Friday, January 17, 2025

Amazon orders 200 Mercedes eActros 600 Electric heavy-duty trucks


Amazon is steadily electrifying its delivery fleet—the retail juggernaut and its delivery partners have more than 3,000 electric vans delivering packages to customers across Europe, and this number is expected to grow to more than 10,000 vehicles by the end of 2025.

Amazon’s fleet of heavy-duty trucks is also starting to get charged—the company recently placed an order for more than 200 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric heavy goods vehicles, its largest-ever order for electric trucks.

The eActros 600 trucks will be deployed across high-mileage routes within Amazon’s middle-mile network in the UK and Germany, transporting trailers to and from fulfillment centers, sort centers and delivery stations.

The eActros 600 is the flagship long-haul electric truck from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. It features an installed battery capacity of over 600 kWh, providing a range of 500 km. Production of the eActros 600 began recently at Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ plant in Wörth, Germany.

To deal with the new e-trucks’ charging requirements, Amazon plans to install 360 kW electric charging points at key sites, each of which will enable the trucks to charge from 20% to 80% in just over an hour. Amazon will collaborate with others to facilitate the installation of external charging points in strategic locations.

“This order of more than 200 electric trucks underlines our commitment to being a leader in electrifying heavy goods transportation in Europe,” said Andreas Marschner, Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Operations Sustainability. “We look forward to sharing our learnings, and will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to support the transition to more electric heavy goods vehicles on European roads.”

Source: EVinfo



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Thursday, January 16, 2025

The advantages of using electric-PTOs in commercial vehicles and equipment (Video)


Commercial equipment and work trucks have historically utilized mechanical Power Take Off units (PTOs) to transfer power from the diesel engine and transmission to operate hydraulic, water, vacuum pumps, pneumatic compressors, etc. An ePTO replaces the traditional mechanical PTO for electrified vehicles. ePTOs are a broad term and represent many implementations and form factors, which can be confusing, but the benefits include reduced engine runtime, lower emissions and fuel and maintenance savings. 

During this webinar, you will learn more about:

  • The various types of ePTOs and the rationale when considering which ePTO to specify
  • The advantages of using ePTOs in vehicles with and without an ICE engine
  • Typical power requirements, safety issues, and integration considerations
  • Architecture considerations to maximize efficiency and battery power conservation    


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Designing safer battery management systems with HIL simulation tools: Whitepaper


Improving EV efficiency and safety hinges on an effective Battery Management System (BMS).
For automotive BMS, it’s important to note that the battery pack is not directly connected to the motor.

Instead, it interfaces through relays and fuses. Any disconnection or abnormal connection between these components can lead to unexpected increases in impedance. Since the voltage and current flowing from the battery to the motor are substantial and fluctuate frequently, increased impedance can cause system temperatures to rise and become unstable.

Download this Whitepaper to learn how Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testbeds can provide a pack voltage and isolation impedance simulator that allows users to easily perform the BMS testing.



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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

NMG receives $50 million investment for its graphite ore-to-battery-material operations in Canada


Integrated graphite battery anode developer Nouveau Monde Graphite has received a combined equity investment of $50 million from the Canadian government’s Canada Growth Fund and the Government of Québec via its agent Investissement Québec, to continue advancing its development toward commercial operations.

As the company prepares for a final investment decision regarding its Phase 2 Matawinie Mine and Bécancour Battery Material Plant, the investment will enable progress on detailed engineering and orders of key long-lead items, according to the company.

NMG’s integrated Phase 2 production of active anode material is designed to supply the North American battery and EV markets. The company expects to provide the results of an updated feasibility study during the first quarter of 2025.

“This investment will enable our team to make tangible advancements and place strategic orders in preparation for our project execution. We are committed to delivering high-performing and reliable active anode materials to the North American battery and electric vehicle  markets, contributing to a local, sustainable and reliable supply chain,” said Eric Desaulniers, founder and CEO of NMG.

Source: Nouveau Monde Graphite



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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Driving the future of EV battery assembly with adhesives


The automotive industry is rapidly evolving, and electric vehicles are at the forefront of this transformation. Continued EV adoption hinges on several key factors: reducing costs, building a robust charging infrastructure, and designing efficient, durable battery packs with longer-range and fast-charging capabilities. As automakers strive to match the cost and efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles, the race to develop high-performing EV battery packs is on—and adhesives are emerging as a critical component in their design and assembly. 

