Shenzhen Kehua unveils high-efficiency 40 kW SiC charging module

Power electronics manufacturer Shenzhen Kehua has developed a 40 kW silicon carbide high-efficiency, low-noise charging module, which is intended to serve as a core component of a high-power EV charger.

The new module, which Kehua showed off at the recent Intersolar Europe exhibition in Munich, complies with CE and UL certifications, and meets EMC Class B standards. It is suitable for both European and American standard DC chargers.

Output voltage ranges from 150 to 1,000 VDC, and standby power consumption is less than 7.5 W. The module is capable of reporting operating time, enabling intelligent operation and maintenance.

The new charging module boasts a full load efficiency of ≥96% and a peak efficiency of ≥97%. Compared to traditional Si device designs, it improves efficiency by 1%, according to the company, allowing a single module to save as much as 1,226 kWh of electricity annually for a charging station operator.

The power module uses intelligent fan speed control technology to reduce noise—the fan speed is automatically adjusted depending on the inlet temperature, AC input voltage, DC output voltage and output current. The module supports three levels of Silent Mode, so users can set the appropriate level of noise reduction based on working conditions, application sites and environmental factors. At the highest level of Silent Mode, noise across the entire output voltage range can be reduced by as much as 65 dB.

Operating temperature range is -40° to 75° C, and Kehua says the module offers stable performance in both extremely cold and extremely hot environments. Even in temperatures as low as -40° C, the charging module can output full power without additional heaters. At extremely high temperatures (55-75° C), the module can still operate with linear derating, and it can still achieve half-load output at 75° C.

The module features low output current ripple: a peak-to-peak value of less than 3 A when ten modules are paralleled. According to the company, this ensures more stable charging and reduces cell heating.

Kehua has five manufacturing bases with a combined annual production capacity of 2 million units. The company is IATF 16949, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certified.

Source: Shenzhen Kehua

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SCHURTER launches new chokes for high currents in EV fast charging stations

Swiss electrical and electronic components manufacturer SCHURTER has released the DKUH-1, a new current-compensated choke designed for currents from 50 A to 100 A and high voltage of 800 VDC, making it suitable for EV fast charging stations, battery storage, photovoltaics and energy converters.

The choke is designed to integrate filter elements into printed circuit boards to reduce interference in compact electronic devices. The bifilar winding and nanocrystalline cores enable very high currents in relatively compact dimensions.

The new standard variants of the DKUH-1 are available in small quantities from stock, and larger quantities are available on request.

Source: SCHURTER

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Volkswagen to invest up to $5 billion in Rivian over the next 2 years, companies will share software

The Volkswagen Group will invest up to $5 billion in US EV maker Rivian in a complex deal under which the two companies will form an equally controlled joint venture to share EV architecture and software.

As reported by Reuters, Volkswagen will immediately invest $1 billion in Rivian through a convertible note, and also pledges to invest $2 billion more in Rivian stock—a billion each in 2025 and 2026—subject to the startup hitting certain milestones, and to provide a $1-billion loan in 2026.

Further details of the deal aren’t quite clear at this point, but this is how we understand it: Volkswagen will also invest $1 billion in the new JV, and Rivian will license its existing intellectual property to the JV. Rivian’s upcoming R2 will be the first vehicle to use software from the JV. EVs from Volkswagen brands, including Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley, will follow.

The deal appears to play to each company’s strengths: Rivian (like most startups) needs cash, and Volkswagen (like most legacy automakers) is struggling with the software aspects of electrification.

The investment will provide Rivian funding it needs to launch its less expensive and smaller R2 SUV in 2026, and to develop its new R3 crossovers, CEO R.J. Scaringe told Reuters. He added that the partnership will enable Rivian to cut costs by taking advantage of Volkswagen’s economies of scale with chip and component suppliers.

Rivian has been slashing costs, redesigning its manufacturing process and starting to build some parts in-house, but it’s still burning through cash (Reuters reports that the company’s cash and short-term investments fell by about $1.5 billion in the first quarter to just under $8 billion).

“Any cash infusion like that is huge,” said Vitaly Golomb, Managing Partner at Mavka Capital, a Rivian investor, told Reuters. “Getting the support of Volkswagen Group certainly strengthens their story toward Europe and toward Asia eventually.”

VW’s software division, Cariad, has been struggling to integrate software from a range of suppliers (in contrast to the unified software architecture used by Tesla and other EV brands), and this has delayed the launch of important new EV models, Reuters tells us.

Volkswagen says the Rivian software will also be used by its off-road EV brand Scout, which is building a plant in South Carolina to assemble pickups and SUVs that could be seen as Rivian competitors.

Wall Street appears to like the plan—Rivian stock, which has lost around half its value so far this year, jumped in after-hours trading following the announcement.

