EV charging: Hyundai will offer a plug-in Sonata in the near future.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a new type of automobile charger that requires just two hours, rather than eight, to replenish an electric vehicle’s battery pack. Though still in the early development stage, the charging systems are also less costly than current models and offer an estimated total price tag of about $2,000. The unit is the brainchild of electrical engineer Saeid Haghbin, whose doctoral work focuses on integrated motor drives and battery chargers for electric cars.

EV Charging: Video

For a quick overview of how wireless charging works, the above video clip gives a basic description of typical systems, especially those embedded into roads. Like some other types of cutting-edge technology, embedded chargers are more scientifically workable than economically attractive. Individual wireless units, however, are available for home charging on some cars. The video looks primarily at the science behind electrified roads and what impact they would have on transportation in general.

EV Charging

Researchers at Chalmers continue to work on charging units that are not only affordable for the average consumer, but that are also lightweight and small. The key component in the new unit is what engineers call a rotating transformer. The transformer allows researchers to utilize both the inverter and the electric motor to increase charging power. The concept is unique and has almost infinite application potential in transportation science.

Among the top 500 leading research institutions in the world, Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden ranked third in a recent study that measured cooperation between educational entities and industry. Chalmers is located in Gothenburg, Sweden, and has gained an international reputation for research and education. Besides diverse areas of technological application, the school also focuses on architecture and natural sciences Founded in 1829, Chalmers graduates about 40 percent of Sweden’s architects and engineers.
http://www.chalmers.se/en/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Chevy Spark EV, under the hood

The Chevy Spark EV will feature both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) charging ports as well as a special communications link that informs the charging unit of exact amperage and voltage needs. Most electric cars available in the U.S. carry AC, but not DC capability. At present, no other vehicle has the U.S. version of an AC charger alongside a DC port. Two competing electric cars from Japan, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf, carry DC ports that connect only to Japanese ChaDeMo charging units. Both those cars have universal AC ports as well.

Chevy Spark EV: Video

Electric car enthusiasts will enjoy the above video that describes the Chevy Spark EV in a simple, artistic way. Location of the battery pack and motor are shown, followed by a detailed cutaway of the motor, rendered in close-up. Magnets, stator, shaft, conductor and spinning rotor are featured in the second portion of the mini-documentary. After that, the video offers a fascinating, original explanation of the planetary gear set that viewers will not soon forget. Even the mechanically challenged will appreciate the cleverness of the rendering. The clip wraps up with an overview of the car’s regenerative braking system, using 3-D graphics to demonstrate how brake application sends captured kinetic energy to the electric battery. For a two-minute video that has no narration and uses simple, animated artwork, the official Chevy production is an eloquently educational lesson about how electric cars work.

Chevy Spark EV

With its ability to accept AC or DC charging, Chevy’s all-electric production car is positioned to capture a significant piece of the EV market segment from its competitors. Using the car’s DC charger, an owner can replenish the Spark EV battery to 80 percent capacity in just 20 minutes.

For more about Chevrolet, and about the Spark EV in particular, see the automaker’s official websites:
http://www.chevrolet.com
www.chevrolet.com/spark-ev-electric-vehicle.html

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Phinergy: Citroen using aluminum-air battery

An Israel-based company has built an auto battery that is capable of about three times the range of comparable units. An aluminum-air battery from Phinergy uses water to extract the latent energy from metal. The company is hoping to have a working production model available by 2017. Phinergy has already contracted with the Renault-Nissan Alliance to develop the technology for automotive applications. A company spokesperson for Phinergy noted that the new batteries also feature brief charging times.

Phinergy Battery: Video

For an overview of the company behind the high-density battery, see the video clip above. Metal-air batteries have wide applications. Energy storage systems, consumer electronics, military defense, and transportation are some of the areas in which such technology is useful. One reason the aluminum-air battery test in an electric vehicle is so important has to do with the huge impact such an advance would have on the entire manufacturing sector. For the time being, aluminum is the metal of choice for such experiments due to its high-energy content, which is approximately eight kWh per kilogram of the metal.

