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Customized EV connectors: ENNOVI’s approach to automotive interconnects

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Customized EV connectors: ENNOVI’s approach to automotive interconnects
Customized EV connectors: ENNOVI’s approach to automotive interconnects

In the rapidly evolving automotive landscape, electrification is reshaping the industry, driving companies like ENNOVI to innovate specialized solutions. Charged recently chatted with ENNOVI’s team—CEO Stefan Rustler, Managing Director Michael Meckl and Product Manager Till Wagner—to learn more about its approach to automotive interconnects.

Founded just over a year ago, yet built on a foundation of 60 years of automotive manufacturing expertise, ENNOVI emphasizes five strategic pillars: speed, innovation, talent, global outreach, and sustainability. These pillars position the company as a significant player in electric vehicle technologies, particularly within battery interconnect, power solutions, and signal interconnect applications.

ENNOVI’s strength lies in its capacity to customize interconnect solutions tailored specifically to customer requirements. Early engagement and collaborative approaches ensure their global teams effectively anticipate and fulfill client needs. Through regional teams, competence centers, and extensive factory networks—comprising 14 facilities and four innovation hubs globally—ENNOVI guarantees a smooth transition from concept to production, helping clients rapidly scale solutions.

A vital component of ENNOVI’s strategy is sustainability, integral to both its operational practices and product design. Achieving five consecutive EcoVadis Platinum awards underscores ENNOVI’s long-term commitment to environmental responsibility. This commitment encompasses reducing material and electricity consumption, implementing recyclable packaging solutions, and establishing closed-loop water systems within their manufacturing processes.

Learn more about ENNOVI’s products:

Innovative battery module design remains critical to the EV industry’s evolution. ENNOVI specializes in manufacturing battery module components, such as advanced cell contacting systems. Aware of ongoing challenges such as varying cell form factors and chemistries, ENNOVI has developed adaptable manufacturing technologies, including stamping, molding, lamination, and laser welding. These solutions offer flexibility in meeting dynamic market demands and enable more efficient production processes.

One specific innovation highlighted by ENNOVI is the advancement of adhesive-free lamination technology for cell contacting systems. Traditional plastic trays, heavy and space-consuming, reduce overall battery energy density. ENNOVI’s adhesive-free lamination approach eliminates environmental impacts associated with adhesives while improving cycle times, demonstrating significant advancements in both ecological efficiency and performance optimization.

Additionally, ENNOVI is responding effectively to the increased demand for higher voltage and faster charging capabilities in EV power systems. With typical EV voltages rising from 400–500 volts up to 800–1000 volts, ENNOVI addresses these challenges by innovating more compact and cost-effective bus bar connections. Their new sealing technologies shorten production cycles, reduce costs, and expedite market entry, reinforcing ENNOVI’s role in accelerating the automotive industry’s electrification journey.

The Missing Link in Self-Driving Cars? It Might Be a Human in a VR Headset

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When we hear “self-driving car,” most of us picture a sleek vehicle cruising through the city all by itself, no driver, no steering wheel, just smooth, hands-free rides.

But here’s the twist: Tesla’s upcoming Robotaxis in Austin might still have someone driving them.
Only… that person won’t be inside the car.

They’ll be wearing a VR headset somewhere else, controlling the vehicle remotely like a real-life video game.

Yep. This is real.

What’s Going On with Tesla’s Robotaxi?

Tesla is getting ready to launch a limited Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, starting with 10 to 20 cars. The cars won’t have steering wheels or pedals. They’re designed to be fully autonomous.

But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of mystery.
A recent WIRED article revealed that Tesla is hiring people to guide these vehicles remotely using virtual reality (VR) gear. It’s part of something called teleoperations.

Wait… What’s Teleoperations?

Great question.

Teleoperations means a human steps in remotely when the car doesn’t know what to do. That could be:

  • Driving around a construction zone

  • Figuring out confusing intersections

  • Helping if the car gets stuck or something weird happens

Sometimes, the human gives advice.
Other times, they take full control, just not from inside the car.

Tesla’s job post even says these operators will be “transported into the car’s world” using a high-tech VR setup. Think of it like someone playing a driving simulator. Except it’s real life, and there’s a Tesla on the road.

Why This Matters for EV Fans

This isn’t just cool tech. It actually shows where autonomous driving is really at in 2025.

Even the most advanced self-driving cars still need a little help.
And that’s okay.

A professor from Carnegie Mellon told WIRED that remote assistance is a smart and safe part of the process, not a failure.

The key takeaway? Robotaxis aren’t 100% robot just yet.

So, What Does This Mean for Tesla Owners?

Here’s the short version:

  • Tesla is testing bold ideas, like cars with no steering wheels and humans driving from afar

  • This won’t affect your own Tesla’s Autopilot or FSD, but it gives a peek into the future

  • Remote driving may be temporary until the AI gets smarter

It’s another example of Tesla pushing limits—and trying new things before anyone else.

The Bottom Line

Tesla’s Robotaxis might be on the road soon, but don’t be surprised if there’s still a human helping out… just not in the driver’s seat.

Instead, they might be sitting in a control room with a VR headset on, helping the car get where it needs to go.

It’s not the driverless future we expected, but it’s still pretty wild.

