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Vishay Intertechnology has released what it claims is the industry’s first series of automotive grade ceramic disc capacitors with a Y1 rating available in a surface-mount casing. The SMDY1 Automotive Series consists of AC line-rated safety capacitors rated for 500 VAC and 1500 VDC, with capacitance up to 4.7 nanofarads, specifically aimed at demanding environments requiring high humidity robustness.

These capacitors are AEC-Q200 qualified and available with Production Part Approval Process documentation. Key electric vehicle applications include EMI and RFI noise suppression and filtering in on-board chargers, traction inverters, battery management systems, e-compressors and AC to DC converters. Vishay notes that the SMDY1 Automotive Series withstands Class IIB humidity conditions according to IEC60384-14 annex I and passes the 85 degrees Celsius, 85 percent relative humidity, 1000-hour test.

The SMD form factor allows for reflow soldering, supporting surface mount assembly methods that reduce manufacturing complexity and cost when compared to through-hole designs. With a flat profile, the design also enables flat casings or backside mounting on printed circuit boards without the clearance needed for leaded capacitors.

The capacitors are constructed from a copper-plated ceramic disc, encapsulated in flame-resistant epoxy resin that meets UL 94 V-0 standards. Vishay lists two available case sizes: a C case for 10 mm creepage and a D case offering 14.5 mm creepage distance. Each device uses a Class 2 ceramic dielectric (Y5U), supports a 500 VAC Y1 or 760 VAC X1 rating, and offers capacitance from 470 picofarads to 4.7 nanofarads with ± 20 percent tolerance.

Samples and production quantities are available with typical lead times of 12 weeks. US pricing ranges from $0.30 to $0.60 per piece. The product is compliant with RoHS and is halogen-free, according to Vishay.

Source: Vishay Intertechnology

Netherlands-based inepro Metering has introduced its PRO380-Eichrecht energy meter, designed to comply with a German regulation requiring all public EV charging stations to have certified, calibrated electricity meters.

The German calibration law, commonly known as Eichrecht, applies to all measuring devices. By including EV charging station meters, the regulation aims to ensure that EV drivers are only billed for the energy they consume. It mandates transparent metering, clear billing and secure data processing.

Charging stations must display real-time kWh readings or provide visual access to the meter. They must collect signed meter data that protects each session and can be verified through public key systems.

The PRO380-Eichrecht meter records accurate signed energy measurements to ensure correct billing, supports OCMF 1.3.1, digital signatures and tamper-proof data logging. It enables independent consumption verification via third-party apps such as S.A.F.E. and integrates with systems using the RS485 Modbus RTU protocol.

An operating temperature range of -40° C to 70° C enables the meter to operate in a range of demanding environments.

Source: inepro Metering

Albany Graphite (AGC), a subsidiary of Zentek, an intellectual property technology development and commercialization company, has been awarded a grant of $500,000 from the Ontario Government’s Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) for its graphite purification and anode material development project.

Albany Graphite will contribute $314,500 to the project and is also collaborating with NRCan CanmetENERGY’s G3M project to include purification testing of Albany Graphite in its custom-built electrothermal FBR. The testwork will also involve suitability testing of ultra-high purity Albany graphite samples for lithium-ion battery anode and cathode additive and nuclear applications.

NRCan CanmetENERGY will provide $200,000 of in-kind support including technical expertise, specialized equipment and custom testwork.

The project will entail the production of approximately 5-6 tonnes of 85% purity flotation concentrate from the 110-tonne bulk sample that was collected in 2019.

In January 2025, Zentek announced that AGC had achieved a preliminary, proof-of-concept purity of 99.9991% directly from a larger sample.

Albany Graphite supplied a 1 kg sample of the homogenized bulk flotation concentrate to a North American manufacturing company specializing in industrial graphite and carbon materials. The manufacturing company reported that the material was easily purified to an ultra-high purity level without the use of chlorine gas or any other halogen gases that are commonly used for graphite purification when 99.999% purity levels need to be achieved.

The process will lead to the subsequent production of larger volumes of high-purity graphite, which will be supplied to OEMs and end users for assessment and qualification.

“The CMIF grant will enable AGC to build on its recent purification successes and produce additional flotation concentrate that will be used for subsequent purification and anode development testwork, and produce marketing samples of ultra-high purity graphite samples for third-party evaluation in advanced material applications,” said Greg Fenton, CEO of Zentek and Albany Graphite. “We are pursuing the value-add processing component of the anode supply chain to create a vertically integrated anode solution. Based on the previous successes, AGC anticipates the project will help to further de-risk the Albany project and enhance its investment potential.”

