The US consortium Battery500 has been awarded $75 million for a second phase of research. The consortium has the task of developing next-generation batteries for electric vehicles can that outperform current lithium-ion batteries.
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BMW has made a deal with EC Power, a spin-off of Penn State University, to use their so-called All-Climate-Battery. The battery warms up itself in cold climates and thus got the potential to make EVs more fit for tough weather.
Read moreLeclanché forges alliance in China: Partnering with Narada Power, the battery maker wants to develop and produce new Li-ion technology for the automate sector. Leclanché will provide the necessary know-how about its fast-charging lithium titanate (LTO) and high energy density graphite nickel manganese cobalt (G-NMC) solutions, which Narada will manufacture in a new 25 GWh factory from 2017.
greencarcongress.com, leclanche.com
New frontiers: Following tests with self-driving shuttles in Singapore (we reported), start-up nuTonomy wants to conquer the streets of Boston. There, it will begin testing an autonomous Renault Zoe on public roads (but in an industrial park) before the end of the year.
theverge.com, fortune.com
Battery protection: The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded 1.1m dollars to Pennsylvania State University for the development of a new protective coating for Li-ion batteries used in i.e. electric cars. The so-called nanostructured hybrids are said to prevent the formation of dendrites by separating the anode from the electrolyte.
psu.edu
New deal: Plug Power has signed a declaration of intent with Zhangjiagang Furui Special Equipment and an unnamed Chinese carmaker (supposedly one of the top three in the country). The goal is to develop fuel cell and hydrogen solutions for the automotive sector in China.
greencarcongress.com
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Preheated battery: Researchers from Penn State University have developed the all-climate battery (ACB), a Li-ion battery that warms itself in cold environments to keep performance steady. When temperatures drop below zero, an integrated temperature sensor reroutes current through nickel foil, warming the battery through resistance heating. Once it reaches non-freezing temperatures, the heating switches off. The amount of energy used for the warm-up is said to be very small.
nature.com, gizmag.com, greencarcongress.com
Ahead of its Chicago debut, Kia revealed new details about its dedicated Niro PHEV. The on sale date is set for late 2016. It will be powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine coupled with a 32 kW electric motor. A plug-in hybrid variant will follow at a later stage.
autonews.com
Inconclusive: A recent fire of a Tesla Model S in Norway was not caused by the Supercharger it was connected to, an investigation concludes. Yet, what exactly has sparked the EV to go up in flame remains unclear, as the car burnt to the ground.
autoblog.com, ecomento.com
Tape a magnet: 3M introduced a new magnet bonding adhesive system designed to provide electric motor designers and engineers with a less sticky tool for attaching magnets to rotors and stators in permanent magnet electric motors. The new adhesive is a tape rather than liquid glue.
greencarcongress.com
