Automotive & Transportation

    December 2016
    DoE to spend $18M to accelerate plug-in EVs and alt fuels

    The Energy Department (DoE) announced $18 million in support of five EV projects

    The Energy Department (DoE) announced $18 million in support of five projects for research, development, and demonstration of innovative plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and direct injection propane engine technologies, as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of light, medium and heavy duty ve
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    Date:
    12/28/2016
    Panasonic's Soft-PGS is a thermal solution for extremely thin spaces

    Soft-PGS enhances thermal coupling

    Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems Europe has launched a highly-compressible Thermal Interface Material (TIM) to reduce contact thermal resistance between rough surfaces in extremely thin spaces. Soft-PGS enhances the thermal coupling between heat producing devices (heat sources) and heat dissipation de
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    Date:
    12/28/2016
    TDK and Tronics Microsystems jointly announced that the all-cash public tender offer launched by TDK's wholly-owned subsidiary EPCOS was successfully closed on December 14, 2016. EPCOS, a leading manufacturer of electronic components, modules and systems based in Munich, Germany, acquired 72.38% of the outstanding sha
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    Date:
    12/21/2016
    California PUC approves EV infrastructure plan

    The plan to install charging infrastructure ensures the utility can provide the chargers to a wider range of customers

    The highly-anticipated approval of PG&E's plan to install charging infrastructure means not just that more drivers will have refueling options, but that it ensures the utility can provide the chargers to a wider range of customers by ratebasing it. The California Public Utilities Commission decision means PG&a
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    Date:
    12/21/2016
    The automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has today concluded a purchase contract with SEMIKRON International for the acquisition of 51% of the shares of Compact Dynamics, a manufacturer of high-performance electric motors. At the same time, Schaeffler and SEMIKRON have agreed a cooperation for the development of
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    Date:
    12/20/2016
    ConCarExpo moves to Berlin in 2017

    Connected Car & Mobility Solutions - The ConCarExpo starts in Berlin July 5-6, 2017

    The automotive industry is in transition and faces new challanges. Digitalization enables groundbreaking new technical opportunities and opens new business models. This automobile revolution has it’s own trade fair. The ConCarExpo. From July 5-6, 2017 in Berlin (Estrel Congress & Messe Center Berlin). With the ConCa
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    Date:
    12/19/2016
    Solder-on-polyester creates cost-effective flex circuits

    Solder on Polyester Substrate

    Molex has introduced Solder on Polyester Substrate, a flexible, economical alternative to rigid PCB and polyimide. Surface Mount (SMT) components, including fine-pitched integrated circuits (ICs) are attached with low-temperature solder and encapsulated on a polyester substrate. Custom designed products can be
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    Date:
    12/16/2016
    Phihong's new charger serves medical applications

    DA200U-250A 24V, 8A lead-acid battery charger

    Phihong, a leading global supplier of OEM power solutions, has released a new 24V, 8A lead acid battery charger designed for power wheelchairs and mobility scooters with AGM or GEL batteries. Designated the DA200U-250A, Phihong’s new 24V, 8A battery charger features a convenient USB output connector, consumer el
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    Date:
    12/16/2016
    ROHM launches high-voltage Zener diode lineup

    UDZLV and KDZLV series high-voltage Zener diodes

    ROHM has announced the development of high-voltage Zener diodes optimized for protection and constant current applications in a variety of electronic circuits. The UDZLV and KDZLV series are comprised of 12 models in Zener voltages ranging from 51V to 150V. They are also AEC-Q101 compliant and provide superior su
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    Date:
    12/15/2016
    Volkswagen invests in EV-charging leader Hubject

    One of the requirements for e-mobility is a well-developed charging infrastructure

    The Volkswagen Group is joining the eRoaming platform Hubject as shareholder. With the strategic investment in the Berlin-based company, The car maker will push ahead with the digital interconnection of charging stations for electric vehicles starting in early 2017 as well as the expansion and internationalization of
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    Date:
    12/15/2016
    Confusion in the traction-motor business

    Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2017-2027

    What do golf cars and heavy electric trucks have in common? There is still no agreement on the best type of electric motor to use in either of them. On IDTechEx analysis, the booming, confusing traction motor business will rise to around $400 billion in 2027. The new IDTechEx Research report, Electric Motors fo
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    Date:
    12/15/2016
    Pagani Huayra BC supercar has Microchip’s MOST tech

    Pagani Automobili’s Huayra BC supercar is using MOST technology Intelligent Network Interface Controllers

    One of the most technologically advanced sports coupes in the world features Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) technology for powering the vehicle’s premium surround sound audio and infotainment system. Pagani Automobili’s Huayra BC supercar is using MOST technology Intelligent Network Interface Controllers (I
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    Date:
    12/13/2016
    China's NextEV faster than Tesla?

    Chinese electric car startup NextEV claims its NIO EP9 model is the world's fastest electric car

    It's not often that a start-up can claim to be a world-beater from the off. But that's precisely what's happening in the auto industry, where Chinese unknown NextEV has launched what it claims is the world's fastest electric car. Pure-electric cars have been around for decades but only in the past five years or
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    Date:
    12/12/2016
    Gaia Converter releases family of ultra wide input converters target rail, trans and mil/aero apps

    DC/DC Converters for Railway, Transportation, Airborne and Military applications

    Gaia Converter released a new family of ultra wide input voltage range DC/DC Converters targeting Railway, Transportation, Airborne and Military applications. Uniquely wide, the MGDDI-06 Series 12-160V input voltage range is ideal to cover all typical battery/bus voltages at once (24V, 28V, 36V, 48V, 72V, 96V, 1
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    Date:
    12/09/2016
    Energy company offers no-cost charging for EVs

    EV owners with a ChargePoint Home station will enjoy free vehicle charging

    Transportation accounted for 34% of all carbon emissions in 2015. While transportation is crucial to our economy and our personal lives, as a sector it is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Further, a fundamental change in consumer purchasing and mobility behavior is crucial to any effort to
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    Date:
    12/08/2016
    Ground-breaking research from the University of Surrey and Augmented Optics, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has developed potentially transformational technology which could revolutionise the capabilities of appliances that have previously relied on battery power to work. This development by Augmen
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    Date:
    12/08/2016
    In today’s data acquisition systems (DAQs), performance boundaries are continually being pushed.  System designers require higher speed, lower noise, and better total harmonic distortion (THD) performance; all of which are possible but none of which are free.  These performance improvements typically co
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    Date:
    12/07/2016
    Safety vs. performance

    The creepage distance is the shortest path between two conductors along the surface of an isolator (typically a PCB)

    When designing a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) operating losses and the ability to dissipate heat are critical selection criteria for MOSFETs. The standard TO-220 package is generally good at dissipating heat and the wide range of heatsinks and forced-air cooling options available can easily improve this. Le
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    Date:
    12/04/2016
    Selco Products has been manufacturing custom cable and wire harnesses assemblies for many years for large OEM customers, and recently expanded its harness capabilities to meet custom designs from new and existing OEM customers. This has enabled Selco to support these customers from engineering design to rapid pr
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    Date:
    12/02/2016
    Cars reinvented: huge opportunities and dangers

    The biggest change in cars for one hundred years is now starting

    The new IDTechEx report, Electric Car Technology and Forecasts 2017-2027 finds that the biggest change in cars for one hundred years is now starting. It is driven by totally new requirements and capabilities. They will cause huge new businesses to appear but some giants currently making cars and their parts wi
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    Date:
    12/01/2016

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