Phinergy

Phinergy develops high-energy, zero-emission systems that use metal air science, primarily based upon aluminum and zinc components. The unique aspect of such batteries is that they are able to breathe oxygen directly from the surrounding air and thus release the energy stored in the metals. The vast potential of such concepts has been known to industry for many years but only now are engineers able to conduct practical applications of the theories. The projects underway at Phinergy laboratories offer significant cost savings, low CO2 emissions, total safety, full recycling capability, and extremely high energy density. At competitive costs, the above-mentioned aluminum-air battery components have achieved triple the range of conventional EV battery packs.

For more about Phinergy, and all of the company’s latest research efforts, see the firm’s official website:
http://www.phinergy.com/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid

German manufacturer Ubitricity will make at least 1,000 portable car-charging devices as a first production run. The new unit, which is capable of acting as a mobile charging station, could have a significant impact on the current state of electric vehicle infrastructure. Rather than using a large, expensive charging unit to deliver electricity to an EV, the Ubitricity unit would allow any driver to hook up to one of the company’s special outlets and be billed automatically.

Germany’s Ubitricity: Video

“Rethinking infrastructure for electric vehicles,” intones the narrator in the informational clip below, as she explains exactly how the Ubitricity system works via graphics and animation. The idea takes a bit of time to sink in, but essentially, it operates as though any electric car could plug into any socket, or in this case specifically designed sockets. Leaping past the concept of charging stations completely, the Ubitricity plan is for car owners to purchase the units and carry them in the trunk, enabling billing and charging from any proprietary outlet. As long as an EV driver is plugged into one of the unobtrusive Ubriticity outlets, billing and charging take place at the same time, and seamlessly deliver metered power to the car. Unique in its simplicity and application, the Ubitricity charging method might just eliminate the need for conventional charging stations.

German Company Ubitricity

The company says that the sockets would be as easy to install as standard electrical outlets, which could enable building owners, municipalities, and homeowners to put sockets wherever needed, all for a fraction of the expense of a full-blown charging station. In many ways, a system such as Ubitricity’s would create instant infrastructure for all electric vehicles.

For more about the German company that has developed the portable charging unit, see the official website:
http://www.ubitricity.com/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Efficiency

The technology behind hybrid and electric vehicles continues to be a growing subject as new technologies are being developed and some are already in vehicles or soon will be. The tenth anniversary of this event will take a unique, comprehensive examination of the rapidly growing fields – past, present and future – and focus on the latest technologies and advancements in the hybrid and electric vehicle markets. Hear first-hand knowledge from leaders in the industry on topics ranging from energy storage, battery technology, plug-in technology, utility preparedness, field testing, fuel cells, regulations and standards and many more. Do not miss this opportunity to network with these leading professionals through panel discussions and in-depth technical sessions – all designed to give attendees the information they need in this complex marketplace.

Larry Judkin

Larry Judkin + is My Perfect Automobile’s General Manager, but people call him Lar’. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Co-owner of My Perfect Automobile. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

    

A 2013 Toyota Prius v

Toyota has announced that it will begin selling electricity systems that use recycled Prius batteries for power. The units will work in conjunction with overall electrical management systems in buildings, solar generating stations, and lighting circuits The recycled nickel-metal hydride batteries will allow for storage of significant amounts of electricity, to the tune of about 10 kWh, and will tip the scales at over 2,000 pounds per unit. The storage devices will be able to cut energy costs for some businesses by as much as 50 percent.

Toyota Super Bowl Commercial

Toyota always seems to be up for the game when Super Bowl time rolls around. Below is the full commercial featuring Kaley Cuoco, who appears as the RAV4 genie and grants wishes to an unsuspecting family. The husband, wife, and children can’t seem to make their intentions clear to the slightly wacky genie. In the end, it all works out, and everyone ends up happily scooting along in the Toyota. It is all part of the company’s “Let’s go places” ad campaign, with this particular version called “Wish granted.” Watch for Cuoco to build a portfolio of Toyota ads as the carmaker leverages her current sitcom fame and familiar face to get the word out about the latest Toyota models.

