EV, Battery & Charging News: Electrify America, Hyundai, Bowlus, Lightning eMotors,  Volvo, Power Integration, Stellantis, Cirba, Electreon, Xos & LG

In electric vehicle, battery and charging news are Electrify America, Hyundai, Bowlus, Lightning eMotors,  Volvo, Power Integration, Stellantis, Cirba, Electreon, Xos and LG.

Electrify America to Provide 2 Years of DC Fast Charging Hyundai IONIQ 6

Electrify America announced an agreement with Hyundai to provide first owners of the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 6 with two years of unlimited 30-minute complimentary charging sessions from the date of purchase at Electrify America’s rapidly growing network of DC fast chargers. IONIQ 6 owners can also seamlessly locate and access charging stations while on the road through the Electrify America mobile app.

“We are excited for a third collaboration with Hyundai to offer customers hyper-fast charging experiences to EV owners,” said Rob Barrosa, vice president of technology, Electrify America. “We look forward to helping advance the electric vehicle revolution with leading automakers such as Hyundai and their latest IONIQ 6 model.”

Electrify America will continue its collaboration with Hyundai to support Kona Electric, IONIQ 5 and now IONIQ 6, giving drivers access to speeds of up to 350kW for capable vehicles. The IONIQ 6 can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes with its Ultrafast 800-Volt Multi-Charging system, has an EPA estimated driving range of up to 361 miles and goes on sale spring 2023.

Bowlus Fully Electric RVs

Bowlus, the world leader in performance luxury recreation vehicles, announced its move to be the first fully electric RV company. The move to all-electric follows the success of the Bowlus Volterra, the world’s first all-electric RV, which Bowlus launched in August of last year. All models, including the Volterra, Terra Firma, and Heritage, will be fully electric. Founder Geneva Long envisioned the move to an all-electric RV electric ten years ago when she reimagined the original riveted aluminum travel trailer for fully immersive luxury land travel that makes RVing less taxing and more restorative.

The Bowlus is the perfect electric recreational vehicle due to its incredible aerodynamic and trademarked monocoque shape. Long and her team have engineered the Bowlus brand for lightness with a GVWR ranging from 2,500 lb. to 4,000 lb. depending on the model lineup – about half the weight of existing and concept/ideation trailer trailers — which means the Bowlus is easily towed by the widest range of electric vehicles for ultimate range in the zero-emission luxury camping experience.

The Bowlus Power Management System, with a capacity of up to 17 kWh (depending on model), when combined with Bowlus Aersolar Solar, allows travelers to be self-sufficient without needing fossil fuels or campgrounds. This step removes the last inconveniences for luxury travelers. Bowlus has pioneered a long list of firsts, including the first lithium-powered RV that could power air conditioning off-grid in 2016, while much of the industry still presents these features in concept RVs.

“Our move to fully electric is important because it sets a precedent,” said Geneva Long, founder and CEO of Bowlus. “Where most RV brands use old technology involving propane and gas or traditional batteries, we are making new ground, just like we always have. Picture yourself enjoying nature without the noise of a generator – it’s a fully immersive experience to be all-electric.”

With roots dating back to 1934, Bowlus’ unique trademarked design includes over-the-air updates, the latest in communication systems, luxurious spa-like en-suite features, and premium bedroom and dining areas. Bowlus is known for a history of industry firsts, being the world’s first aluminum-riveted travel trailer. The brand is dedicated to innovation in support of the brand’s mission to elevate and enhance the luxury traveler’s experience.

Last month Bowlus announced their most accessible product, the Heritage edition, with a starting price of $159,000.

Lightning eMotors Passes 1Million Miles at SD Airport ACE Parking

Lightning eMotors (NYSE: ZEV), a leading provider of zero-emission, medium-duty commercial vehicles and electric vehicle technology for fleets, announced that Lightning customer ACE Parking’s San Diego Airport fleet of ZEV4 and ZEV5 shuttle buses have surpassed one million all-electric, zero-emission miles.

“ACE Parking’s San Diego Airport fleet is a success story not just for Lightning, but for fleet vehicle electrification, and it’s been an honor to be ACE’s chosen partner in this important deployment,” said Lightning CRO Kash Sethi. “It’s always such a point of pride—and a testament to our shared commitment to providing clean, safe and sustainable transportation—to see one of our fleets pass the one-million-mile mark. We’re looking forward to many more miles with ACE.”

