Motiv ePCS to power heavy electric trucks in Chicago
San Francisco Bay Area-based startup Motiv Power Systems has been chosen to supply its scalable electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS) to the City of Chicago for 20 all-electric garbage trucks, under an exclusive five-year, $13.4 million contract. The City of Chicago operates 600 garbage trucks in total. The ePCS uses off-the-shelf batteries and motors that can be configured to power medium-duty to Class 8 heavy-duty EV trucks, weighing from 15,000 to 52,000 lb (6800 to 23,500 kg). This design approach can cut operating costs by 50% over an eight-year period, according to Motiv. The company, which was founded in 2009, has been validating its ePCS since March 2012 with an all-electric pilot bus. Funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission, the 20-passenger bus contains five battery packs (125 kW·h) providing a range of more than 120 mi (193 km) on a single charge. The Motiv EV refuse trucks planned for Chicago will use the same ePCS system as the pilot bus, but with a larger motor and 10 battery packs, and will also employ an electric motor to drive the hydraulics system. Motiv will work with partner Detroit Chassis to install the ePCS onto a standard refuse chassis; Loadmaster will provide the truck bodies. Weighing 52,000 lb (23,500 kg), the EV refuse trucks will reportedly have a range of more than 60 mi (97 km), with a total energy storage of 200 kW·h. (Go to www.sae.org/mags/sohe/11486 to read about another recent electrified refuse truck project.)
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Weighing 52,000 lb, the Motiv-powered electric refuse trucks in Chicago will have a range of more than 60 mi (97 km), with a total energy storage of 200 kW·h.
Hitachi Construction Machinery pursues autonomous system for mining
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (HCM) plans to develop a suite of technologies aimed at delivering an Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) to the global surface mining industry by 2017. AHS field tests are planned to start in 2013 with incremental product deliveries through 2017. To develop the AHS solution, HCM will build upon existing synergies with Hitachi Ltd. that have already delivered an ac drive system specifically for HCM dump trucks manufactured in Japan (go to www.sae.org/mags/sohe/11492 for more on a new Hitachi hauler). For deployment in open pit mines, the AHS will consist of a variety of advanced drive and traffic control system components on board machines. These advanced systems will be combined with wireless communications and a fleet management system, enabling automation of the dump truck’s loading, haulage, and dumping operation. HCM plans to deliver AHS solutions based on the proven Hitachi ac drive dump truck system in collaboration with the latest products from Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd.
KLD Energy, Cenntro to develop specialized EVs for U.S., China
KLD Energy Technologies, Inc., an Austin, TX-based developer of electric propulsion and generation systems, has teamed up with Cenntro Group Ltd., a developer of diesel and liquid-propane powertrains for agricultural, transportation, and construction equipment, to jointly develop four-wheel electric vehicles (EVs) that will incorporate KLD’s EV drive system technologies. The companies plan to initially focus on the U.S., Europe, and China, with the launch of the Utility Electric Vehicle, an on- and off-highway work and maintenance vehicle; the low-speed Neighborhood Electric Vehicle; and the Intra-city Logistic Vehicle, a compact delivery vehicle. Cenntro Group owns a number of operations in China and the U.S., including Zenith Power Products, LLC and Xinchang Cenntro Machinery Co., Ltd., and is a major shareholder of Sinomachinery Group Ltd. In related news, KLD and Samsung SDI also recently entered into a cooperative relationship to jointly develop battery systems that will incorporate Samsung SDI’s lithium-ion battery cells and KLD’s EV drive technologies.
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KLD’s EV drive system—comprised of the battery pack, the electric motor, and the motor controller—is applicable in a range of products, including motorcycles and scooters, three- and four-wheel on- and off-highway vehicles, and equipment for wind-energy generation.
Rockwell Collins to develop GPS jamming and spoofing detection technology
The Office of Naval Research awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to develop technology to locate and classify an adversary’s attempts to interfere with GPS signals and disrupt military operations. The three-year contract for the Modernized Integrated Spoofer Tracking (MIST) program calls for Rockwell Collins to develop technology and prototype system concepts to detect and locate the sources of transmitted signals that are intended to disrupt the warfighter’s ability to navigate and communicate. In the first year, Rockwell Collins will develop advanced algorithms. During the second and third years, the company will conduct, validate, and refine the capability through lab testing and demonstrations.
Eaton, NREL team to reduce hybrid-electric-vehicle battery size
Eaton Corp. is developing a power control system for hybrid-electric vehicles (from passenger cars to commercial vehicles) with the goal of reducing by 50% the size of the battery needed. The company on Aug. 27 announced that the work is part of a $2.8 million project funded jointly by Eaton and the U.S. Department of Energy, the latter of which is contributing $2 million. The project is being led by Eaton's Innovation Center team in Southfield, MI, which will work with a team from the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—the former offering expertise in intelligent power management and the latter expertise in battery modeling and prognostics. Specifically, the project aims to significantly downsize the battery through a combination of duty-cycle learning and model-based supervisory optimal control design. Using advanced physics-based battery models developed in partnership with NREL, the hybrid vehicle supervisory controller dynamically balances fuel economy and the health of the downsized battery pack to maximize vehicle performance while minimizing the impact on battery life.
