Remy to provide Enova with electric motors
Remy International Inc., an independent manufacturer of advanced electric propulsion motors, and Enova Systems Inc. signed a long-term electric motor supply agreement. Under the five-year agreement, Remy will provide its electric motors to Enova for its all-electric drive systems. "We chose Remy's electric motors for their proven durability and power density," said Mike Staran, CEO and President for Enova. With more than 2500 drive systems sold, deployed, and integrated, Enova's clean electric and hybrid electric vehicle technologies are powering fleets around the globe. Remy motors feature the company's patented High Voltage Hairpin (HVH) winding technology, which is claimed to increase torque and power density for greater speed and range in electric vehicles.
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In contrast to conventional round-wire windings, the HVH stator winding uses precision-formed rectangular wires.
CARB sets fuel-efficiency rules for 2017-2025
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Jan. 27 adopted rules for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that largely align with proposed federal rules for the years 2017-2025 but add certain mandates designed to help automakers achieve the required fuel-efficiency and GHG levels. The CARB rules deviate most significantly from the federal rules in requiring minimum sales levels of full and partial electric vehicles (including hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles). One of the provisions calls for the construction of hydrogen filling stations. The effect of the rules will be to put more than 1.4 million plug-in-electric and fuel-cell vehicles on California roads by 2025. CARB expects the lifetime savings in fuel costs for the average vehicle buyer to be three times as great as the upfront costs of the advanced technologies developed and deployed to improve fuel efficiency. Unlike the federal program, which addresses only fuel efficiency and GHG emissions, the California rules also address NOx and particulate-matter emissions.
GM's Stephens to retire after 43-year career
General Motors Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Tom Stephens has elected to retire effective April 1, after a 43-year engineering career with the automaker. As CTO, Stephens led the company’s product technology arm, working to identify and develop advanced technologies while building closer relationships with external and internal technology partners. His successor will be named later. Stephens, 63, served in a number of positions at GM, including Vice Chairman, Global Product Operations; and Executive Vice President, Global Powertrain and Global Quality. He began his GM career in 1969 as an hourly employee at the Chevrolet Engineering Center in Warren, MI, under the University of Michigan Student Co-op Program. An "engine guy" to the core, Stephens' career highlights include leading the development of the Cadillac Northstar V8, GM’s premier DOHC performance engine. He also spearheaded the creation of GM’s advanced propulsion technology strategy, which guided the company’s development of a wide range of advanced engine technologies, hybrid vehicles, and the Chevrolet Volt. Stephens was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007 for his contributions to powertrain engineering.
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Tom Stephens was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007 for his contributions to powertrain engineering.
SDCmaterials begins field trials for emission control catalysts
SDCmaterials, a Tempe, AZ-based developer of advanced high-performance catalyst materials, has commenced field trials for its Nano-Nano-Micron (NNm) emission control catalyst product. As part of this final phase of pre-production testing, the company’s NNm product will be deployed as the active catalyst ingredient within a critical exhaust system component used on municipal transit buses. This is a joint project between SDCmaterials Inc. and a major European exhaust gas aftertreatment and systems company. The exhaust system components targeted in these field trials rely on high-cost platinum group metals (PGM) to oxidize soot and convert CO and HC into CO2 and water. SDC’s catalysts are produced using a proprietary process that results in a unique nano-scale PGM structure. “The cost and performance benefits of our NNm emission control catalysts have been proven in synthetic gas and vehicle drive-cycle tests with multiple OEMs in various light-duty and heavy-duty emissions control applications,” said Maximilian Biberger, CEO of SDCmaterials Inc. The company has production facilities in Schwarzheide, Germany.
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SDCmaterials’ Nano-Nano-Micron catalyst material is said to “substantially reduce” the amount of platinum group metals required to meet stringent emissions control requirements.
Continental and SK Innovation team on lithium-ion batteries
As part of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, officials of SK Innovation and Continental Corp. on Jan. 10 signed an agreement to form a joint venture in lithium-ion batteries. The JV will develop, manufacture, and market the batteries globally. SK will supply Li-ion cells to the JV while Continental will supply battery-management electronics and its overall automotive systems competence. SK Innovation will have 51% ownership, Continental 49%. Initial operations will be based in Germany and Korea. The management team will be composed of executives from both companies, and the JV is subject to the completion of additional agreements, which are expected to be achieved by mid-2012.
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A worker performs cell testing at SK Innovation.
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