Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology News

Escalating U.S. gas prices since the first of the year could spark a jump in electric- and gas/electric-hybrid sales. Whether that turns out to be the case or not, car sales gurus at Edmunds.com see increasing electrification of vehicles in the long term. That opinion is based on increasingly widespread mild hybrids with features such as stop/start technology and electric boost promising mileage improvements on the order of 20%, as well as more luxury hybrid offerings. While full electric vehicle sales are lagging, Edmunds figures urban demand and government fleet mileage edicts will dictate a wider niche for pure EVs and plug-in hybrids.

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Schaffner's competence for solving EMC problems is becoming important in hybrid and electric automotive technology. DC-DC converters lower the potential of the high-voltage batteries to the required level of the vehicle power supply or the electric motors. Schaffner components eliminate the electromagnetic interferences generated as a by-product of converter switching.

This ACPL-M49U-000E digital optocoupler uses an insulating layer between the light emitting diode and an integrated photo detector to provide electrical insulation between input and output. Separate connections for the photodiode bias and output transistor collector in a five-pin configuration increased speed up to a 100x over that of a conventional phototransistor by reducing the base-collector capacitance.

More information is available here.

Delphi Automotive has equipped several test vehicles with its Wireless Charging System, an efficient wireless energy transfer system featuring technology developed by WiTricity Corporation. For added convenience, this charging system eliminates the need for a cord. Drivers can simply park their vehicle over a wireless energy source on a garage floor or parking spot.

University of Southern California researchers have used cheap, porous silicon nanoparticles instead of conventional graphite to fabricate Li-ion battery anodes. They claim this design results in 3x the energy density, along with the ability to recharge "within 10 minutes." The provisionally patented anode might be on the market within three years if longevity issues with the material can be worked out.

Our durable, affordable, vibration-safe, and theft-preventing Liquid Tight Strain Relief Fittings are perfect for Electric and Hybrid vehicles! Types: Dome, Flex, Elbow, Clamping, EMI/RFI (Standard/Feed-Thru), Multi-Hole, Solar/Photovoltaic, Etc.! Threads: NPT/Metric/PG. Materials: Nylon, Nickel Plated Brass, Stainless Steel. Approvals: UL/ UR/CSA/VDE/CE/ ULf1(746C)/RoHS. Order a sample here! No minimum orders!

Single turn wave springs are ideal for bearing preload. The spring preloads the bearing through its outer race, taking up play in the bearing. This reduces bearing damage, wear, noise, and vibration. Smalley has stock parts from 1/4 in. to 16 in. Specials are available from .200 in. to 120 in.

The hermetically sealed P105 MiniTactor™ joins GIGAVAC's lineup of sealed switching products. At less than 4 oz it can easily be installed in any orientation. A sealed chamber for both contacts and coil assures clean switching in any environment. Safe power switching can be made at any voltage up to 1500 Vdc.

Safco is a full-service designer and manufacturer of top-quality power supplies, cords, chargers, and converters. Our custom engineering and expert troubleshooting enable us to successfully address the complexities of charging electric and hybrid vehicles while producing custom cables that deliver a robust, reliable charge.

Fuji Electric's new FRC Series of Quick Chargers for Electric Vehicles offers the ability to charge 25 kWh electric vehicle batteries in 60 minutes. With DC Quick Chargers, electric vehicle owners will be able to keep their cars topped off and ensure that they can complete a full day of activities.

Electricity will fuel the vehicles of tomorrow. However, in order to see widespread EV adoption, the electrical grid must be modernized and charging stations must be accessible, quick, and easy. GE Digital Energy's electric vehicle charger, GE WattStation™, is designed to help address these challenges by significantly decreasing the time needed for vehicle charging.

Nissan, maker of the Leaf electric vehicle, will triple the number of quick-charging stations in the U.S. by adding 500 of the units over the next year and a half. As an astute policy move, 40 of those stations will be in the Washington, D.C. area. The fast chargers provide an 80% charge to a Leaf battery in less than 30 minutes. The bottom line: "Having a robust charging infrastructure helps build range confidence, which boosts interest in and use of electric vehicles," says Nissan's Brendan Jones, director of EV marketing.

A recent IHS/IMS research study says public and private entities are holding back from investing in EV charging facilities because of their cost; any charging infrastructure that exists today was funded mostly by government. Until this situation changes, electric and hybrid vehicles will remain a niche market. Government backing, says the report , is still vital for the EV charging infrastructure.

While it is certainly no Prius in terms of fuel efficiency, McLaren's upcoming P1 supercar will be a gasoline/electric plug-in hybrid. While the hybrid system is programmed for an electric-only range of 10 km (6 miles), the battery-electric powertrain provides the P1 with an extra 176 bhp and max torque of 260 Nm, to add to its V8 engine output of 727 bhp and 720 Nm. The electric motor is integrated with the seven-speed gearbox driving the rear wheels and also captures energy in regenerative braking.

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