Some months after its establishment, the joint venture Marelli and Punch Motive International is giving its fruits: the assignment of the first relevant contract for the production of e-axles (electrified axles) by an important car manufacturer on a global scale.
The production start of this system, which will be developed, tested and produced by Marelli Electric Powertrain Strasbourg, is expected for 2024.
The joint venture, where Marelli is the major shareholder, combines the proven expertise of the two partner companies to develop and to assemble “e-axle” systems, integrated and optimized for BEV or Plug-in Hybrid vehicles for Europe and Americas. The achievement of this first relevant contract since the establishment of the JV has represented the market acknowledgment of its advanced technological skills.
The e-axle system will be compatible with the most severe requisites of functional safety, as the ASIL-D, and it will be one of the most compact, efficient and performing market solutions. Another relevant feature will be the capability of assuring optimal driveability to BEV vehicles through functions such as the active torque vectoring, which confers more agility to driving.
Hannes Prenn, President of the Vehicle Electrification Division of Marelli, declared: “This joint venture was created to allow controlling a further area in the ambit of the portfolio of the Vehicle Electrification Division of Marelli. Winning a contract of this relevance few months after the creation of the JV perfectly demonstrates the logic at the base of its establishment. The focus on the e-axles dedicated to full electric systems is a key element in the strategy of Marelli Vehicle Electrification. Such element, together with our consolidated expertise in the ambit of electric motors and of the thermal management, defines a complete approach that permits the efficient control of the energy flow in current and future vehicles”.
A partnership in the name of the e-axle
More and more foreign markets for Made in Italy gearmotors
It goes on the development project by Rossi, company of Habasit Group specialized in the production of reduction gears, gearmotors and electric motors, which has allocated an investment worth 30 million Euros to strengthen the production in Italy and to continue the expansion in international markets.
Among the targets on which the investment is grounded, stands out the will of releasing on the market a new product range, whose production is scheduled starting from spring 2022, in the new factory that Rossi is building at Lecce and that will join the two already existing.
The investment is dictated by market requirements that have witnessed the demand growth in the applications and in the sectors addressed by Rossi. Moreover, the company has decided investing 6 million Euros in 2021 and further 7 million Euros already planned in 2022 for the improvement of the in-house manufacturing model in Modena and Ganaceto plants, with the aim of installing new machine tools and new production isles for the assembly and the mounting according to Industry 4.0.
Electric boating: the partnership of Transfluid-Bellmarine with Galvani
It is undoubted: in the boating world, there is great excitement in the direction of electrified solutions. Concerning this, the protagonists of the latest news are Transfluid-Bellmarine, which have announced the collaboration with Galvani Boten, needing exceptional quality propulsion.
For the 2022-production, Transfluid will supply the complete package for both the electric motor and for energy, with Bellmarine Drivemaster and Torquemaster range and battery packs equipped with Transfluid. This collaboration will allow Galvani to integrate at best the electric propulsion system and battery packs in the design of their boat, creating a more efficient, comfortable and sustainable allocation of weights and spaces.
The previous move by Transfluid stood out in the electric boating, too: a patrol boat newly launched by Ribcraft in Dubai has been powered by an exclusive hybrid electric system supplied by Transfluid in collaboration with its distributor Elcome International.
The boat can operate efficiently and silently in electric modality during the patrolling at low speeds or in sheltered waters and quickly shift to the high-speed operation, as needed.
Another piece of news about that issue? Transfluid has signed an agreement with Neel-Trimarans shipyard headquartered in La Rochelle for the supply of two electric Bellmarine motors featuring 15 kw for the new LEEN 56 and LEEN 72 Hybrid Travel Yachts. Therefore, the propulsion system is not full electric, but made up not only by the two electric motors on external hulls but by a central thermal motor on the main hull.
Trucks, electric motors on the stage
The good news at BorgWarner company concern the segment of electric trucks: a big German player in the field has chosen the company as supplier of the electric motors of its next trucks for heavy transport. They are two HVH250 motors for each truck, already used on Fuso eCanter truck. The two motors will be mounted on the same axle, each of them able to reach a peak power of 175 kW and torque of 425 Nm, at 350 volts.
«By helping our customers efficiently electrify vehicles – said Stefan Demmerle, President and General Manager, BorgWarner PowerDrive Systems – we are taking steps toward an increasingly clean and energy-efficient world».
The unit at stake, in fact, reaches efficiency with 95% peaks, and the stator winding technology is patented. The motor can be ordered in various variants, with direct transmission, chain, belt or gearbox integrated, all with a single housing or with rotor and stator only.
XPeng unveils Smart EV technologies
Robotic technology designed to support superior autonomy for fly and drive conversion? Today XPeng revealed a series of crucial innovations at its annual 1024 Tech Day, including the latest and most sophisticated version of its in-house developed advanced driver assistance system XPILOT3.5 and XPILOT 4.0, the design of new generation road-capable flying car, major supercharging technology breakthroughs, and robotic innovations, forming the key components of the company’s smart mobility ecosystem.
«Our exploration of more efficient, safer, carbon-neutral mobility solutions goes far beyond just smart EVs, and is the cornerstone of our long-term competitive advantages. We strive to implement cutting-edge mobility technologies in mass-production models for the benefit of our customers» – said Mr. He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO of XPeng, at the 1024 Tech Day.
The evolving smart mobility ecosystem depends on highly efficient and full-coverage power infrastructure. To deliver this goal, XPeng will introduce China’s first 800V high-voltage mass-production SiC platform, with new-generation “X-Power” superchargers able to charge for a range of up to 200 km in just 5 minutes. To maximize the utility of the 800V SiC platform, XPeng will also roll out lightweight 480 kW high-voltage supercharging piles with IP67 protection, and safety monitoring, delivering a superior safe and convenient charging experience for customers. Supporting this supercharging network, XPeng will also launch power storage facilities in both piles and mobile vehicles.