Source: Zentek

Autel Energy has announced the integration of Phoenix Contact’s new 1,000 A liquid-cooled CCS2 cable and connector into its MaxiCharger DT1000 series. This addition enables sustained high-power output for heavy-duty vehicles, commercial fleets and high-performance passenger cars.

The Phoenix Contact CCS2 solution features an integrated liquid-cooled cable and connector platform designed for optimized conductor performance. It uses a water-glycol cooling loop to maintain consistent thermal stability during prolonged high-current charging. The connector supports continuous 800 A and up to 1,000 A boost operation, while maintaining lightweight construction for ease of handling. Features include Pt1000 temperature sensors, insulation monitoring, and an IP67-rated enclosure for environmental protection.

Built on a modular power electronics architecture, the MaxiCharger DT1000 system allows scaling from mid-range power delivery to deployments reaching megawatt levels, meeting the needs of varying fleet and site requirements. The product can also be paired with other liquid-cooled modules from Autel, such as the MaxiCharger DS600L and DS600/480, for flexible system configuration.

The combined solution aims to close the performance gap between today’s CCS-based charging stations and megawatt charging systems (MCS), supporting the growing demand for scalable fleet and heavy-duty EV charging.

“With the new generation of the cooled CCS HPC connector, Phoenix Contact delivers a charging power of up to 1 MW in boost mode, significantly narrowing the performance gap between CCS and MCS charging stations,” said Joachim Pucker, Senior Director E-Mobility Sales Network at Phoenix Contact. “While this does not make the MCS standard obsolete, it broadens the application range of CCS-based charging solutions and helps reduce the costs of infrastructure expansion, particularly for long-haul transportation. Together with Autel, we have integrated this technology into the highly efficient MaxiChargers to ensure an optimal charging experience for customers.”

Source: Autel Energy

For lithium battery manufacturers, proper moisture control is a critical variable for safety, yield, and cost. And while desiccant dehumidification is the proven way to reach ultra‑low dew points, performance and operating expense also depend on how you design the dry room, and which dehumidifier you select. For success, manufacturers and labs require a tight, well‑engineered dry room envelope plus a high‑performance desiccant system tuned to your loads.

ABB Installation Products’ new Microlectric EM Series Electric Vehicle Energy Management System (EVEMS) is designed to optimize residential energy distribution and avoid costly electrical upgrades.

ABB’s EVEMS, which is aimed at the Canadian market, ensures that EVs charge only when sufficient electrical capacity is available. The system intelligently monitors available electrical capacity in real time, automatically starting or stopping charging based on power availability. It can also be used to control other electrical loads, such as air conditioning (which is apparently considered “non-essential” in Canada).

“Empowering Canadians to embrace clean energy starts with removing the barriers that slow adoption,” said Leila Sedighi, VP Product & Marketing, ABB Installation Products.

The EM Series, which uses technology from Calgary-based Black Box Innovations, is “a scalable, future-ready solution created to meet the energy demands of single residential, multi-residential, and multifamily buildings.”

The system is compatible with residential electrical service entrances ranging from 60 to 200 amps.

Manufactured in Canada at ABB’s Iberville facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Black Box Innovations’ facility in Calgary, the Energy Management product line can be ordered in Canada exclusively through ABB’s nationwide distribution partners.

“This partnership allows Black Box Innovations to leverage ABB’s Canadian product assembly, marketing, and distribution capabilities to meet the growing demand for our electrical load mitigation products and power control systems,” Said Taner Cairns, CEO of Black Box Innovations.

Source: ABB

Coca-Cola, along with its bottling partners, is adding more electric trucks to its fleet in India. The fleet will soon include over 5,000 EVs nationwide.

SLMG Beverages, a major bottling partner, has added more than 3,000 EVs in the last three years to support last-mile delivery.

“Expanding our EV fleet is a deliberate move to improve delivery speed and capacity in line with the Coca-Cola system’s growth objectives,” said Rahul Kumar, SLMG Deputy Chief Executive Officer. “This investment strengthens our ability to meet increasing consumer demand, especially in rural markets, with improved cost-to-serve.”

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) has deployed approximately 500 EVs across 10 Indian states, improving regional coverage and operational efficiency.

“At HCCB, we’re constantly evolving to meet the dynamic demands of India’s beverage landscape,” said Vinay Nair, HCCB Chief Commercial Officer. “Fleet augmentation not only strengthens our last-mile deliveries but also reinforces our commitment to agile, tech-enabled supply chain solutions that serve our retailers faster and better.”

Source: Coca-Cola India