Lightning delivered 16 Class 4 ZEV4 and 8 Class 5 ZEV5 electric shuttle buses to ACE Parking in 2020. Since deployment, the fleet has transported more than 1.5 million passengers over one million miles and mitigated over 1,050 tons of CO₂ emissions from the atmosphere. The fleet is supported by Lightning Insights™, Lightning’s leading EV-specific telematics service that monitors vehicle location, efficiency, charge status and more in real time. The ZEV4 and ZEV5 zero-emission shuttle buses have averaged 41.1 and 34.4 MPGe respectively, over 5x more efficient than comparable gasoline shuttles, such as the Ford E-450 with 7.3 mpg and the Ford F-550 with 5.9 mpg.

Lightning is now delivering the third generation of their ZEV4 shuttle bus with additional benefits, such as the batteries fully contained between the frame rails, redundant parking brake, push button shifting and more.

The ACE Parking vehicles participated in the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). HVIP provides point-of-sale discounts to organizations and companies for the purchase of low- or zero-emission commercial fleet vehicles. To date, program funding has helped more than 11,000 clean vehicles begin operation across the state, speeding up California’s electric transition, cutting emissions and improving air quality.

Modine Partners with REV Goup

The unique needs of specialty vehicles like fire and emergency service vehicles must be met for the full benefit of zero-emission transportation solutions to be realized. To that end, Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD, “Modine”), a leader in thermal management technology and solutions, today announced an expansion of its partnership with REV Group, Inc. (NYSE: REVG) and its fire apparatus manufacturing brands E-ONE, KME, Ferrara and Spartan Emergency Response. Modine will supply its EVantage™ thermal management systems for the Vector™, the first North American-style all-electric fire truck.

Each Vector fire truck will be equipped with the complete suite of Modine thermal management systems, including the EVantage Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS), Electronics Cooling Package (ECP), and cabin heating and cooling circuits. These systems work together seamlessly to maintain optimal battery temperature, efficiently cool power electronics, and ensure passenger comfort in the cab, respectively.

Boliden Volvo BEVs for Underground Mining

The Swedish mining group Boliden is becoming one of the first in the world to start using battery-electric trucks for heavy underground transport starting 2023. In mining environments, the electric trucks can deliver several big advantages – including no exhaust emissions, a safer workplace, and quieter working conditions.

The mining industry is today going through a period of rapid change, with many players shifting to more sustainable production methods to provide metals with a lower climate footprint. Just like in many other mines, exhaust gases from diesel vehicles are responsible for the majority of the carbon dioxide emissions from Boliden’s mines. The company is committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030*, and for Boliden to achieve its climate goals, electrification of transport will play a critical role.

The new cooperation agreement between Boliden and Volvo Trucks means that two heavy, electric Volvo trucks will be used in Boliden’s Kankberg mine, outside Skellefteå in northern Sweden. If all trucks in the mine were to be electric, the CO2 emissions from the mine could be reduced by more than 25 percent.

The first truck to serve the Kankberg mine, a Volvo FH Electric, will be used to transport rock bolts and other equipment down into the mine and will be put into service in 2023. Based on the experience with the first truck, another Volvo FH Electric will later be put into operation and used for underground transport of rock and ore.

Power Integration 900-volt GaN

Power Integrations (NASDAQ: POWI), the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits (ICs) for energy-efficient power conversion,  announced a 900-volt gallium-nitride (GaN) extension to the company’s InnoSwitch3™ family of flyback switcher ICs. The new ICs, which feature the company’s proprietary PowiGaN™ technology, deliver up to 100 watts with better than 93 percent efficiency, eliminating the need for heat sinks and streamlining design of space-challenged applications. InnoSwitch3 designs also offer exceptional light-load efficiency making them ideal for providing auxiliary power in electric vehicles during low-power sleep modes. The AEC-Q100-qualified InnoSwitch3-AQ family is particularly suitable for EVs based on 400-volt bus systems where the 900-volt PowiGaN switch provides more power and increased design margin―required for 12-volt battery-replacement systems―with enhanced efficiency over silicon-based converters.