Transport & Environment: 80% of electric motors by 9 years
The European Federation for transports and environment, commonly indicated as Transport & Environment, has recently ordered Governments to anticipate the provision for decreasing emissions that would ban all forms of non-electric motors. The context was COP26 climate one, followed by a diktat coming from the group of sustainable mobility lobbyists: «The car industry’s electrification – said Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility at T&E – plans place it ahead of regulators on climate action. But these won’t materialise without actual targets to end car emissions by 2035 at the latest. The US and Europe, especially Germany and France, need to lead».
The next step advocated by Transport & Environment is closer: the automotive industry must cut emissions by 80% within 2030.
Car Ecobonus, the new wave
The Ecobonuses for the purchase of electrified cars have officially restarted in Italy, due to an allocation of further 100 million Euros. Since October 27th 2021, electric vehicles with emissions included in the 0-20 g/km range can benefit from a contribution up to 6,000 Euros with scrapping, and up to 4,000 without scrapping, whereas for hybrid vehicles with emissions included between 21-60 g/km they have provided for a contribution up to 2,500 Euros with scrapping and 1,500 Euros without scrapping. Moreover, they have also provided for huge discounts for the purchase of second-hand cars, which therefore have already been registered. The absence of the income criterion, that is to say of the ISEE indicator, makes this economic incentive highly appealing.
The incentive to replace the thermal motor with an electric motor for one’s own car that is over 30-years old goes on, too. The bonus will be by 60%, up to 3,500 Euros, to cover part of the spending for the purchase and the installation of the electric requalification system.
Strategy of e-acquisition
Saietta, specialists in high-tech advanced e-mobility propulsion, has announced the 100% acquisition of e-Traction from Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group. The move accelerates Saietta’s growth strategy by adding new commercial and technical capabilities and an established power electronics production facility.
Netherlands-based e-Traction is a designer and supplier of electric drivetrains for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses, as well as a designer and manufacturer of high voltage power electronics, including inverters and control systems.
The acquisition of e-Traction advances the development and commercial deployment of Saietta’s high voltage AFT (Axial Flux Technology) electric motor designs and brings additional product variants into Saietta’s portfolio – encompassing complementary power electronics and heavy-vehicle drivetrains.
The addition of e-Traction’s e-axle technology in particular complements the work already done by Saietta on its high-voltage AFT 190 electric motors. As a complete e-powertrain package, this extends the application range of Saietta from scooters to buses and will help to bring affordable electric propulsion to places gripped by chronic air pollution – one of the company’s founding business goals.
All current e-Traction employees will join the Saietta team, bringing with them many years of experience in designing, manufacturing and marketing specialist electric drivetrains.
In Europe, electric surpasses thermal
News that underline the successful course of the electric mobility: September 2021 will be remembered as the first time in history when the best-selling car in Europe was electric, more precisely Tesla Model 3.
It is a turning point for the European mobility, highlighted by the data from Jato Dynamics research company. The Model 3 by Tesla is the smallest and least expensive model, with a price of about 50,000 Euros. In best sellers, it is followed by Renault Clio, Dacia Sandero and Volkswagen Golf, all with internal combustion engine. The jewel by Elon Musk stands out also for the increment versus the previous year: 24,591 sales, amounting to +58% versus the data in September 2020.
ABB-IEEE Award 2021: awarded the research on innovative solutions for Electric Motors
ABB-IEEE Award 2021 prize gives credit to the best degree and doctoral theses on the new technological challenges in energy and industry.
Among the winners, ranks also Claudia Di Lodovico, engineer, who graduated at University of L’Aquila, with the thesis “Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Motors for Electric Vehicles: Electromagnetic, Vibroacoustic and Thermal Analyses”, coordinated by the supervisor Prof. Marco Villani, technical director of the magazine Electric Motor Engineering and drawn up in collaboration with the University of L’Aquila and Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche.
The degree thesis work has evaluated the NVH, electromagnetic and thermal aspects of the innovative in-wheel solution allowed by the adoption of a direct-drive axial-flux permanent magnet synchronous motor.
Innovative promising ideas
The competition, sponsored by ABB and announced by the Italian Section of IEEE (the technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, with over 400000 members worldwide), together with Women In Engineering Affinity Group – Italy Section, witnessed the selection of 46 candidates with 19 master theses and 27 doctorate theses.
Overall, 15 Italian Universities are represented, with proceedings concerning a broad range of topics: electric machines, renewable energies, smart grids, smart energy, robotics and industrial applications of artificial intelligence.
The winners
The excellent level of theses is the limestone on Italian research, increasingly characterized also by the proactive contribution of female students and professionals in the sector.
Here are the awarded people:
PhD Thesis category: Camilo Orozco Corredor (University of Bologna) “Scheduling of Resources in Renewable Energy Communities”; Marta Lorenzini (Milan Polytechnics) “A framework for the evaluation and improvement of human ergonomics in human-robot collaboration”.
Master thesis category: Davide Coraci (Turin Polytechnics) “Adaptive Control Strategies for Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Comfort in Buildings”; (ex-aequo): Claudia Di Lodovico (University of L’ Aquila) “Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Motors for Electric Vehicles: Electromagnetic, Vibroacoustic and Thermal Analyses” and Giulia Tresca (Polytechnics of Bari) “Intelligent Bin Packing Systems for Logistics 4.0”.