Toyota Prius Batteries

Toyota has pioneered electrical adaptability of its hybrid car batteries, last years announcing an inverter system that would allow Prius plug-ins to operate as emergency home generating units in the event of natural disasters. Still the best-selling hybrid in the world, the Toyota Prius is facing more competition than ever as scores of automakers have entered the hybrid-electric vehicle market. In an effort to stay ahead of the marketing curve, the company has looked at innovative ways to use and even recycle battery components from its Prius family of cars.

For more about Toyota cars and trucks, see the Japanese automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.toyota.com/Prius

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Momentum Dynamics charger ready for work

Momentum Dynamics Corporation has developed an inductive charging system that can completely fill the battery of a Chevy Volt hybrid-electric vehicle. MDC’s system is capable of delivering more than 20,000 watts via a transmitting pad on the ground, which sends power to a receiving pad on the underside of the vehicle. Even a Level 2 charging system that plugs into a socket is only able to convey about one-sixth as much energy.

Inductive Charging: Video

As the narrator says, “Where we’re going, we don’t need wires.” And he is absolutely right, since he was in fact headed to a Qualcomm media event that featured dozens of electric cars with inductive plates. A few myths are dispelled along the way, namely about the amount of power loss during inductive charging. In fact, there is no more loss of electricity than during a convention plug in charging session, which is about 96 percent efficient. People often ask about metal objects or even cats that might get in the way of the plate during operation. If the inductive plate detects interference of any kind, it shuts down automatically and notifies the user. No danger to the cat or the metal plate!

Momentum Dynamics

Momentum’s CEO, and co-inventor of the technology, Andy Daga, commented on the difference between inductive and plug-in charging systems, saying, “Momentum Dynamics has surprised many people in the industry by the amount of power that can be safely delivered without the use of cables, and by its low cost relative to plug-in chargers.” In addition, wireless chargers are vandal-proof because they are under the ground, and are able to operate in all weather conditions, unlike plug-in systems. Inductive chargers also work automatically because they are able to sense when a car is above them.

For more about Momentum Dynamics, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.momentumdynamics.com

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

EV Battery Tech UK: Chevy Volt battery pack

London will be the host city for the seventh “EV Battery Tech: Global Cost Reduction” series, which runs for two days beginning on April 24. The conference brings together some of the top minds in the industry to develop realistic cost-cutting methods for battery production, development, and processing. In addition, several presentations will focus on recent breakthroughs in pack reduction, cell chemistry, energy density, range, and battery life.

EV Battery Tech: Video

You don’t have to be a scientist to understand the above video clip from IBM about the technology behind lithium-air batteries. Expected to make their way to the marketplace sometime between 2020 and 2030, the units would be able to power a standard car for about 500 miles between charges. The narrator explains how the batteries “borrow oxygen from the air” and then use the resulting chemical reaction to produce electricity. The air-breathing units are lighter than any battery used today and have an extremely high energy density. Already, IBM scientists and engineers have duplicated the charge-recharge process under controlled conditions, though much research still needs to be done.

EV Battery Tech UK

The EV Battery Tech event will also examine various battery-manufacturing methods, and how those methods can be optimized in order to minimize production expense.

Other relevant topics to be discussed at the conference include:

Next generation chemistries. This exciting topic has to do with the latest research in cell components.
Energy density, range, and life of batteries. Special emphasis will be given to pushing the limits of range and battery longevity.
Cost analysis. Virtually every aspect of battery development will be looked at in terms of how to cut costs and more efficiently produce better batteries.
Safety. Special panel discussions on safety will address how to cut production costs while maintaining safety requirements and performance.

For more information about the battery tech event, see the official website for the conference:
http://www.ev-battery-technology-2013.com/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Li-ion battery modeling

Most models of lithium-ion batteries follow the one-dimensional analysis approach. The major drawback of this is that the porosity and liquid-phase salt transport and solid-phase electronic conductivity are not explicitly resolved and the diffusion of lithium into and out of solid is modeled using representative spherical particles assuming perfect symmetry. These modeling assumptions limit the achievable accuracy; refinement of spatial computational grid and time steps cannot overcome the modeling error introduced by the above assumptions.