“The dominant bus voltage for electric vehicles is 400 volts,” stated Peter Vaughan, automotive business development director at Power Integrations. “EV manufacturers are optimizing their new generation of 400-volt systems and re-engineering various power stages in the vehicle, such as the on-board charger. The 900-volt PowiGaN switch is extremely beneficial because it easily accommodates inductive noise spikes, yet it can operate from as low as 30 VDC, enabling systems to meet functional safety active discharge requirements. The extra power delivered by our GaN technology matches the increasing power demands of EV manufacturers, moreover, efficiency in power conversion―even in auxiliary systems―is important for both range extension and thermal management.”

In the industrial space, extra power and increased efficiency are extremely advantageous in applications such as appliances, three-phase motors and auxiliary power supply units (PSUs) in servers. The new 900-volt parts are pin-for-pin compatible with existing 725-volt and 750-volt InnoSwitch3-EP parts and offer increased safety margin which is ideal for countries with unstable line voltages.

“Our ability to deliver GaN parts rated at up to 900 volts demonstrates the reliability and ruggedness of our PowiGaN technology,” stated Silvestro Fimiani, senior product marketing manager at Power Integrations.

The new 900-volt InnoSwitch3-EP and InnoSwitch3-AQ off-line CV/CC flyback switcher ICs employ synchronous rectification, a valley switching discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) and continuous conduction mode (CCM) flyback controller. FluxLink™ communication technology enables the IC package to bridge the isolation barrier, optimizing efficiency and eliminating the need for optocouplers. PowiGaN technology enables InnoSwitch3-EP ICs to deliver up to 100 watts (230 volts alternating current [VAC] plus or minus 15 percent) without heat sinks. InnoSwitch3-EP devices incorporate multiple protection features including line over- and under-voltage protection, output over-voltage and over-current limiting, and over-temperature shutdown. Devices are available with standard and peak power delivery options. Automotive InnoSwitch3-AQ devices can also deliver 100 watts from a 400-volt bus and provide performance and protection features similar to those of the popular 1700-volt silicon-carbide InnoSwitch3-AQ ICs currently used in 800-volt EV systems.

BMW iVenture Invests in DeepDrive Dual Drive Electric Motors

 BMW i Ventures announced a co-lead investment in the $16.1M Series A round for startup DeepDrive. DeepDrive has developed a cost and resource efficient dual-rotor motor, extending the range of electric vehicles. Other investors include UVC Partners, Bayern Kapital with Wachstumsfonds Bayern, and Continental’s Corporate Venture Capital Unit. The company is also backed by renowned automotive manager Dr. Peter Mertens.

The radial flux dual-rotor electric motor includes power electronics and can be installed in any vehicle as a central drive or as an in-wheel drive. The patented technology increases the range of vehicles, achieves high torque density, is cost-efficient to manufacture and requires fewer natural resources; in turn, reducing environmental impact.

“With its patented and unique e-motor architecture, DeepDrive could set new standards for e-mobility,” said Marcus Behrendt, Managing Director at BMW i Ventures. “The highly efficient e-motors offer major advantages in terms of weight, cost and space. They enable the next generation of efficient and resource-saving electric vehicles. DeepDrive’s e-motor technology is designed for easy and cost-effective mass production. We are pleased that our involvement can help this new technology achieve a breakthrough.”

The DeepDrive team is working with eight of the top ten OEMs and is on track to bring its technology to production by 2026. Co-founder and CEO Felix Pörnbacher said: “We believe our technology will revolutionize vehicle electrification. With our dual-rotor technology, we are significantly more cost-effective and efficient on the road, shaping tomorrow’s electromobility. The demand for our development shows that we are on the right track. We would like to thank BMW i Ventures, Continental’s corporate venture capital unit, and the other investors for their confidence.”

With the fresh capital, the company plans to start manufacturing its motors, increase its headcount to respond to the high demand from OEM customers and win first series commitments.

Stellantis Invites High School Students for Drive to Design Contest

For the 11^th consecutive year, Stellantis is empowering students to envision the automotive future with its “Drive for Design” contest.

For this year’s competition, high-school students in grades 10-12 are challenged to sketch an innovative design for the next-generation Ram EV truck. The top prize is an incredible opportunity to work as an intern (if eligible) in the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio this summer. As the demand for electric vehicles increases, fresh ideas about the future of electric trucks are more important than ever.

