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In the USA, Ionna is entering into a strategic partnership with the restaurant and convenience store chain Sheetz to build a total of 50 charging parks at Sheetz locations by the end of 2026. Ionna is a North American joint venture fast-charging joint venture from BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota.

Hyundai and BAIC are investing around 1.1 billion US dollars in their joint venture Beijing Hyundai. According to a media report from January 2024, Hyundai and BAIC are planning a new electric car brand exclusively for the Chinese market.

They already have VW in their pocket as a partner and have their sights set on Tesla as their most important opponent. This makes XPeng perhaps the most exciting newcomer from China at the moment and none of its cars have such good prospects as the G6.

With the C50, ABB E-mobility is presenting a slim charging solution with 50 kW power for destination charging, which is only 23.5 centimetres deep and has a 21.5-inch touchscreen.

Singaporean charge point operator Charge+ has bought 140 public or shared charging stations from three companies, namely eChargz, Quickcharge, and PacCom. These acquisitions bring Charge+’s total number of charging points in Singapore to approximately 2,500.

Cyclic Materials, a recycling company supported by BMW and others, has signed a multi-year contract to supply recycled copper recovered from electric motors to the raw materials company Glencore.

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