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Using advanced physics-based battery models developed in partnership with NREL, the hybrid vehicle supervisory controller dynamically balances fuel economy and the health of the downsized battery pack.
Upcoming Volvo communication system services trucks remotely
In 2013, Volvo Trucks plans to release Telematics Gateway, a new software-based system that enables service technicians to evaluate trucks while they are on the road. The system will be able to access a truck’s information, including diagnostic trouble codes and mileage, over a wireless connection. Wear and tear on brake pads, batteries, and other elements of the vehicle can be detected remotely, which means fewer unnecessary trips to the workshop. “Today when we service a truck, we estimate a planned driving condition, but then the customer may use it more and drive in more heavy conditions,” said Christian Gustavsson, head of service at Volvo Trucks. “Now we can actually read out the usage from the truck so we can service the truck when it is really necessary.” The system will issue a warning if wear reaches a critical level, alerting the service technician to contact the customer and schedule a service. This increases the truck’s uptime and helps avoid unplanned maintenance stops. An informational video is available from Volvo Trucks on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmOYiOIF7lY&list=UUkKEthtUQHmBqIYZTHyfXoA&index=0&feature=plcp.
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Illustration of how Volvo Trucks' new Telematics Gateway works.
Mahindra announces two joint ventures in India
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. announced two joint ventures at the DefExpo 2012 held in Delhi. The company's memorandum of understanding with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., a manufacturer of high-tech defense systems for air, land, sea, and space applications, will lead to the formation of a joint venture company in India. The JV will develop and manufacture products such as anti-torpedo defense systems, electronic warfare systems, advanced armoring solutions, and remotely operated weapon stations for Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICVs). Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Telephonics Corp., a designer, developer, and manufacturer of high-technology integrated information, communication, and sensor system solutions to military and commercial markets worldwide, also announced the impending formation of a JV company that will provide the Indian Ministry of Defence and the Indian civil sector with radar and surveillance systems, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) devices, and communication systems. In addition, the JV intends to provide systems for air-traffic management services, homeland security, and other emerging surveillance requirements.
API Technologies acquires U.K.-based C-MAC Aerospace
API Technologies Corp., a provider of electronic systems, subsystems, RF, and secure solutions for the defense, aerospace, and commercial industries, has acquired through its U.K.-based subsidiary API Technologies (U.K.) Ltd. C-MAC Aerospace Ltd. for £20.95 million. Based in Great Yarmouth and Milton Keynes, U.K., C-MAC is a provider of electronic systems, modules, and components to the defense, aerospace, space, industrial, and energy sectors. Founded in 1943 with approximately 300 employees worldwide, C-MAC's featured certifications include AS9100 and Class K MIL-PRF-38534, the latter a certification for space applications.
Flextronics to acquire Stellar Microelectronics
Flextronics entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Stellar Microelectronics, a full-service Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider based in Valencia, CA, specializing in advanced custom packaging solutions utilizing the latest microelectronics technologies for the aerospace, defense, and medical manufacturing markets. Upon completion of the acquisition, Flextronics will increase its service offering to include microelectronic design and manufacturing services to support customers with unique U.S. manufacturing needs, including those requiring certifications such as AS9100C, ISO 9001:2008, and ISO13485:2003. Stellar Microelectronics' Valencia operation is also FDA registered and ITAR compliant. All certifications, registrations and compliances will be maintained to continue to serve all aerospace, defense, and medical customer requirements.
Raytheon to help friendly forces communicate while conducting electronic warfare
DARPA awarded Raytheon Co. a $3.8 million contract to allow armed forces to conduct jamming operations with minimal communication and control interference to friendly forces. The High-Power Efficient Rf Digital-to-Analog Converter (HiPERDAC) program seeks to enable tactical platforms, such as maritime craft, ground vehicles, tactical aircraft, and UAVs, as well as individual soldiers, to conduct battlefield jamming operations while minimizing frequency interference with friendly forces. By generating signals that are both linear (that is, the ability of a signal to remain within a certain frequency) and efficient, HiPERDAC allows jamming across the frequency spectrum while providing precise gaps for communication frequencies used by friendly forces. Achieving signal linearity and efficiency has traditionally been very difficult, particularly at high power levels. Under the two-year contract, Raytheon aims to produce a technology demonstration showcasing the ability to efficiently generate high-power, rapidly tunable, linear microwave signals across a broad range of frequencies.
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