StoreDot and Volvo to develop Fast Charging Batteries

Herzeliya (Israel) based StoreDot, has signed a multi-year agreement with Volvo Cars to develop an optimized battery for the next generation Volvo cars. This collaboration, with experts from Volvo Cars and StoreDot working together, is aimed to develop extreme fast charging (XFC) battery cells, optimized and tailored for Volvo’s future electric vehicle architectures. It is expected that the first samples will be delivered for testing next year.

Volvo Cars is already a strategic investor in StoreDot, but this newly agreed collaboration takes the relationship a step further. Dr. Doron Myersdorf, StoreDot CEO, said it is a highly significant agreement for StoreDot. “Our teams are now working together developing B-sample cells for Volvo Cars’ next generation fully electric architectures. The goal is to enable Volvo Cars’ customers to benefit from our XFC battery technology, which enables 100 miles of range in just five minutes of charging.”

StoreDot has developed a unicque Extreme Fast Charging batteries for electric vehicles . It has revolutionized the conventional Li-ion battery by synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, enabling to achieve very fast charging. In 2022, the company achieved a world first by demonstrating a live extreme fast charging of an EV battery cell in just 10 minutes.

Recently StoreDot reported performance feedback for the evaluation and integration A-Samples testing phase of its XFC electric vehicle battery cells. The comprehensive testing programs took place earlier this year by 15 leading global automotive brand manufacturers from Europe, Asia, and the US, as well as several of StoreDot’s strategic ecosystem partners.

Toyota chooses Electreon’s Wireless Charging Technology

Photo above: Totota’s RAV4 car on Electreon’s Wireless Charging Road

Toyota, Denso and  Electreon Wireless agreed to jointly develop an advanced wireless vehicle receiver based on Electreon’s technology for use in Electric Vehicles. The agreement follows a successful technology evaluation conducted by Toyota and Denso at Electreon’s headquarters in Beit Yanai, Israel. A demonstration of the RAV4-PHEV charging on the wireless road was held at the conclusion of the evaluation.

The parties intend to promote technical development and adoption of wireless charging technology through various joint activities: co-development of an aftermarket wireless kit for current electrified vehicles to utilize wireless charging technology today; integration of the wireless technology into new cars released to the market; collaboration to shape the standardization of wireless EV charging; collaboratively promote a joint pilot project in Japan, the U.S. or the EU, including commercial proof of business.

Toyota announced that dynamic wireless charging technology will will help to solve some issues related to electrified vehicles, by reducing the battery size required in an EV or extend relative driving range. This technology may also help to distribute power demand more evenly, reducing the load on the grid and making it easier to incorporate renewable energy sources. Denso said that”Being greatly impressed to discover the extent of Electreon’s innovation and technology maturity, the company eagerly anticipates combining its expertise with Electreon’s innovative technology to take wireless charging to the next level.”

The building of Electreon's Inductive Wireless Charging Road
The building of Electreon’s Inductive Wireless Charging Road

Oren Ezer, CEO and Co-founder of Electreon, said: “This partnership will make wireless charging accessible to a diverse and wide range of drivers and will demonstrate the many benefits of wireless charging as a cost-effective clean solution for charging EVs as well as a catalyst in reducing EVs’ carbon footprint.” Within the next few months, the Parties will execute a detailed joint development agreement for all the joint activities mentioned above.

Electreon has developed a wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs). The company’s proprietary inductive technology dynamically (while in motion) and statically (while stopped) charges EVs quickly and safely. Electreon collaborates with cities and fleet operators on a “sale” business model, and on a Charging as a Service (CaaS) business model.

15 automotive OEM and Tier-1 to evaluate EVR’s electric motors

Over 15 global vehicle manufacturers and Tier-1 automotive companies in eight countries will conduct evaluations of high-performance electric motors developed and manufactured by EVR Motors in Israel. The novel motors are less than half the size and weight of existing state of the art RFPM (Radial Flux Permanent Magnet) motors with similar power. The company is also developing additional motors and setting up an assembly line in Israel, planned to start large scale production in H2 2022.

EVR said it will tailor the motors according to the performance, size, cost, and other requirements of each specific customer. Customers not interested in manufacturing motors can be supplied with motors manufactured by EVR or its partners, including motors deigned to meet their specific requirements.

“Vehicle manufacturers want electric motors with less size, weight and cost, which provide more power, efficiency and flexibility – and this is exactly what we are providing,” noted Opher Doron, CEO of EVR Motors. The breakthrough electric motor we unveiled in May 2021 witnessed tremendous interest from OEMs, Tier-1s and potential partners.”

