Month: December 2024

Hot on the heels of its new Editron EM-PMI540B electric motor for off-highway machinery and marine vessels, Danfoss Power Solutions has announced the launch of the Editron EM-PMI375 690-volt electric motor.

Based on synchronous reluctance-assisted permanent magnet technology, the EM-PMI375 functions as both a motor and a generator. It is designed to work with the Editron EC-C1700B inverter, offering a system solution for 690 V AC and 1,050 V DC applications such as winches, cranes, marine vessels, and mining and material handling machinery.

The Editron EM-PMI375 690 V electric motor is in the same shape and form as the EM-PMI375 500-volt motor, and offers the same robustness, longevity and standardized options. Like its 500-volt counterpart, the EM-PMI375 690 V motor offers up to 96% efficiency throughout its operating range, and Danfoss says it’s smaller and lighter than competing products. Developed especially for demanding applications, the motor features a compact and robust aluminum frame structure with an IP67 ingress protection rating.

“Our new EM-PMI375 690 Volt motor and EC-C1700B inverter are the first two pieces of our 690-volt ecosystem, with more to come,” said Chao Wang, Head of Portfolio Management for the company’s Editron division. “There are few, if any, options out there for true 690-volt mobile-grade inverters and motors. Most are based on industrial solutions, and thus offer much lower vibration and shock tolerance.”

The EM-PMI375 electric motor is available in four sizes to suit a range of torque and power needs. Models include:

•              T200: continuous torque rating of 200 Nm and power range up to 63 kW

•              T500: continuous torque rating of 500 Nm and power range from 66 kW to 158 kW

•              T800: continuous torque rating of 800 Nm and power range from 85 kW to 251 kW

•              T1100: continuous torque rating of 1,100 Nm and power range from 177 kW to 296 kW

All models feature a speed range of up to 4,000 rpm. The motors are liquid-cooled and have low coolant flow requirements.

Source: Danfoss Power Solutions

Researchers at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas have found a way to expand the lifespan of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries.

SMU Mechanical Engineer Donghai Wang and his research team have been able to prevent Li-S batteries from producing an unwanted side effect known as polysulfide dissolution that appears over time, shortening their lifespans. Wang and his team have found a way to fix this issue by using what they called a hybrid polymer network cathode.

A study published in the journal Nature Sustainability shows that the team’s newly developed hybrid polymer network cathode allows Li-S batteries to deliver over 900 milliampere-hours per gram mass (mAh/g), compared to the typical 150-250 mAh/g capacity in lithium-ion batteries. That means it can preserve a much higher amount of electrical energy. 

“This breakthrough could lead to more durable, long-lasting batteries,” said Wang, the Brown Foundation Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at SMU Lyle. “Our cathode uses multiple sulfur bonding tethers, atomic adsorption, and fast Li-ion/electron transport at the molecular level. This combination allows for real-time re-bonding and adsorption of any unbound sulfur species, thus effectively eliminating soluble polysulfides and extending the battery’s cycle life.”

Source: Southern Methodist University

Yolo County, a stretch of rolling hills between the Napa Valley and Sacramento, California, has become one of the first municipalities in the US to put a new Volvo DD25 Electric compactor into service.

Yolo County’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan calls for electrifying the county’s entire fleet of on- and off-road equipment. The fleet currently includes six electric forklifts and two electric pickup trucks, and three more EVs are on the way.

“The DD25 Electric will help us achieve our goals in several ways: by reducing emissions, lowering noise levels, being more energy-efficient, improving working conditions and promoting environmentally friendly practices,” said Fleet Superintendent Ben Lee.

The double-drum compactor from Volvo Construction Equipment will help Lee’s team with a variety of projects. “We’ll use it to compact soil, gravel and other base materials for road and foundation projects, as well as rolling out and leveling asphalt during road construction and resurfacing.”

Lee was introduced to Volvo’s electric machines at a recent open house event in San Leandro. “The Volvo team played a key role in this decision by helping us assess how the DD25 Electric would meet our specific operational needs and sustainability goals while working within our budget,” he said.

“After discussing the features and benefits of the DD25 Electric plus the upcoming Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) Voucher Incentive program, Ben was very interested, and I knew it would be a good fit,” said Scott Nadell, a Government Sales Rep at Volvo Construction Equipment and Services. “This model is great for the light-duty applications like patch rolling and smaller paving jobs they do.”

Lee and Nadell discussed how a CORE voucher could subsidize the purchase, and had the necessary documentation ready to submit as soon as the voucher program opened. “Fortunately, they were approved for the grant, and we had a machine already being built at our factory in Pennsylvania that met the fleet’s requirements, so the rest is history!” said Nadell.

Yolo County’s DD25 Electric compactor will need to charge no more than a few overnights per week using an existing Level 2 AC charger at their fleet facility. The machine will typically operate for three to four hours a day, and the charge is expected to last for at least six to eight hours.

“There are some remote areas in the county, so we’re looking into a mobile, self-contained charging unit as well, so we wouldn’t have to bring the machine back to the yard each night during a long-term project,” said Lee.

Unlike legacy diesel equipment, electric machines do not idle, so energy stored in the battery is only consumed when work is being done. Compared to a diesel, the DD25 Electric offers simplified maintenance, it’s quieter, and its smoother ride helps operators feel less fatigued at the end of a shift. These benefits do not come at the cost of power or performance. Volvo’s 48-volt battery provides 33 hp and 24 kWh of energy—30% more than the diesel model. The drum frequency can be adjusted from 3,500 vpm (55 Hz) to 4,000 vpm (67 Hz) to address different applications.

Source: Volvo Construction Equipment

In Germany, Nio is not allowed to call its models ES6, ES7 and ES6 as there is a risk of confusion with Audi’s S models. But in Australia, the trademark dispute between the two manufacturers has now gone the other way: Nio does not have to switch to ‘EL’ instead of ‘ES’ as it does in the German market.

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The Norwegian fuel cell manufacturer Teco 2030 has to file for insolvency. There is no longer a realistic possibility of raising sufficient capital to continue operations.

Electric mobility service provider Electrify America is cooperating with the US-based retail company Costco Wholesale to deploy charging stations at five Costco facilities. The charging stations include hyper-fast chargers delivering up to 350 kW of power.

The charging infrastructure manufacturer Ekoenergetyka and BP Pulse will be working together in future to offer fleet operators solutions for charging electric trucks overnight. This is not just about charging at the depot. Public charging, particularly along the TEN-T network, is also the focus of the cooperation.