We may never see an EV battery pack capable of providing a million-mile (1.6 million km) range, but one capable of enough discharge and recharge cycles to carry a vehicle this huge distance could become available as soon as next year, according to Tesla. The main benefit of this battery technology could be to help … Continue reading Mooted million-mile battery pack could be electric truck game-changer
The Porsche Taycan pictured above is hooked up to an Australian-made ultra rapid charger capable of zapping a colossal 350kW into the battery of an electric vehicle, provided it is capable of handling this level of throughput. Porsche has engineered the Taycan to take a not-inconsiderable 270kW of charge when plugged into the right 800-volt … Continue reading Porsche has Taycan thermal management to new heights with its EV
VASA has been saying it for some time, but now Denso sees thermal management as one of its most important focus areas. Denso CEO of thermal systems in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Marco Di Rao, predicts that heat pumps and thermal management will be“key enablers of the electrification of mobility”. “First of all, … Continue reading Denso zeroes in on heat pumps
A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) is highlights both direct and indirect emissions caused by automotive air-conditioning, recommending governments take a holistic approach to addressing these issues that includes the adoption of low-GWP refrigerants, improved system efficiency and increased vehicle electrification. Few reports of this kind cover both direct and indirect emissions, usually … Continue reading Auto-AC has big energy role to play in reducing emissions
The red R134a sticker on a refrigerant line fitting in the image above is found under the bonnet of a cutting-edge electric vehicle that is selling well in Australia. The Hyundai Kona. Inset is a J639 label from another hi-tech EV, the Jaguar I-Pace, sold in Australia carrying 850 grams of R134a. The Kona uses … Continue reading Car-makers keep using high-GWP refrigerant
Car manufacturing could soon return to South Australia, with two separate electric vehicle companies selecting the state as their future production bases in the same week. Australian start-up ACE-EV signed a partnership agreement with Aldom Motor Body Builders in Adelaide’s north to assemble its planned range of electric light commercial and passenger vehicles. The first … Continue reading EV production for South Australia?
A recently published report has detailed a range of potential refrigerant blends designed to replace R134a, which could serve as more environmentally friendly alternatives. The research, carried out by the US Government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratory, was focused on finding less harmful non- or marginally flammable R134a alternatives for military applications. … Continue reading More R134a alternatives on the horizon?
President of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA), Kevin O’Shea, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 honours list. Mr O’Shea has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry. He has been RACCA president since 1999, and … Continue reading Kevin O’Shea honoured
In parallel to the development of battery electric vehicles, progress in hydrogen fuel cell technology and the supporting fuel infrastructure is gathering pace both globally and in Australasia. For example, Toyota Australia is pumping $4.3 million into construction of Victoria’s first hydrogen refuelling station at its former car manufacturing site in Altona. The project is … Continue reading Hydrogen fuel progress
A study published by an international team of scientists has further identified China as the source of significant CFC-11 emissions, despite it being phased out in 2010 under Montreal Protocol. The chemical, which is particularly damaging to the ozone layer and has a high global warming potential (GWP) of 4660, was historically used primarily in … Continue reading Mystery CFC-11 emissions