Researchers at Battery Design LLC and CD-adapco set out on a new approach, one that would avoid the limitations of the standard approach by resolving the structure of the electrode and explicitly modeling the transport of lithium in the electrolyte and solid phases. The following factors motivated the researchers to go down this path.

It is now possible to obtain exact geometry of solid particles in electrodes. While the resolution of scanning devices currently is relatively poor for such microscopic structures, there is no doubt that within a few years an adequate resolution will be possible. This will allow for the building of CAD models of solid and fluid regions of battery cell electrodes.

Commercial software allows creation of quality grids in arbitrarily complex geometries. Grid-generation methods based on tetrahedral elements have been available for a long time. These elements are not best suited for diffusion-dominated problems such as those in battery electrodes, requiring layered (prismatic) meshes along solid-liquid interfaces. However, over the past decade methods of generating polyhedral grids with prismatic layers along interfaces have been developed, allowing for an adequate resolution of complex geometry present in electrodes.

Computing power is steadily growing. Computational grids made of hundreds of millions of control volumes currently are used in some advanced niche applications, such as Formula One, but it will become commonplace in the near future.

The method to allow a detailed modeling of porous electrodes and associated processes is by explicitly separating solid and fluid regions within electrodes and performing a three-dimensional discretization based on the finite volume method. Used for this research were manufactured geometries that have similar porosity, tortuosity, and active-surface-area-to-volume ratio comparable to real electrode material in order to develop the basic models and computational procedure. Real geometries can then be introduced as they become available without the need to modify the solution method. Other research groups are pursuing similar approaches.

The complex model was implemented within the finite volume framework of the computational continuum mechanic software STAR-CCM+. A sample application was undertaken, focused on a small region of a LiMn₂O₄ chemistry cell. The results were compared with an established 1-D model, and favorable and realistic trends are shown within the 3-D model. Further studies will include the analysis of grid and time step dependence and the determination of minimum size of computational domain needed to obtain reliable solutions with minimum effort.

Having shown the credibility compared to a 1-D model, this 3-D model will be further enhanced to include detailed analysis of effects at the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer to account for possible Li-ion plating due to local conditions. As the understanding of other capacity-fade processes evolves within literature, these can be added to this base modeling framework.

Attention will also now turn to improvements in the generation of representative models and the overall user process to enable industry to repeat and extend the reported work. In parallel to the generation of further idealized models (which will include binder, conducting aid, range of particle sizes and shapes, etc.), this code will also be used on data generated from scanning tomography of actual electrode samples, as soon as they become available with sufficient quality needed to generate computational models of the presented kind. Further effects that can be accounted for in the future include electrolyte flow, expansion and contraction of solid material during charging and discharging, edge effects, etc.

Bob Twaalfhoven

Bob Twaalfhoven + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Owner and Visionary Creator, but people just call him “Bob T”.. Here is his full Bio: Bob Twaalfhoven. Bob lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Founder of BobCAD-CAM software. BobCAD-CAM was created by Bob, who was an engineer graduate of MIT in 1978. He created the software as a means to bring the technology of CAD/CAM to the personal computer. But overall – Bob is a lover of cars, engines and anything that is fast…

 

Ford Fusion Energi, plug-in hybrid

Ford Motor Company announced this week that it would use a new, high-stress method to test its electric battery systems. The method simulates ten years’ worth of usage in about ten months’ actual time. What Ford calls the “key life test” will put the equivalent of 150,000 miles of driving on the batteries to see how well they hold up. The effort is aimed at creating batteries that are stronger and more reliable. A recent survey showed that battery reliability is by far the number one factor hybrid customers look at when buying a new car.