Drive for Design is powered by the passion of Mark Trostle, vice president, Ram Truck and Mopar Design, who won one of the program’s early iterations as a high schooler in 1987. The contest highlights the path to a career in automotive design and illustrates the many opportunities for creativity in the automotive industry.

“Participating in this contest gave me the confidence to pursue the path to a career in automotive design. Now, I want to help students find the connection between their creativity and the automotive industry,” said Trostle. “It is incredible to see our past winners come up through the design school ranks. I even get to see some of them as interns or coworkers in our design studio.”

All student-created entries must be submitted by April 21, 2023. One Grand Prize winner and two additional finalists will be selected from all valid entries received.

In addition to the summer designer internship in the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio, the grand prize winner will also receive a Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet and have their winning sketch featured on Stellantis’ social media platforms. Prizes for the second- and third-place finishers include an Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, Virtual Day of Design portfolio review with members of the Stellantis Design Team and a scholarship to College for Creative Studies’ four-week summer program, VisCom 1.

Students, teachers and parents can follow the Stellantis North America social media channels to learn about careers in automotive design. Weekly contest updates and content will be posted every Tuesday and Thursday with the hashtag #DriveForDesign.

Cirba Li-on EV Battery Recycling Plant in South Carolina

Cirba Solutions, the most trusted and comprehensive battery materials and management company for end-of-life batteries and gigafactory scrap, announced today a phase I investment of more than $300 million into a world-class, lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling flagship facility in South Carolina. With over 30 years of experience, Cirba Solutions has paved the way for a sustainable closed-loop battery supply chain. The company is investing over $1 billion in the next five years to expand the infrastructure required to meet the growing demand for critical materials needed for EV batteries.

This will be Cirba Solutions’ eighth operational facility in North America and its fourth facility strategically located in the U.S. ‘Battery Belt,’ an area where more than 15 new lithium-ion battery gigafactories or expansions have been announced between Michigan and Georgia since 2021. This flagship, industry-leading facility will bring critical battery materials to the U.S. and will focus on processing end-of-life hybrid and electric vehicle batteries, gigafactory scrap and end-of-life consumer batteries to extract critical materials, such as nickel, cobalt and lithium. These key metals will support the domestic lithium-ion battery supply chain and provide enough premium recycled, battery-grade materials to power over 500,000 EV batteries annually.

 

The over 200-acre battery materials campus will create more than 300 jobs and be located near Columbia, South Carolina in Richland County. Groundbreaking will take place this year, with operations expected to begin in late 2024.

Alkegen Silicon Fiber Anode SiFAB

Alkegen announced today the launch of its revolutionary silicon fiber anode material platform, SiFAB, into commercial production. The company’s new SiFAB production line is an extension of its established large-scale manufacturing facility in New Carlisle, Indiana.

“Our latest investment in new manufacturing capacity for SiFAB is enabling Alkegen to meet growing demand from customers across a wide range of industries, including electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and consumer electronics,” said Alkegen CEO, John Dandolph. “It demonstrates and reinforces our continued commitment to being a leading producer of specialty materials that help the world breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before.”

SiFAB’s unique properties feature micron-sized silicon fiber with an engineered structure that enables higher energy density and is a drop-in solution for existing electrode formulations and mixing equipment. Comprehensive testing is available to support customer validations.

“This expansion into commercial production for SiFAB is a testament to Alkegen’s long-standing history of moving quickly to deliver high-quality materials at an industrial scale,” said Chief Innovation Officer Chad Cannan. “Our team has worked tirelessly to develop this innovative and sustainable specialty material and bring it to market. SiFAB is currently being validated by our customers for use in over 20 different applications, and we are thrilled to add it to our expanding portfolio of battery solutions for our customers.”

Multi-batch samples of SiFAB are available for qualification now.

Alkegen is building a broad portfolio of battery material technologies to make lithium-based battery packs safer while helping to extend battery life and accelerate charging time.

Solvay  Xydar LCP

Electreon (TASE: ELWS), has come to an agreement to jointly develop an advanced wireless vehicle kit i.e vehicle receiver based on Electreon’s existing technology and knowledge with TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION and DENSO CORPORATION. The agreement follows a successful comprehensive technology evaluation conducted at Electreon’s headquarters in Beit Yanai, Israel in which technical teams from TOYOTA and DENSO participated. A demonstration of the RAV4-PHEV charging on the wireless road was held at the conclusion of the evaluation.

