Mahle has presented a new lithium carbon battery concept that combines the advantages of supercapacitors and conventional lithium ion batteries. The concept should enable ultra-fast charging of light light electric vehicles (LEVs) in under 90 seconds, for example for urban distribution transport.
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Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a highly efficient supercapacitor. The basis of the energy storage device is a novel graphene hybrid material that has comparable performance data to batteries currently in use.
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Researchers at the TU Graz have investigated energy storage in a hybrid supercapacitor, a combination of battery and supercapacitor that combines the advantages of both technologies. They now published details in a scientific journal.
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Tesla has formally completed the acquisition of energy storage specialist Maxwell Technologies announced in February. In order to take control of the company, which specializes in supercapacitors and batteries, Tesla is transferring shares worth around $235 million.
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Better hybrids: Toyota developed new drivetrain components based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), said to cut carbon emissions by 15 percent. These include an optimised Toyota Hybrid System II (THS-II) and Multistage THS II for rear-wheel drives. The Japanese carmaker also announced that it wants to increase the size of its hybrid development team by 30% by 2021.
greencarcongress.com, toyota.com
Batteries from Sweden? According to Swedish media, former Tesla manager Peter Carlsson will set up a battery factory in Sweden under the name of his new company SGF Energy. Yearly production output for EV and stationary batteries could reach 35 GWh. The report also says that a feasibility study has already been conducted and turned over to the government to apply for funding. Construction could start as early as 2018.
affarsvarlden.se (in Swedish) via hgreentechmedia.com
Super supercapacitors: British researchers have developed a polymer based on soft contact-lens technology that could enable EVs to charge in seconds and significantly prolong range, by boosting the energy density of supercapacitors between 1,000 and 10,000 times. A prototype will be presented in 2017 and the search for partners to commercialise the technology has already begun.
autocar.co.uk, bloomberg.com
London e-bike maker Momentum Electric launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new VIT-S, allegedly the most powerful legal e-bike on the market. It has a maximum power output of 700W, while it meets EU requirements of 250W-rated power per 25 kph speed limit.
bikebiz.com, kickstarter.com (campaign)
Driverless future for the Ioniq: Hyundai and the University of Seoul have started a research project, in order to produce fully automated electric cars by 2020. A first prototype based on the Hyundai Ioniq will see the light in January of next year.
pulsenews.co.kr
New cathode material for safer batteries: Chemists working on the project FORELMO are looking into making EV batteries safer. Instead of using a nickel connector, they are using lithium-iron-phosphate as cathode material. The connection does not release oxygen that could ignite.
unternehmen-heute.de, haw-landshut.de (in German)
Hitting the road: Milton Keynes saw first tests of a self-driving electric car on its public UK roads this week. The technology was developed by Oxbotica, a spin-off of the Oxford University.
sky.com, autonews.com
Supercap research: Researchers at MIT have developed a new supercapacitor that does not use carbon and is said to be more powerful than current supercapacitors. That is made possible by using so-called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
mit.edu
Most clicked link on Tuesday was the German Federal Highway Research Institute test driving the Tesla Model S and finding that the Autopilot is too unsafe for the road. They now want to take the car out of service.
fortune.com
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LG inside: Not only will South Korean LG Chem deliver the batteries for the upcoming Chevy Bolt but the cooperation runs deeper. GM has also requested the electric drive, power inverter, on-board charger as well as components like air con or infotainment from LG.
autovolt-magazine.com, electriccarsreport.com, insideevs.com
E.ON to test wireless charging: The utility provider is testing inductive charging for electric vehicles in Berlin and the surrounding area. The charging technology is delivered by SEW Eurodrive. One of the electric cars charging without physically plugging is a converted Peugeot iOn.
eon.com
Integrated supercaps: Hong Kong Polytechnic University developed what is calls a Body Integrated Supercapacitor for electric vehicles. As the super-caps can be curved, they can be integrated into car body parts and are said to enable high capacity as well as fast-charging.
electricvehicleresearch.com
The Beast just got more fierce as Canadian Daymak improved its electric bike. Compared to the previous version, the overhauled Beast D features a dual 500W Motor and comes with an upgraded 60V 20ah Lithium Ion battery. Cost of the off-road creature is 4,299 dollars.
prnewswire.com
Most clicked link on Wednesday was the leaked scale model of the Volvo V90.
motorauthority.com
Efficient separation: Researchers from Swiss Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) have developed a coating that helps separating gases and water in fuel cells to make them more efficient. The team created “run-off channels” within the porous material, thus ensuring the gases can flow more quickly, making fuel cells more stable and powerful.
chemeurope.com
Motor race: Italian Magneti Marelli has developed an electric motor strong enough for the Formula E. The ‘MGU-FE’ has a peak power output of 300 kW and a torque of 200 Nm, while it is said to weigh less than 23 kg. Teams might get to use it from season 3 of the electric racing series.
electricautosport.com
Scraps to caps: Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Drexel University are upcycling scrap tires to produce flexible polymer carbon composite films to be used as electrodes for supercapacitors. After pre-treatment and processing, the resulting composite paper is highly flexible, conductive, and has a high capacitance.
