power

Marelli Says New BMS Offers Deeper Insight into State of EV Battery Cells

Battery cell management is a never-ending quest for deeper and faster insight into a cell’s energy production and health. Supplier Marelli says its new battery...

Briefs

Design

Researchers Unveil Scalable Graphene Technology to Revolutionize Battery Safety and Performance

Researchers have developed a pioneering technique for producing large-scale graphene current collectors. This breakthrough promises to significantly enhance the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), addressing a critical challenge in energy storage technology. Read on to learn more.

News

Unmanned Systems

Toyota Tacoma’s Resin Seat Named SPE’s 2024 Best Automotive Plastic Innovation

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) announced the winners of the 53rd annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala (IAG) in mid-November, naming Toyota’s...

News

Energy

Pure Lithium Bets on Vanadium Cathodes to Save U.S. Battery Independence

Continuing a common theme among some presenters at The Battery Show North America, Emilie Bodoin, the CEO and Co-Founder of Pure Lithium, which is betting on lithium...

News

Energy

New Fluids Coming for EV Thermal Management

Managing the heating and cooling of electric vehicle propulsion systems may seem to be an easy task compared with combustion engines. After all, ICEs run much hotter — the thermal optimum for a...

Articles

RF & Microwave Electronics

Reducing the Weight of EV Batteries with Specialty Thermoplastics

Weight reduction in EV battery components is an important factor in optimizing battery energy density, which in turn is critical to extending vehicle range and boosting...

News

Mechanical & Fluid Systems

SPE Names 2023’s Best Automotive Plastics Innovations

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) in early November, 2023 announced the winners of the 52nd annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala (IAG). The annual competition highlights...

Briefs

Power

New Gel Polymer Electrolyte to Revolutionize the Safety of Li-ion Batteries

A collaborative research team has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in battery technology. Their remarkable achievement in developing a non-flammable gel polymer electrolyte is set to revolutionize the safety of Li-ion batteries by mitigating the risks of thermal runaway and fire incidents.

News

Energy

Freudenberg Battery Lab Design Considered Human, Environmental Safety

As more OEMs and suppliers begin developing and manufacturing batteries for EVs, many are discovering the specific needs of a testing program. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has answered that need by adding such a facility to existing R&D space at its headquarters in Plymouth, Mich.

Articles

Power

Battle for the Box

Whether you call them packs, boxes, or trays, the structures that envelop and protect EV battery cells and their supporting electrical and thermal-management hardware are among the industry’s top subsystem priorities....

Articles

Energy

Deep Breathing for EV Batteries

As batteries become more sophisticated, the need to protect them from the elements has never been greater. Battery pack engineers understand vehicle applications and by marrying them with proper venting...

News

Energy

BMW Plans Move to Structural Battery Packs and ‘46120’ Cells

The technology below the smooth skin of BMW’s i Vision Dee concept car, unveiled at CES 2023, marks a major step forward in the company’s electric-vehicle...

Briefs

Energy

Triggering Li-ion Battery Cells with Laser Radiation

Inducing TR in a battery cell allows engineers to test and improve the safety performance of overheated batteries that can potentially catch fire or explode.

News

RF & Microwave Electronics

Ultrasound Tech Offers Sophisticated Battery-Testing Intelligence

The production and supply of lithium-ion batteries for the global EV and stationary energy storage systems (ESS) markets is growing at an exponential rate. At the same time,...

Technical Innovation

Transportation

Webasto Delivers Battery System for Zeus EV Chassis

Electric work trucks are beginning to roll off the line at Zeus Electric Chassis’ production facility in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Zeus is providing the Sacramento Municipal Utility...

News

Manufacturing & Prototyping

Using CT to Detect Defects in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Because of their power density, lithium-ion batteries as used by electric vehicles (EV) are subject to strict quality monitoring. Industrial computed tomography (CT) increasingly is being...

News

Software

An Immersive Solution for Thermally Safer EV Batteries

R&D work to solve an excessive noise problem created by an EV’s battery fast charger has led to advances in thermal management, heat dissipation – and reduced fire risks. D2H...

News

Electronics & Computers

Constellium Develops New Alloys for EV Battery Enclosures

Aluminum is the dominant material for electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosures for one simple but significant factor: lightweighting capability. All currently available long-range...

News

Semiconductors & ICs

NAWA Aims for 5-Minute EV Charge

A French nanomaterials company has developed a technology that it claims can significantly increase the storage efficiency of electric vehicle batteries. NAWA Technologies’ Ultra-Fast Carbon Electrode...

Articles

Transportation

Greater Precision for EV Battery Leak Testing

Inficon’s lithium-ion battery cell test can detect a leak many times smaller than current methods identify.

News

Energy

A Novel Materials Approach to EV Battery-Box Design

A battery enclosure that features a single-piece, metal-reinforced composite tray and one-piece composite cover is a step closer to an electric vehicle (EV) production application....

News

Energy

Greater Precision for EV Battery Leak Testing

Exposure to water vapor is a death sentence for the lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in hybrid-electric and electric vehicles. If moisture enters the battery cell and reacts with the...

News

Energy

Venting for EV Battery Packs

Batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) need protection from harsh external conditions. Generally located on the underside of the vehicle, EV battery enclosures protect the cells from exposure to water, dust,...

News

Energy

Static Testing of EV Components

The market for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow. To offset the immense weight of their batteries, a heightened focus has been put on lightweighting, which has brought many new materials and...