EVR’s first two/three-wheeler air-cooled 48/96V motor provides a peak power of 17kW and peak torque of 41Nm, yet weighs only 9 kgs, with a volume of 2.7 liters. The company is also developing a water-cooled  35kW motor, a small 6.5 kg, 7-9 kW motor for two wheelers, and a water-cooled 400V motor for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

New Topology for Old Technology

The new electric motors are based on EVR’s patented TS-RFPM (Trapezoidal Stator Radial Flux Permanent Magnet) topology, which provides improved performance, while at the same time maintaining the advantages of traditional RFPM motors. The motors generate higher power for their size thanks to increased flux, high fill factor, superior copper utilization, heat dissipation and thermal capacity. The novel topology provides significant reduction in cost as a result of lower Bill of Materials (BOM) and production costs, along with a simple assembly process.

EVR Motors will target most mobility and industrial applications, including two and three wheelers, passenger and light electric vehicles, trucks, busses, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs), golf carts, forklifts, trains, boats etc. TSRF technology can support a wide range of power and torque outputs, with voltage ranging from 48V to 800V, that are suitable for different power levels and for a wide range of speeds.

EVR Motors was founded by its current president and COO Eli Rozinsky, together with Victor Kislev and Ruslan Shabinski. The company’s chairman is Ophir Shoham, former Director of the Defense R&D Directorate at the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MAFAT). The CEO Opher Doron, is a former GM of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Space Division. The company is backed by a strong team of investors, led by Marius Nacht, co-founder of Check Point, and the participation of Teramips Technologies, Varana Capital and SIBF. It is now raising Series A funding round to accelerate its penetration into the market, develop additional motors and increase production capacity.

REE enters NASDAQ with a valuation of $3.1 Billion

The Tel Aviv-based REE Automotive and 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp (“10X SPAC”) have entered into a merger agreement for a business combination that would result in REE becoming a publicly listed company. Following the close, NASDAQ will list the combined company under the ticker “REE”. REE Automotive has developed EV platform which is completely flat, scalable and modular. The transaction values the combined company at a value of $3.1 billion.

REE’a platform is based on two core innovations: the REEcorner integrates all traditional vehicle components into the arch of the wheel, and the REEboard that provides a completely flat and modular electric platform. Each REECorner is completely independent and powered by its own ECU and consists of Electric motor, Single wheel steer-by-wire, Single wheel brake-by-wire, Multi-ratio drivetrain, Preventive maintenance AI and OTA updates.

The REEboard’s scalable technology allows it to carry a very large variety of different permutations without the need to design a new platform for each vehicle type. Since it does not store any drive components it can be designed to take any shape. It is accessibility from all sides and utilizes CANopen and supports any ADAS interface.

The combined company is expected to receive approximately $500 million in gross cash proceeds from a combination of US $201 million in cash held in 10X SPAC’s trust account, and $300 million from committed strategic investors including Koch Strategic Platforms, Mahindra & Mahindra and Magna International. The capital will accelerate mass production of REEcorner technology and modular EV platforms, expected to begin in 2023.

Daniel Barel (left), REE Co-Founder & CEO and Ahishay Sardes, REE Co-Founder & CTO
Daniel Barel (left), REE Co-Founder & CEO and Ahishay Sardes, REE Co-Founder & CTO

REE is planning to utilize manufacturing capacity via a secured and exclusive global network of Tier 1 partners in over 30 countries, with point-of-sale assembly. This strategy is expected to enable REE to reach profitability by 2024. The existing shareholders and investors will continue to hold their equity ownership, including Mitsubishi Corporation, American Axle, and Musashi Seimitsu Industry.

SolarEdge to Mass produce full EV Powertrains

Above: SolarEdge powertrain kits for buses and commercial vehicles

Since it was established in 2006, SolarEdge Technologies has built a strong reputation of a quality provider of optimized inverter solutions for photovoltaic (PV) systems, bringing it ti a total sales of $338.1 million in the third quarter 2020. But but now the company eyes a much bigger and  competitive market: full powertrain solutions for Electric Vehicles.

This week the company appointed SehWoong Jeong as Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary, Kokam. Prior to joining SolarEdge, he served as General Manager & Executive VP for Automotive Batteries at Samsung SDI, leading a large scale lithium-ion battery and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) business. Headquartered in South Korea, Kokam is a provider of Lithium-ion battery cells, batteries and energy storage solutions. It was acquired by SolarEdge in 2018.

In June, 2020, it appointed Carsten Schmidt to General Manager of its e-Mobility Division, which was established following the acquisition of the Italian S.M.R.E in July 2019. Carsten has more than a decade of experience in the automotive industry, with a focus in electric vehicles, and has held the position of Vice President of Sales in the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Business Unit of Continental AG.

Today, SolarEdge e-mobility division brings to the market a complete powertrain kits for buses and commercial vehicles. It includs electric motors, Lithium-Ion battery modules, High Voltage DC/DC converters, On-Board-Chargers, telematics and more. During the last quarters, it had built manufacturing capacity in Italy that includes an increase in the number of employees, to be prepared to deliver the first batch of full powertrain solutions to a known automotive OEM.