greencarcongress.com
ZF EV powered by Akasol: The Advanced Urban Vehicle that ZF presented at the IAA utilises a Li-ion traction battery made by Akasol. Eight modules are divided into three system units (2/3/3) in order to be packed efficiently at the front and the rear axle. The pack holds 16.3 kWh.
greencarcongress.com
Tesla gets hacked: Security company Lookout says it was able to manipulate and even stop a Tesla Model S from a distance, while the vehicle was in motion. The experts point out six security flaws of the Tesla system, which they will present at today’s Defcon conference in Las Vegas. Tesla reacted quickly and already issued a patch.
wired.com, greencarreports.com
Supercapacitor development: Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new capacitor dielectric material that will help increase electric energy storage capacity, making supercapcitors rival certain batteries. The new supercapacitors can also be used for electric vehicles.
greenoptimistic.com, news.gatech.edu
New rules for hybrids: FIA and organiser of the World Endurance Championship ACO agreed to reduce the performance of LMP1 hybrid racers. Porsche, Toyota and Nissan will have to make do with less energy per round, while Audi’s diesel-hybrids will get a boost.
sportscar365.com
Recuperating suspension: A professor at the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech has proposed a new way for cars to recuperate energy. He says that the car’s shock absorbers could provide between 100 and 400 watt of energy.
vtnews.vt.edu
Faster charging rates: U.S. startup Bess Technologies has been awarded its first patent in Japan for its Li-ion batteries, said to offer more energy storage capacity and faster charging rates. Bess has also applied for patents in the U.S., Europe, Singapore, Canada and China.
bizjournals.com
Ion behaviour: Researchers from Cambridge and Toulouse have developed a new method to visualize the behaviour of ions during the charging process of a supercapacitor, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The technique could be used to improve supercapacitors for i.e. electric vehicles.
phys.org, nanowerk.com
Armored hybrids: Efficient Drivetrains and North American Repower will convert six armored trucks operated by Sectran Security into PHEV vehicles that run on electricity and renewable natural gas. With the modernized trucks, Sectran can eliminate engine idling by operating in all-electric mode during stop-and-go operations on urban routes and in hybrid-mode during highway operations.
greencarcongress.com
Fraunhofer IFAM gets more room: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM recently inaugurated an extension of its research facility in the German city of Bremen. At approximately 6,200 square meters, reserchers will i.e. work on advanced electric powertrains and material science solutions for future batteries, in particular the development of solid-state batteries.
idw-online.de (in German)
Most clicked link on Thursday was the report on the BMW i5, which is said to become available both as an all-electric and a plug-in hybrid version.
automobilemag.com
Lithium-air research: Scientists at the universities Graz, St. Andrews, Oxford and Amiens, as well as Collège de France have been able to better clarify the discharge process of lithium-air batteries. They say the key to increase capacity is an electrolyte with high donor number like i.e. sulfoxides or imidazole.
idw-online.de, science.apa.at (all articles in German)
Next-gen lithium-sulfur cells: Battery specialist Oxis Energy says it developed such a cell with an energy density of 300 Wh/kg, increasing its capacity twelve fold to 25 Ah within 18 months. The company believes it can develop cells with an energy density of 500 Wh/kg by 2018. According to Oxis, vehicle manufacturers are already reviewing and evaluating the cell technology.
chargedevs.com, oxisenergy.com
Supercapacitors for EVs: Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology have developed a lightweight supercapacitor, that was made into a thin film with a high power density. The supercaps could be embedded in a car’s body panels, roof, doors, bonnet and floor. The scientists say that once they increase energy density, the supercapacitors could allow for a range of around 500 kilometres.
qut.edu.au
Battery talks: Autoline Network airs a discussion between (among others) the CEO of LG Chem’s North American unit and the founder of Sakti3 about the future of batteries. The experts agree that for at least the next 10 to 15 years, nothing will be able to replace lithium cells.
youtube.com (Video) via greencarreports.com
Most clicked link on Tuesday was Italian e-bike manufacturer Velorapida that has adopted the ZeHus Bike+ kit for an unlimited range.
technologicvehicles.com
Flow-cell to go serial: nanoFLOWCELL is currently working with Bosch, PROCEDA and others on two prototypes of the QUANT e, head of technology Nuncio La Vecchia said. The companies want to increase performance as well as prepare the flow-cell vehicle for homologation.
nanoflowcell.com
Inner visions I: Chemists at New York and Cambridge Uni have found a way to look into the inner workings of supercapacitors. Their technology is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and offers a way to monitor the molecule’s behaviour and possibly enhance the performance of such devices.
nyu.edu, chargedevs.com
Inner visions II: With the same aim but other means and objects of interest, researchers from Brookhaven National Laboratory monitor what is going on at the cathode of lithium iron phosphate batteries during charging to learn more about the destructive effects of quick charges.
sciencedaily.com, greencarcongress.com
Hydrogenase instead of platinum? Researchers from the Ruhr-University Bochum and the Max-Planck-Institute Mülheim an der Ruhr have developed a protective shield for bio-catalysts in fuel cells. The hydrogenases that serve as catalyst do not have direct contact with the electrode but are packed within a redox hydrogel making the use of inexpensive material viable.
sciencedaily.com, phys.org
Most clicked link on Wednesday was Tesla’s tweet of a Hummer being parked at a Supercharger site, reassuring that this was not the new Model X.
cleantechnica.com
