Overseas News

Morand can recharge a city car in 72 seconds

Swiss technology start-up Morand has launched a breakthrough energy storage technology, Morand eTechnology, that can recharge a city car in 72 seconds.

The unique hybrid system combines the characteristics of an ultracapacitor with that of a chemical battery to create a durable and ultra-fast energy pack that can be usefully recharged in seconds. Morand eTechnology is ideal for applications that require fast, semi-frequent charges of around five minutes or less. This opens up the possibility for countless applications, from city cars and drones to e-bikes and e-scooters, robotics, aggrotech, defence, rail locomotives, and more. Wherever there is the requirement for rapid recharging and discharging, eTechnology provides a step-change in capability. The eTechnology packs use innovative hybrid ultracapacitors (HUC) cells from Sech SA as part of an exclusive partnership. These cells are used in combination with advanced controllers to safely achieve eTechnology’s exceptionally high levels of performance. Independent testing by Geo Technology has conclusively demonstrated the ability of Morand eTechnology to recharge a 7.2kWh test unit in 120 s (98% charging) at up to 900A / 360 kW. While there are numerous technologies that can charge and discharge rapidly, they are almost always limited by the number of cycles they can perform before capacity degradation. Morand’s eTechnology does so with much greater durability than other systems. Testing hasdemonstrated its ability to complete more than 50,000 cycles, with the longest-running test unit now approaching 70,000 cycles. Morand is working with a production partner to manufacture the units. Although production volumes are currently relatively low when compared to lithium-ion cells, expansive plans to ramp up production are already in place. This will help to bring eTechnology closer to price parity with lithium-ion solutions. Another important consideration is the total lifecycle of the storage system. With five or 10 times the number of possible discharge cycles, long-term operational costs may be substantially lower than an equivalent lithium-ion system.

Germany approves automated parking system

Mercedes-Benz and Bosch have reached an important milestone on the way to automated driving: Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has approved their highly automated parking system for use in the P6 parking garage run by APCOA at Stuttgart Airport.

This makes it the world’s first highly automated driverless parking function (SAE Level 4)1 to be officially approved for commercial use. “The world’s first approval for customer use of our highly automated and driverless parking function, developed together with our technology partner Bosch, shows that innovation leadership and ‘Made in Germany’ go hand in hand,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, responsible for Development and Procurement. “Following the market launch of our DRIVE PILOT Level 3 system, we will soon be offering a Level 4 system for parking with our INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT – all of that this year. We really are showing our customers how technology can make life easier and give back precious time.” Dr. Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management and chairman of the Mobility Solutions business sector said that from the outset, Bosch had taken the approach of making the infrastructure in parking garages intelligent. Drive in to the parking garage, get out of your vehicle, and send it to a pre-booked parking space just by tapping in a smartphone app – the automated valet parking service has no need for a driver. The vehicle drives itself to its assigned space and parks. Later, the vehicle returns to the pick-up point in exactly the same way. This process relies on the interplay between the intelligent infrastructure supplied by Bosch and installed in the parking garage and Mercedes-Benz automotive technology. Bosch sensors in the parking garage monitor the driving corridor and its surroundings and provide the information needed to guide the vehicle. The technology in the vehicle converts the information it receives from the infrastructure into driving manoeuvres. This way, vehicles can even drive themselves up and down ramps to move between stories in the parking garage. If the infrastructure sensors detect an obstacle, the vehicle brakes and safely comes to a complete stop. Only once the route is clear does it continue on its way.