Design Trends Shaping EV Battery Assembly

EV battery pack design is rapidly evolving as automakers and researchers work to boost performance, cut costs, and enhance sustainability. The focus is on increasing energy density and lowering cost per kWh, leading to simpler designs that remove parts, weight, and bulk. However, these changes can affect structural support and complicate battery replacement, disassembly, and recycling. Advanced adhesive technology can help develop solutions for these challenges and usher EV battery pack designs into the future. 

Here’s a closer look at the evolution of EV battery technology: 

  • Cell-Module-Pack (CMP) designs package individual cells together inside modules, a method that has dominated the market due to its durability, ease of assembly, and serviceability. Since CMP requires more parts that increase cost and weight, automakers now seek designs with fewer parts to improve energy efficiency and simplify production.
  • Cell-to-Pack (CTP) designs integrate battery cells directly into the battery pack, eliminating modules to enhance energy density and simplify manufacturing. This emerging option is gaining traction for its cost-lowering potential. However, it demands advanced thermal management and durability, and a complex assembly process leaves little room for error.
  • Cell-to-Body (CTB) designs incorporate the battery cells directly into the vehicle’s body, optimizing space, reducing weight, and improving structural integrity. Early adopters are exploring CTB for its cost efficiency and reduced part count. Despite its advantages, concerns about durability, recyclability, and safety persist. 

The Benefits of Adhesives in Sustainable Battery Assembly

As EV adoption grows, the need for sustainable, efficient battery assembly becomes more pressing. Adhesives offer a range of benefits that make them vital to EV battery production.

  • Enhanced Performance—Adhesives enhance battery performance by optimizing the thermal interface between battery cells and cooling systems, leading to extended range and faster charging.
  • Flexible Battery Design—Adhesives enable greater design flexibility by bonding a variety of materials, including composites, functional films, and metals. This non-destructive joining technique preserves the integrity of substrates, allowing for innovative battery designs that were previously unattainable.
  • Increased Energy Management for Safety—Safety is paramount in EV battery design, and adhesives contribute to crash energy management. They provide continuous bond lines that enhance structural integrity of the battery pack and enable wheel-to-wheel battery designs that perform under crash conditions. 
  • Added structural capability – with the growing adoption of cell-to-body designs, adhesives can provide the bonding strength necessary to replace modular walls and support structures
  • Optimized thermal management – Thermal management is crucial for battery safety. Thermally conductive adhesives and interface materials support heat dissipation and prevent overheating during battery charging and operation. Long-term, this helps ensure consistent performance and extend the battery lifespan.
  • Support for Zero-Emission EVs—Adhesives contribute to sustainability by enabling lightweight vehicle designs and reducing panel thickness in body structures. This can result in significant CO2 savings—approximately 133 grams per driven kilometer.
  • Improved Manufacturing Processes—Adhesives streamline manufacturing processes, offering fast, low-cost joining and curing. They eliminate the need for surface pretreatment and can improve process speed, resulting in significant cost savings.

Emerging methods in battery assembly also favor adhesives. Injectable adhesives are easily dispensed for modular battery frames. Debonding-on-demand solutions facilitate easy repair and recycling. Additionally, certain adhesives cure on demand—ideal for flexible, lean manufacturing processes.

DuPont’s Solutions for Advanced EV Battery Assembly

DuPont, with its deep expertise in EV battery assembly, is well-positioned to support the industry shift toward more advanced battery designs. Our wide range of adhesive solutions are designed to meet specific challenges, offering enhanced performance, safety, and sustainability.

  • BETAFORCE™ Elastic Structural Adhesive: A 2024 R&D 100 award winner, BETAFORCE™ is designed for broad EV battery assembly applications, excelling in pouch cell bonding. It bonds aluminum laminated film substrates without primers or pretreatment—delivering durability, crashworthiness, and sustainability benefits. With up to 30% renewable and bio-based materials and room-temperature curing, it eliminates the need for high-temperature ovens, enhancing its environmental credentials.
  • BETAMATE™ Structural Adhesive: BETAMATE™ ensures battery pack integrity with stiffness, durability, and crash performance. It bonds and seals battery pack enclosures and cooling plates, offering strong adhesion to aluminum alloys and composites. It also can be used in the growing area of CTB designs. BETAMATE™ also improves safety, corrosion resistance, and manufacturing efficiency.
  • BETATECH™ TIM (Thermal Interface Material): This innovative solution is diisocyanate- and silicone-free and efficiently manages and controls heat from high-density batteries during charging and operation, maintaining thermal conductivity across a wide temperature range. BETATECH™ is easy to dispense and join, making it ideal for high-volume assembly.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of DuPont’s mission. Our adhesive solutions are designed to address pressing challenges while enhancing EV performance and safety.