Ford Battery Tests: Video

Theoretical formulas about battery power are translated into reality with Ford’s Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi. Scroll down for a quick recap about the new offerings, which highlight the smart display panel readouts. With the equivalent of 100 mpg for the Energi and 47 mpg both highway and city mileage for the Fusion Hybrid, Ford Motor Co. is aggressively placing itself into the heat of hybrid competition among Toyota, Honda, General Motors and other major players. Both of the green Fusions feature regenerative braking and lithium-ion battery packs. As Ford begins to emphasize cutting-edge battery technology, watch for the automaker to introduce more hybrids in the very near future.

Ford Battery Tests

Because car owners now keep their vehicles longer and desire strong battery packs, Ford decided to emphasize those factors in its research facilities. By the end of next year, the U.S. carmaker will have no fewer than five hybrid and electric vehicles on the market, with more expected by the end of the decade. Lithium-ion batteries are able to deliver about three times the power of nickel-metal-hydride units, and are about 25 percent smaller, making lithium the element of choice for new generation hybrid and electric cars.

For more about Ford cars and trucks, see the U.S. automaker’s official website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Nissan Leaf electric car

Nissan Motor Co. is marking two years of selling the Leaf all-electric car by announcing activation of the largest lithium battery plant in the U.S. Sitting directly next to its Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant for the Leaf, Nissan will use the battery components in its ramped-up production of the popular EV. The battery facility is one of only three of its kind in existence. Though the automaker has experienced some bumps along the way, the Leaf remains the most successful all-electric vehicle ever, with 46,000 units sold worldwide, 18,000 of those to U.S.-based customers.

Nissan Leaf: Video

For some interesting footage of Nissan’s new facility in Tennessee, see the following video clip, which also offers a short summary of the automaker’s recent announcement. A Nissan corporate production, the short film shows the facility in operation and features comments by Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s CEO and President. The first batch of batteries produced at the Smyrna plant is now adequately aged and will soon get their first charge. Though the current battery components will go into Leaf electric cars exclusively, Nissan could easily add other electric vehicles to its lineup and produce those batteries here as well. So far, about 300 jobs have been added as a result of the battery production, but that number could grow to nearly 1,000 depending on demand.

Nissan Battery Plant in Tennessee

A major development for Nissan, the new factory will create hundreds of jobs in Tennessee. CEO Ghosn commented, “Opening this U.S. plant is an important milestone in Nissan’s overarching strategy to foster sustainable mobility around the world. Nisan is the zero-emissions vehicle leader, and we are making significant strides as one of the largest producers of electric vehicles and batteries in the United States. The opening of this facility in Tennessee supports our goal of making zero-emissions mobility a reality through American jobs and American manufacturing.”

For more about Nissan, see the automaker’s official global website:
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

A Chevy Volt on the road

General Motors and ABB Group displayed an electrical backup system for private homes this week. The mechanism can provide enough energy to power three residences for approximately two hours, and is powered by used EV batteries from Chevy Volt automobiles. With a maximum output of 50 kWh of energy, the system was the result of a joint effort by ABB Group, General Motors, and Duke Energy. Each power box is composed of five used lithium-ion battery packs from a Volt hybrid-electric automobile.

Chevy Volt: Video

Because Chevrolet is constantly improving the Volt, both from a driving and a design perspective, it is interesting to take a look back at one of the first public test-drive sessions of the innovative car. Shot in 2009 at the LA Auto Show, the clip joins a guest driver along with the man who was Chevy’s line director for the car, Tony Posawatz, in the passenger seat as the two cruise along a closed track. Tony provides some very interesting commentary and answers the driver’s questions during the trip. Considering that hybrid-electric technology was still very new at the time, it is surprising how simple, quiet, and low-key the test drive was. If you have never been a driver or passenger in a Chevy Volt, this film footage will introduce you to the basics of how the car works and moves.

Chevy Volt

A GM senior manager for battery lifecycle management, Pablo Valencia, expounded on the new power packs at a company event in California this week, noting, “This is an industry first to be able to do secondary automotive batteries in a grid-based application.” ABB is a Swiss technology firm that specializes in automation and power. Duke Energy is based in North Carolina.

For more information about the Chevy Volt, see Chevrolet’s dedicated website for the hybrid-electric, award-winning car:
http://www.chevrolet.com/Volt

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…