Scaringe tweeted that he’s excited about “the formation of a joint venture between our two companies. This partnership brings Rivian’s software and zonal electronics platform to a broader market through Volkswagen Group’s global reach and scale, while providing an expected $5 billion of capital to Rivian as we bring R2 and our next generation of vehicles to market!”

Source: Reuters

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Honda and Mitsubishi form EV joint venture

Japanese automotive manufacturers Honda Motor and Mitsubishi have announced plans to establish a new 50/50 joint venture (JV) company called ALTNA in July 2024.

The new JV is based on an agreement the two companies signed in October 2023 to collaborate on new EV businesses.

ALTNA will combine Honda’s control and connected technologies for EVs and batteries and Mitsubishi’s power-generation knowledge, which includes battery storage systems and smart charging operations.

The company will operate three lines of business—battery leasing, battery repurposing and smart charging.

ALTNA will work with Honda and Mitsubishi’s leasing businesses to sell lease plans for EVs starting with the Honda N-VAN e:, a new commercial mini-EV that Honda is planning to launch in October 2024. When a customer leases a vehicle, ALTNA will retain ownership of the battery and monitor usage during the lease period. The company will then recover end-of-life EV batteries based on data obtained through the long-term monitoring. After the end of their automotive use, the batteries will be used for ALTNA’s grid storage battery business.

ALTNA also will offer EV charging plans that optimize electricity costs for EV users by using energy-control technologies to avoid charging EVs during peak demand hours and automatically charge when electricity prices are lowest. The company will also look to offer vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services with a view to opening the electricity market in the future.

“Honda is working toward the establishment of a vertically integrated EV value chain that includes all aspects of EV business, from the procurement of raw materials to the production of finished EVs, as well as the repurposing and recycling of EV batteries,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer of Honda. “Starting with N-VAN e:, we will take a proactive approach to establish a sustainable business foundation not only for the sales of EVs as mobility products, but also to create an optimal EV business environment including full utilization of batteries.”

Source: Honda

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Engineered Materials Solutions acquires micro-component specialist Thin Metal Parts

Engineered Materials Solutions (EMS), a Wickeder Group company that produces functional clad metals for the Li-ion battery, electrical distribution, thermal control, consumer electronics and automotive markets, has acquired Colorado-based Thin Metal Parts, a provider of micro-components to the defense, aerospace, medical and audio industries.

TMP uses its photochemical etching, electroforming and laser cutting technologies, combined with rapid prototyping services, to supply high-precision parts to its customers.

“Thin Metal Parts has been a leader in the manufacturing of high-precision micro-components for over 20 years,” said President Stephen Trahey. “By joining forces with EMS and becoming part of the Wickeder Group of companies, we will be able to tap into a deep pool of resources, positioning us to better meet our customers’ evolving needs.”

Paul Duffy, CEO of Engineered Materials Solutions noted that the Wickeder Group’s portfolio already includes three companies in Europe that produce micro-components. TMP complements that portfolio perfectly, and the acquisition should expand market opportunities in the North American market. “This acquisition expands the breadth of products and markets served by EMS and aligns with the Wickeder Group’s capabilities in the micro-components industry,” said he. “We look forward to helping TMP expand their global reach, enhance their production technologies, and build broader relationships with their key customers.”

Source: Engineered Materials Solutions

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Atlante to bring 130 DC fast EV charging stations to Groupe Duval malls in Europe

Fast charging network operator Atlante and shopping center operator Groupe Duval have announced plans to deploy new 130 fast and ultra-fast charging stations as part of their long-term partnership. 

The announcement was made as the first site—located in Saint-Chamond in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Central France—was powered on. That site now offers 188 fast charging ports.  

The two companies aim to have all 130 sites, with a total of 1,200 charging ports, up and running by 2025.

The new stations are accessible to those with disabilities and are open 24 hours a day. The companies said that the stations are compatible with all charging standards, are available on all major electric mobility applications, and accept direct credit card payments.

“Our day-to-day objective is to facilitate the use of electric vehicles in France and Europe, and that means having a dense network and a high-quality service environment,” said the CEO of Atlante France, Jacques Galvani.

Source: NHOA Group

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Lithium Australia to recycle Volvo’s bus batteries in Australia

Lithium Australia’s subsidiary Envirostream Australia has signed an exclusive agreement with Volvo Group Australia’s bus division to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries from its electric and hybrid fleet.

Volvo manufactures and supplies electric and hybrid buses to customers across Australia, including Public Transport Authority in Western Australia and Transdev in Queensland.

The agreement has an initial three-year term, and Volvo expects it to drive an increase in collection volumes of hybrid batteries from buses reaching their end of life, and of larger-format batteries used in its electric chassis platform.

“We are excited by the exclusive recycling agreement signed with Volvo, a leading manufacturer of electric buses in Australia. The agreement validates our strategy to target large-scale OEMs and ESS manufacturers to grow our share of the high-margin, large-format battery collection volumes,” said Lithium Australia CEO and Managing Director Simon Linge.

Source: Lithium Australia

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