by Sanjeev Manadhar, Texas Instruments Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) are popular because they have low (to zero) emissions and fewer maintenance requirements while offering better efficiency and drive performance. New HEV/EV companies are emerging, while existing automakers are investing more in HEV/EV to compete for market share. The heart of the […]
5 lessons you can learn from battery torture tests
By John Connell, VP of SLI products at Crown Battery Manufacturing Co. It’s easy for batteries to thrive in laboratory conditions or computer simulations. Too often, these perfect conditions are the source of marketing claims like 10-year guarantees. But the real world isn’t as forgiving. In the field, experimental battery designs can fail early. And…
How bidirectional converters speed the design of dual-battery automotive systems
New standards for combined 48-V/12-V vehicles dictate stringent tests for overvoltages and currents that new converter ICs can help meet. Tony Armstrong | Analog Devices Inc. The 48/12-V automotive battery system is just around the corner. Most major automobile manufacturers have been perfecting such systems for past few years, and it is evident that their […]
Want a new perspective on battery management? Buy a plug-in EV.
One facet of EV ownership: Thinking of your daily commute power consumption as equivalent to the sunlight hitting 20 ft2 of your lawn. Rudye McGlothlin, Silicon Labs Earlier this year I took my first step into the EV future by buying a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) – a Chevrolet Volt. A unique car in […]
Li-ion battery management IC for hybrid and electric vehicles
Renesas Electronics Corporation announced its fourth-generation lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery management IC that offers unmatched lifetime accuracy. The ISL78714 provides accurate cell voltage and temperature monitoring, along with cell balancing and extensive system diagnostics to protect 14-cell Li-ion battery packs while maximizing driving time and range for hybrid and electric vehicles. The feature-rich ISL78714 monitors and […]
BNEF: Energy storage investments boom as battery costs halve in next decade
Global energy storage installations will multiply exponentially, from a modest 9 GW / 17 GWh deployed as of 2018 to 1,095 GW / 2,850 GWh by 2040, according to the latest forecast from research company BloombergNEF (BNEF). This 122-fold boom of stationary energy storage over the next two decades will require $662 billion of investment,…
Power Sonic PS-640F1 rechargeable SLA battery now shipping from Sager Electronics
Sager Electronics, a leading North American distributor of Interconnect, Power and Electromechanical components and provider of value-add solutions, is now stocking Power Sonic’s PS-640F1 Rechargeable Sealed Lead Acid Battery. The PS-640F1 is part of Power Sonic’s PS range of sealed lead acid batteries that have been specifically designed for general purpose and standby applications. The…
Tiny real-time clock features super-long battery life
The MAX31341B nanoPower real-time clock (RTC) from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. enables designers of space-constrained systems such as wearables, medical monitors, point-of-sale (POS) equipment and portable terminals to extend battery life as well as save power and space. More than 35 percent smaller than the tiniest RTC alternatives available today, this nanoPower RTC, which operates at […]
Portland General Electric proposes more renewables & battery storage
Portland General Electric (PGE) presented a new integrated resource plan to the Oregon Public Utility Commission for approval. The plan focuses on adding more renewable power, capturing more energy efficiency, and strengthening partnerships with customers to help balance energy supply and demand during periods of peak energy use. “This is the first resource plan developed since…
EnergySage releases Buyers Guide that compares panel, inverter and battery models
Online solar marketplace EnergySage has launched a new tool for consumers to easily compare solar equipment based on quality rating, aesthetics, performance and pricing. The EnergySage Buyer’s Guide lets users search, sort, filter and compare today’s most popular models of solar panels, inverters and home batteries in one platform. Freely available to the public, EnergySage intends for…