Source: WIRED

EPC releases inverter to bring GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives

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EPC releases inverter to bring GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives
EPC releases inverter to bring GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives

US-based Efficient Power Conversion (EPC), which supplies enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN) power devices, has released a high-performance 25 ARMS, 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design.

Powered by the EPC2304 eGaN FET, the EPC9196 inverter is designed for medium-voltage (96-150 V) battery-powered motor drive applications, including steering systems in automated guided vehicles (AGVs), traction motors in compact autonomous vehicles and precision motor joints in robotics.

The release offers system designers a compact, efficient, and ready-to-deploy solution that accelerates development and optimizes system performance in the lower end of the 25-400 ARMS application range, according to the company. EPC recently introduced its EPC2367 100 V eGaN FET.

The EPC2304 is a 200 V-rated, 3.5 mΩ (typical) eGaN FET in a thermally enhanced QFN package chosen for its low RDS(on) and high performance in compact form factors. It enables the EPC9196 to deliver up to 35 Apk (25 ARMS) phase current at switching frequencies up to 100 kHz. This performance translates to low switching losses, minimal dead time and a smooth, low-noise motor drive profile even at high PWM speeds. EPC said.

Key features of the EPC9196 include a wide input voltage range from 30-170 V, integrated gate drivers, housekeeping power, current and voltage sense, over-current protection and thermal monitoring and dv/dt control optimized for motor drive applications (<10 V/ns). The inverter is compatible with multiple motor drive controller platforms from Microchip, ST, TI and Renesas. It is ready for use in sensorless or encoder-based control configurations.

“With the introduction of the EPC9196, we’re enabling engineers working in robotics, AGVs, and compact EVs to take full advantage of GaN’s superior performance without redesigning for high current,” said Marco Palma, Director of Motor Drive Systems and Applications at EPC.

Source: EPC

Zero-emission ferry demonstrates five-fold cost savings over diesel equivalent

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Chartwell Marine has completed sea trials of its electric trimaran ferry demonstrator, reporting operational costs five times lower than equivalent fossil fuel-powered vessels. The TriFoiler project, developed in partnership with […]

The post Zero-emission ferry demonstrates five-fold cost savings over diesel equivalent appeared first on Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.

ENNOVI integrates advanced functionality with busbar sealing technology in EV and hybrid drivetrains

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ENNOVI integrates advanced functionality with busbar sealing technology in EV and hybrid drivetrains
ENNOVI integrates advanced functionality with busbar sealing technology in EV and hybrid drivetrains

ENNOVI, a provider of e-mobility technologies, has introduced a new technology for sealing busbars, which prevents coolant leakage in hybrid and EV drivetrain applications.

ENNOVI-SealTech can be used with either busbars or other interconnects to accommodate applications such as motors, inverters or oil pump interfaces. It offers two sealing methods: double-walled shrink tubes or adhesive tape for challenging applications. Both eliminate post-processing, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and design flexibility without sacrificing sealing performance, according to ENNOVI.

Every configuration is validated through a comprehensive testing process, including thermal aging at 150° C for 1,000 hours and thermal shock cycling from -40° C to +150° C for 600 15-minute cycles, in accordance with the EN 60068-2 standard. A leak test is also performed to verify sealing integrity.

The use of shrink tubing or tape allows ENNOVI-SealTech to adapt to virtually any busbar shape and design specification. The technology is compatible with a wide range of metals and plastics, including copper, aluminum, PA66, PBT, PC and others.

“Managing busbar interfaces in EVs where coolant is present on one side and a dry, electrically robust connection is required on the other side, presents several challenges,” said Dominik Pawlik, Product Portfolio Director for Power Interconnects at ENNOVI. “Conventional sealing methods, such as potting or using rubber O-rings or gaskets, incur the high cost and time for secondary processes and/or issues with leakage over the lifetime of the assembly—ENNOVI-SealTech overcomes all these limitations.”

Source: ENNOVI

Polestar introduces battery health certificates for pre-owned cars in the UK

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Polestar introduces battery health certificates for pre-owned cars in the UK
Polestar introduces battery health certificates for pre-owned cars in the UK

Swedish electric sports car brand Polestar has introduced battery state-of-health certificates for its pre-owned Polestar 2 models.

The certificate, which documents the usable battery capacity as a percentage, is designed to give EV drivers confidence in the health of their vehicle batteries.

Every pre-owned Polestar has an extensive 112-point check, a 24-month warranty and the remainder of the eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty, effective from the date of first registration. All pre-owned Polestar 2s now undergo a battery state-of-health check, which is presented to customers before their purchase.

Polestar has opened its first pre-owned Space in Birmingham, UK focused on selling fully checked pre-owned Polestars.

Pre-owned Polestar 2, Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 models continue to receive over-the-air (OTA) updates, allowing the company to keep improving them over time. Since its launch in 2020, Polestar 2 has received over 20 OTA updates, including efficiency gains extending the car’s range through battery management, new functionality with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as various apps including Waze and YouTube.

“Where customers may have been apprehensive about a five-year-old Polestar 2 and its battery condition, Polestar is giving car buyers transparency and providing peace of mind,” said Matt Galvin, Managing Director, Polestar UK.

Source: Polestar