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FORVIA HELLA and Tau Motors have announced a partnership to develop a virtually isolated onboard charger (viOBC) for electric vehicles, targeting series production within two to three years. The viOBC is designed to eliminate the need for a transformer, resulting in a compact charger with high power density and improved energy efficiency.

According to the companies, the viOBC uses an innovative hardware and software architecture to maintain electrical and functional safety without the traditional transformer that separates the AC grid from the DC vehicle system. This design allows for a power density of up to 7 kW per liter of installation volume. The viOBC reduces the required installation space by up to half and decreases weight by about one third compared to conventional onboard chargers.

The viOBC achieves an energy efficiency exceeding 98 percent during the charging process and supports advanced energy management functions, including vehicle-to-grid integration and grid-supporting virtual powerplant capability. The companies report that, by removing the transformer, the system can help reduce electricity costs due to higher charging efficiency and support CO₂ savings through vehicle weight reduction.

Source: FORVIA HELLA

Upfit UTV, a Fox Factory subsidiary focused on customized off-road vehicles, has announced a collaboration with OMI, a global electric powertrain engineering company, to integrate the OMI Fusion-Drive hybrid system into the Polaris Ranger XD 1500 platform. The companies say this new system will bring significant advancements in hybrid heavy-duty utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), with commercial availability planned for the first quarter of 2026.

The OMI Fusion-Drive is a hybrid powertrain designed to optimize power and efficiency in challenging off-road conditions. The system features three selectable drive modes—electric, hybrid, and combustion—enabling users to switch between power sources depending on terrain and operational requirements. The electric mode is intended to enable lower emissions and quieter operation, which the companies say addresses requirements related to footprint and noise in environmentally sensitive areas.

The Fusion-Drive system also incorporates the OMI NEXUS user interface, which is aimed at increasing ease of use and adaptability for end users. OMI reports that the NEXUS UI enables operators to customize drive settings and integrate third-party devices without needing advanced technical expertise. The interface offers simple configuration between driving modes and simplifies the process of adding on additional electronics or accessories to the vehicle. These features are targeted at users seeking flexibility in off-road vehicle deployment.

The Polaris Ranger XD 1500 will be the first platform to implement the Fusion-Drive hybrid system. The companies identify applications in off-road, utility, and recreational markets, with further potential for technologies such as range extender electric vehicles (REEV) and autonomous vehicles to be applied in off-road scenarios.

“Fusion-Drive allows us to meet these demands without sacrificing performance,” adding, “With the OMI NEXUS UI, we empower everyday drivers with powerful, user-friendly customization tools that require no advanced technical expertise,” said Justin Smith, CEO of Upfit UTV.

“The benefits make Fusion-Drive a promising direction for the future of off-road vehicles and open the door for new technologies that can be particularly useful in off-road scenarios, such as range extender electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles,” said Luis Garelli, CTO of OMI.

Source: OMI

This webinar is dedicated to the simulation of power electronics in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments, with a special focus on the challenges posed by fast-switching semiconductor devices and high switching frequencies in automotive systems.

Join us session at our September Virtual Conference, presented by dSpace, to discover how real-time models with nanosecond time steps and PWM signal oversampling can significantly improve simulation accuracy and reduce aliasing-induced oscillations.

September 17, 2025, 8:45 am EDT
Register now—it’s free!

See the complete session list for the Virtual Conference on EV Engineering here.

Broadcast live from September 15 to 18, 2025, the conference content will encompass the entire EV engineering supply chain and ecosystem, including motor and power electronics design and manufacturing, cell development, battery systems, testing, powertrains, thermal management, circuit protection, wire and cable, EMI/EMC and more.

Tesla has officially rolled out its Robotaxi app, marking the first step toward making the long-discussed service available to the public. The app is now live in the U.S., and iPhone users can download it today to join the waitlist. Android support is expected to follow a little later.

