Power Electronics

Deep Insight

Welding

Nick Flaherty explains the pros and cons of the various welding techniques for connecting cells to form battery packs. A battery pack in an EV consists of a large number of individual battery cells that are held together mechanically and connected electrically. Making those mechanical and electrical connections poses several challenges, including the joining of multiple thin...

Show Report

Battery Show North America 2019

The latest battery cooling, management, monitoring and other related technologies were exhibited at this show. Rory Jackson has some highlights. Every year, the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, plays host to The Battery Show North America (co-located with Electric & Hybrid Tech Expo North America). With more than...

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Onboard Chargers

EV users who need to prioritise safety and running costs should look to onboard chargers. Rory Jackson examines the engineering and technology inside them. The viability of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles depends on how quickly, efficiently and safely their battery packs can be recharged. At the moment, the charging times are...

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Inverters

Nick Flaherty explains the issues involved in developing inverters for different types of vehicle. The design of an inverter for an electric vehicle depends very much on the application. Full electric, hybrid, commercial bus and...

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Insulation

With the need for thermal and electrical insulation in electric vehicles set only to grow, Rory Jackson outlines the options available. With EVs and HEVs being designed now for longer ranges and heavier loads, so batteries are emerging that provide increasing quantities of energy. Most often, that means...

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Cables

There is a complexity to producing cables for EVs that some may find surprising. Rory Jackson has the details. The importance of cables for channelling power and data throughout electric and hybrid vehicles over thousands of hours cannot be overstated. However, before selecting and specifying cable requirements, the mechanical stresses they...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2019

Rory Jackson was on hand to investigate some of the key product launches and showcases at this recent show in Germany. The Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2019 was co-located with The Battery Show Europe 2019, and took place in the automobile hub of Stuttgart, Germany, in May. It drew together more than...

Dossier

John Deere 944k Hybrid Wheel Loader

Peter Donaldson reports on the design and development of this bulk material mover, the first in its class to become commercially available. In construction and mining, wheel loaders move material in bulk, often scooping it from piles with a bucket and then lifting and dumping it into a truck or crusher. Most are powered by diesel engines coupled to...

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Battery management systems

BMS technology is still evolving, so EV designers need to know the nuances of incorporating one into an electric powertrain. Nick Flaherty reports. A battery management system (BMS) is key to the reliable operation of an electric vehicle. The functions it has to handle vary from balancing the voltage of the battery cells in a pack to monitoring temperature and...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo 2018

Lawrence Butcher rounds up some of the innovation highlights at this show – the largest such event in North America. The annual EV and Hybrid Technology Expo returned to Novi, Michigan, in September 2018, with a host of companies displaying a range of...
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