Electric vehicle (EV) battery teams need not be convinced that conventional lithium‑ion is running into practical limits. What they do need is a way to push beyond incremental tweaks to cathode blends or electrolyte additives, without waiting weeks … [Read more...]
Q&A: Addressing engineering challenges in high-voltage EV power architectures
High-voltage electrical architectures are reshaping how electric vehicles (EVs) distribute power, manage safety boundaries, and integrate increasingly dense electrical systems. As voltage levels rise, design teams must balance creepage and … [Read more...]
What is the role of engineering coatings in EVs?
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers use specialized coatings to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, environmental protection, and controlled thermal pathways across high-voltage electronics, battery packs, and cooling … [Read more...]
Part II: Why it’s important to be wary of “platform” and “modular” architectures
Part I of this series examined how large-scale platform modularity, particularly in EVs, can introduce design tradeoffs and system-level ripple effects once real engineering constraints appear. Promised flexibility often gives way to added … [Read more...]
Q&A: How EV constraints are reshaping software-defined vehicle architectures
Software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures are fundamentally changing how electric vehicles (EVs) allocate compute, manage energy, and coordinate increasingly interdependent systems. As centralized computing platforms take on propulsion, … [Read more...]
Why deterministic testing matters in high-voltage EV systems
Efficient electric vehicle (EV) development depends on validation cycles that are faster, more repeatable, and more controlled than traditional manual testing can provide. Today’s EV modules operate as tightly integrated electronic and software … [Read more...]
Q&A: How US manufacturing rules are reshaping EV design and supply chains
Domestic manufacturing requirements are beginning to reshape how electric vehicle (EV) systems are engineered, sourced, and validated in the United States. Policies such as Build America, Buy America (BABA) and Section 45X now sit alongside … [Read more...]
Lightweighting and its system-level impact on EV architectures
Advances in electric vehicle (EV) technology continue to place greater emphasis on lightweight structures, efficient thermal pathways, and new material systems that can support higher power densities and more compact designs. These pressures are … [Read more...]
Q&A: Why conductive additives matter for high-performance EV batteries
Conductive additives account for only a small fraction of a lithium-ion electrode, yet they have a significant influence on the electrical and mechanical behavior of electric vehicle (EV) cells. Their ability to control resistivity, support high-rate … [Read more...]
Inductive charging is moving from roadways to driveways
Inductive charging, once limited to small electronic devices like smartphones, is slowly becoming a reality for electric vehicles (EVs). In Detroit, for example, a short section of 14th Street was fitted with embedded coils that wirelessly recharge … [Read more...]
How higher-voltage EV architectures are impacting battery and power-system testing
Electric vehicle (EV) architectures are advancing toward the 800-V class and beyond, which is reshaping how engineers test batteries, inverters, converters, and high-performance compute subsystems. These systems now require power platforms … [Read more...]
What is a matrix converter used for?
A matrix converter is a type of direct, variable ac-to-ac converter without an intermediate dc-link stage. The topology can deliver high-power densities, bidirectional power flow, and precise control in a compact size, making it suited for electric … [Read more...]
How bidirectional charging turns EVs into energy assets
Bidirectional charging is redefining the boundary between electric vehicles (EVs) and the grid. Once seen solely as energy consumers, EVs are now becoming distributed energy resources capable of powering homes, supporting grids, and enhancing energy … [Read more...]
Testing EV subsystems across multiple voltage domains
Electric vehicle (EV) architectures span multiple voltage domains, combining 400 or 800 V traction systems with 48-V auxiliary networks and 12-V electronics. The mix of voltage levels increases the complexity of testing traction inverters, dc-dc … [Read more...]
Q&A: Engineering modular powertrains for software-defined EVs
Electric vehicle (EV) powertrain design is entering a new stage of maturity, where mechanical, electrical, and software systems must operate as one. Engineers are now expected to create modular architectures that meet diverse vehicle requirements … [Read more...]
Reimagining EV design with AI-enhanced EDA tools
Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots, tools, and techniques are being deployed across various stages of electric vehicle (EV) design and simulation to support validation and manufacturing. AI can be used as an assistant to increase the … [Read more...]