During the earnings call following Q3 results report, the CEO Zvi Lando said the company has made “a meaningful step into the e-Mobility market. During 2020, 10s of electrical vehicles powered by our powertrain units went through an extensive qualification process. In the fourth quarter, we expect to deliver an additional 100-200 kits as mass production is scheduled to begin.” According to his estimation, “SolarEdge will produce thousands of units in the next 6-12 months.”

Electreon to pave its electric road in a toll road in Italy

Electreon Wireless will conduct its first pilot project in Italy, in collaboration with the Italian toll road operator A.p.S Brebemi. The two companies signed a MOU earlier this year, which went into effect this month, as reported by Electreon to the israeli stock exchange this week. It is Electreon first project with a toll road operator. The israeli company stated the engagement with Brebemi has a strategic potential for its business.”The collaboration may promote further penetration of the wireless electric road system into the European and international markets.”

Brebemi operates the A35 toll road in Italy, which connects the cities of Brescia and Milan in the Lombardy region. As a first step, it was agreed that Brebemi would purchase a pilot project from Electreon that includes construction and demonstration of the wireless electric road on a one-kilometer section of road, adjacent to the A35 toll road, for 36 months. The goal of the pilot is to test applicability of the technology in the context of toll roads. If succesful, the pilot may lead to installation of the wireless charging infrastructure into more segments along A35.

The holding of Brebemi was recently acquired by Aleatica SAU, a global infrastructure contractor headquartered in Spain and operates mostly in Latin America. The company manages some 20 franchises around the world, including fifteen toll roads, three ports, one light rail and one airport. SAU Aleatica is owned by the Australian fund IFM, one of the largest investors in infrastructure.

First Electric Roads in Sweden and Tel-Aviv

Electreon Wireless developed an electric road technology that charges the batteries of electric vehicles during their drive on the electrical section. It is based on the use of magnetic coils that are placed under the traffic lanes and charge the vehicles’ chargers wirelessly, using magnetic induction. This helps to reduce the weight of the electric vehicles, since a relatively small battery is needed. The system includes a management unit located on the sides of the traffic lanes of the electric road, and a receiver unit located in the vehicle’s undercarriage.

The company reported last March on the complete integration of the system on a public road on the island of Gotland in Sweden and successfully performed a dynamic and static wireless charging experiment of a heavy electric truck equipped with receivers that it developed. It recently reported the start of an Israeli pilot in collaboration with Dan Bus Company and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality: paving a smart road with infrastructure for charging electric buses on a 2 km section of which the electric road section will be about 600 meters and will connect Tel Aviv University to the nearby train station. Electreon is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange at a market value of approximately NIS 3 billion.

REE unveiled three fully modular EV Platforms

REE Automotive has unveiled new chassis platforms for three types of electric vehicles: an inner-city car that can also be used as a self-driving taxi, a car designed to transport passengers and cargo, and a light truck tailored to the US market and that is designed for intra-city drives. In fact, the three new platforms are targeting emerging trends in the world of smart transportation: autonomous taxis, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), and the proliferation of urban delivery vehicles amid the increase of online purchases.

REE has developed a concept of a chassis in which the subsystems – suspensions, engine, steering, brakes, sensors, and the control and electronic systems – are integrated into the vehicle’s own wheels. The battery occupies the center of the vehicle throughout its entire length and width. This made it possible to develop a flat and modular platform that reduces costs and provides a great deal of freedom in vehicle design.

The P1 platform weights 1.3-ton and was designed for an urban delivery services. According to the company, it saves 67% of the chassis’ volume, which makes more room for the cargo itself. The vehicle is capable of carrying a load of 770 Ibs and driving at a speed of up to 75 mph for a distance of 136 miles on a single battery charge.

The P2 platform is designed to be used as an inner-city passenger car for up to 4 commuters, at a total GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) of up to 2.5-tons. It provides 3 times the space saving for passengers, and can also be converted to a cargo and delivery vehicle. It reaches speeds of up to 75 mph and distances of up to 260 miles per single charge.

A blank slate for Car Manufacturers

The third platform, P4, is designed for up to 4.5-tons vehicles. It can be used as a medium-sized cargo or transport vehicle, as well as an electric convenience vehicle (ECV). The saving in space makes it possible to install a large battery that will suffice for a full day of travel. The vehicle is capable of traveling at speeds of up to 87 mph and reaches distances of to 217 miles on a single charge. It was designed for the world of autonomous driving and enables easy integration of ADAS systems. It also includes redundant systems for a high level of reliability and safety.

REE Automotive’s co-founder and CEO, Daniel Barel, said there is a growing demand for electric cars amid the growing need for deliveries, regulation standards to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and the development of the Mobility-as-a-Service world. “Our modular platform can revolutionize electric transportation. It’s like a blank page on which the customers can build their own specific cars.”