The parties intend to promote technical development and adoption of wireless charging technology through the following joint activities: co-development of an aftermarket wireless kit for current electrified vehicles to utilize wireless charging technology today; integration of the wireless technology into new cars released to the market; collaboration to shape the standardization of wireless EV charging; collaboratively promote a joint pilot project in Japan, the U.S. or the EU, including commercial proof of business.

To achieve a carbon-neutral society, TOYOTA will provide solutions and options to as many customers around the world as possible. TOYOTA has hopes that dynamic wireless charging technology will serve as one of the solutions that will solve the issues related to electrified vehicles. It may not only eliminate the hassle of charging practice but also can help to reduce the battery size required in an EV or extend relative driving range. This technology may also help to distribute power demand more evenly, reducing the load on the grid and making it easier to incorporate renewable energy sources.

Xos Qualifies for NJ ZIP Vouchers

Xos, Inc., a leading electric truck manufacturer and fleet services provider, announced it has been selected as an approved manufacturer with the New Jersey Zero-Emission Incentive Program (“NJ ZIP”). With NJ ZIP, purchasers of the Xos Stepvan in the state of New Jersey are eligible to receive up to $90,000 per vehicle as a base voucher amount. Xos joins its authorized dealer in the region on the list of approved vendors.

NJ ZIP is a $45 million voucher-style incentive program launched by New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. The goals of the program are to accelerate the adoption and use of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles within New Jersey and to reduce emissions within the state.

LG invests in EB Battery Plant in Arizona

LG Energy Solution (LGES; KRX: 373220) today announced it will invest approximately KRW 7.2 trillion (USD 5.5 billion) to construct a battery manufacturing complex in Queen Creek, Arizona. The complex will consist of two manufacturing facilities – one for cylindrical batteries for electric vehicles (EV) and another for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pouch-type batteries for energy storage systems (ESS).

It marks the largest single investment ever for a stand-alone battery manufacturing facility in North America. It is also more than four times the amount the company initially announced last year (KRW 1.7 trillion) to manufacture cylindrical EV batteries in the same location.

Out of the KRW 7.2 trillion, the company plans to invest KRW 4.2 trillion (USD 3.2 billion) in building cylindrical battery manufacturing facility with a capacity of 27GWh, and KRW 3 trillion (USD 2.3 billion) in LFP pouch-type battery facility with the capacity of 16GWh. Both facilities, totaling 43GWh, plan to break ground this year.

With the new battery manufacturing complex in the southwestern state, LGES will boost its production capacity in major product segments, develop more cohesive partnerships with its customers in both EV and ESS sectors, and cut back on the logistics cost by bringing its new manufacturing facilities in close proximity to its customers.

The new cylindrical battery manufacturing facility aims to start mass production of 2170 cells in 2025, mainly for EV makers in North America. It is the first-ever U.S. cylindrical battery manufacturing facility solely invested by a Korean battery manufacturer. The company’s decision to increase investment in cylindrical EV battery production in North America comes from rising demand from EV makers for locally manufactured high-quality, high-performance batteries in an effort to satisfy the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)’s EV tax credits.

The new manufacturing facility for LFP pouch-type batteries for ESS, which is the first ESS-exclusive battery production facility in the world, aims to start production in 2026. With LG Energy Solution Vertech, Inc.’s fully integrated energy storage solutions, LGES will further expand its presence in the entire ESS value chain.

Situating the new ESS battery facility in North America, the biggest ESS market globally, LGES aims to respond to the fast-growing needs for locally manufactured batteries on the back of the IRA, and further expedite clean energy transition in North America upon the strong government policies supporting the adoption of ESS.

“Our decision to invest in Arizona demonstrates our strategic initiative to continue expanding our global production network, which is already the largest in the world, to further advance our innovative and top-quality products in scale and with speed,” said Youngsoo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. “We believe it’s the right move at the right time in order to empower clean energy transition in the U.S.”

The company’s new manufacturing facilities will utilize a state-of-the-art smart factory system that carries out all decision making on machine-produced data. By implementing this key measure to enhance product quality, the Arizona facilities will aim to increase yield, improve manufacturing processes, and boost productivity to better respond to the ever-rising battery demands in the region.