The move follows Elon Musk’s promise to “open up” Robotaxi in September. Tesla has done exactly that, though the rollout comes with some clear limits.

For now, the service operates only in Austin and the Bay Area with a modest fleet of vehicles, each supervised by a Tesla employee. While the app is available nationwide, approval will likely come first for users in those two cities.

Robotaxi at this stage functions as a preview of what Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system could become when scaled into ride-hailing. The technology can handle most driving tasks, but supervised rides remain necessary until consistency improves.

For Tesla owners, this is less about changing daily habits and more about seeing where the brand is headed. Robotaxi is essentially an early look at how Teslas could eventually be used beyond personal driving, hinting at a future where vehicles generate income or operate independently.

The broader goal is data. Each supervised ride adds valuable information to train and refine FSD. For enthusiasts, this milestone highlights how individual ownership today connects to the bigger vision of autonomous mobility tomorrow.

The app is open, the groundwork is being laid, and while the service is still in its early stages, it offers a glimpse into the future Tesla has been working toward. For now, it’s still you in the driver’s seat, but the road ahead looks different than ever before.

Source: Electrek

ROHM and Schaeffler have announced the start of mass production for a new high-voltage inverter brick featuring ROHM’s silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) bare chips. Schaeffler says the device is designed for a major Chinese electric EV manufacturer.

The inverter brick supports battery voltages significantly greater than the typical 800 V standard and can deliver root mean square (RMS) currents up to 650 A. These capabilities enable a more compact but powerful power electronics module. According to ROHM, the inverter brick’s modular and scalable design is central to its easy integration into a variety of inverter architectures, supporting rapid deployment in vehicle platforms using so-called X-in-1 powertrain approaches. The brick integrates a power module for pulse width modulation, a DC link capacitor, DC link and integrated cooling.

Additionally, it features a DC boost function, which allows vehicles with 800-volt systems to charge at 400-volt charging stations while maintaining the higher charging speed associated with 800-volt infrastructure.

ROHM notes that its fourth-generation SiC technology substantially improves efficiency and performance for EVs, strengthening the role of silicon carbide power semiconductors in modern automotive applications. The partnership between Schaeffler and ROHM, established in 2020, aims to secure improved capacity and supply of energy-efficient SiC power semiconductors.

Source: ROHM

Moon Five Technologies has announced plans to install more than 450 EV charging units at multifamily properties in Los Angeles and San Francisco, following a $3.4 million grant from the California Energy Commission under the REACH 3.0 program. This initiative is focused on providing EV charging access to underserved communities, particularly renters in disadvantaged areas, and will be supported by partnerships with local nonprofit housing providers.

Moon Five Technologies’ plug-and-play units connect directly downstream of a tenant’s existing electric meter and monitor available power, allowing tenants to charge EVs without requiring utility-driven infrastructure upgrades. This model bypasses the need for building-wide electrical upgrades or landlord involvement, with installation times claimed to be as short as two weeks from initial coordination through permitting and final installation.

The company’s solution uses a proprietary energy management system and bidirectional-ready charger. By creating a dedicated circuit downstream of each tenant’s meter, Moon Five enables apartment-level load balancing to avoid overloads and optimize energy use. Technical features include capacity for load shedding and bidirectional energy resiliency, which are intended to support eventual grid integration and offer tenants more control over energy usage.

The deployment will prioritize buildings and neighborhoods most impacted by limited infrastructure investment, air pollution and climate vulnerability, as listed by the California Energy Commission’s REACH 3.0 program requirements.

“EV charging has never really been built for renters until now,” said Stephan Ng, CEO of Moon Five Technologies. “Our unique model puts renters first, making it possible to install reliable, affordable charging without costly upgrades or utility delays. This grant allows us to bring that vision to life in communities that have historically been excluded from clean transportation infrastructure, while delivering on our mission to make equitable, resilient EV charging a reality for every renter.”

Installations are scheduled to begin in early 2026.

Source: Moon Five Technologies