  • BETAMATE™ Broad Bake Adhesives: These adhesives allow for a reduction in e-coat oven temperature by 25°C, leading to significant energy savings. They also enable shorter oven cycle times, further improving manufacturing efficiency.
  • BETAFORCE™ 2800 TC: This adhesive not only keeps EV batteries cool during fast charging to extend battery life, but also reduces raw materials needed by streamlining the number of components. 
  • BETATECH™ TIM: These adhesives offer a low pullout force to allow for easy removal of battery modules to enable repair, reuse, and recycling.

These product families are also available in room temperature cure formulations. Oven-free bonding means less energy use and one less step in the assembly process.

Collaboration and Innovation: DuPont’s Centers of Excellence

At DuPont, we believe in the power of collaboration. Our Centers of Excellence and advanced engineering capabilities around the globe are dedicated to working closely with customers to drive innovation in EV battery assembly.

  • Fast-Paced Development: We have the formulation and testing expertise to validate new concepts and refine existing ones.
  • Comprehensive testing: To verify performance, longevity, and safety of the planned configuration, we expand small sample tests to module-scale testing at the battery system level.
  • Global Collaboration: Our teams collaborate across regions, functions, and businesses to deliver cutting-edge solutions tailored to the unique needs of our customers.

Ready to Collaborate?

DuPont is more than just a supplier: we’re a partner in innovation. If you’re looking to advance your EV battery assembly process, we invite you to dEVelop with DuPont to explore how our adhesive solutions can help you achieve your goals.



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Monday, January 13, 2025

LG Energy Solution hosts battery innovation competition


South Korea’s LG Energy Solution has launched its Battery Innovation Contest (BIC) 2025 to identify and support the next generation of battery technologies.

Since its inaugural competition in 2017, BIC has been LG Energy Solution’s flagship research contest. This year’s edition has been revamped to foster greater collaboration between academia and industry.

Selected researchers will receive annual research funding of up to $150,000 annually. Additional funding may be granted to projects that make significant achievements through extended contracts.

Unlike previous iterations of the competition, BIC 2025 allows participants to submit proposals on specific topics pre-announced by LG Energy Solution.

To facilitate active collaboration, LG Energy Solution has introduced the BRIDGE system, a platform designed to manage open innovation programs like BIC.

LG has unveiled the preselected 18 research topics for collaborative projects on the BRIDGE platform, including battery safety diagnosis algorithm technology and new materials for LFP batteries.

LG has supported 26 battery research projects through the BIC initiative, and some have evolved into large-scale projects that have received additional funding and resources. Through the competition, the company continues to establish partnerships with universities and research institutions.

“The BIC platform serves as a bridge of wisdom between members of academia and industry, driving technological innovation for the all-important battery sector,” said Je-Young Kim, CTO of LG Energy Solution. “Through this initiative, we aim to provide differentiated value to our customers by strengthening our technology leadership.”

Source: LG Energy Solution



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Solaris secures Swedish contract for 46 electric buses


Poland-headquartered bus manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach has signed a contract with Swedish transport operator Keolis Sverige to supply 27 Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric models, to be delivered in 2025, and 19 Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses, to be delivered in 2026. The vehicles will serve routes in Sweden’s Dalarna region.

The 15-meter Solaris Urbino 15 LE is designed for urban and intercity operations. It accommodates 72 passengers and is powered by batteries with a total capacity of 700 kWh. The 12-meter Solaris Urbino 12 Electric will accommodate up to 61 passengers and is designed primarily for urban routes. It is equipped with a 240 kW traction motor, a modular drive and batteries with a total capacity of 600 kWh.

“Keolis’ order of 46 electric buses is a significant step in sustainable mobility solutions in Sweden,” said Sverre Skaar, CEO of Solaris Sverige. “We are pleased to implement zero-emission solutions in both city centers and suburban transportation.”

Source: Solaris



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Amazon orders 200 Mercedes eActros 600 Electric heavy-duty trucks

Amazon is steadily electrifying its delivery fleet—the retail juggernaut and its delivery partners have more than 3,000 electric vans deliv...