Infrastructure for PEV’s

Infrastructure for PEV’s

Back at the turn of the 20th century, the automobile was still a new and comparatively rare piece of technology. A mere 14 years after Karl Benz first drove his Patent Motorwagen, fuel stations were still relatively uncommon. Most people bought cans of gasoline from blacksmiths’ shops and pharmacies for their cars. The first drive-in fuel stations didn’t appear until 1915.

Louis Rumao

We’re now about a decade into the modern era of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) and in many respects we’re probably further along in the development of a charging ecosystem than we were with gasoline infrastructure in 1900. In 2019, approximately 375,000 PEVs were sold in North America and 2.5 million globally. Projections are that those totals will grow to 2.6 million and 23.1 million respectively by 2030.

A car’s gas tank can be refilled in a few minutes. In normal times, even on a holiday weekend when many people are going for a road trip the lines at a busy petrol station rarely last more than 15 to 20 minutes. At a DC fast charging station, a full charge of most long-range EVs takes 30 minutes to an hour. Even new ultra-fast DC chargers at 350kW can take 15 to 20 minutes. While during holiday weekends, it’s not uncommon for PEV drivers at many high-traffic supercharger locations to wait for two to three hours for a plug.

Charging stations

In order to support the projected growth in the PEV fleet over the coming decade, plenty more charging locations will be necessary, and will be achieved through public – private partnerships involving governments, electricity suppliers and private entrepreneurs.

 

 

Typical installation costs for charging stations, with multiple outlets, run about $17,000 to $25,000, per outlet, depending upon the type of installation.

A key differentiator of PEVs relative to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is that you do not actually have to go to a petrol station to fuel it up. Using the charging cord that comes with every PEV, it can be charged even from a residential electrical outlet. But it works only for those that live-in, single-family homes with dedicated parking on the property. But those that live in multi-unit dwellings or apartments often do not have access to an electrical outlet and aren’t able to install a dedicated higher-level charger. Also, in many older cities, many single- family homes rely on street parking and running a charging cord out from the house isn’t practical. This puts a cap on PEV usage in locations where it is more desirable for air quality.

Actions needed

In order to support the projected growth in the PEV fleet over the coming decade, plenty more charging locations will be necessary, and will be achieved through public – private partnerships involving governments, electricity suppliers and private entrepreneurs. Cities need to update building codes to require new homes to account for PEV charging and also to mandate that owners of multiple unit buildings provide PEV charging in their parking facilities. Increasingly employers are installing charging facilities in their parking lots and garages for the use of employees during the workday. What happens when many or all of the charging stations are used simultaneously? There must be sufficient electrical capacity to feed all of the chargers simultaneously. Governments and electricity providers must ensure that there is enough electrical generation capacity to support the expected PEV fleet needs in the coming decade. Clearly, it will take careful planning and upgrades of many elements in the supply chain to reliably fuel the expected growth of PEV fleet.

 

 

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    Hankook Tire introduces Design Innovation 2020 project

    Hankook Tire introduces Design Innovation 2020 project

    Hankook Tire revealed the Design Innovation 2020 project, which defines a vision for the future driving and innovation in mobility.

    Launched in 2012, the Design Innovation is Hankook’s R&D project held every two years, in collaboration with one of the world’s leading design universities.

    Under the theme ‘Urban Reshaping’, professors and students from the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Cincinnati in the U.S. focused on the transformation of cities geared by reconfiguring mobility as part of living spaces rather than stand-alone purpose in the future with augmented automation infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies such as eco-friendly technology, autonomous driving and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    Throughout the project, modular platform of mobility concept named ‘Hankook Platform System (HPS)-Cell’ was proposed with tyre representing the root of mobility. It is applied with ‘Hankook Electric Mobility Technology (H.E.M.)’ which represents Hankook’s passion for future technological breakthroughs. Then a scenario was created which distinguishes mobility as a moving platform and its function as a pod (space), clearly elaborating that tire indeed sits at the center of the mobility.

    The tyre of HPS-Cell embodied an airless tyres’ double-layered unit-cell structure to acquire complex rigidity. It is a concept tyre that uses sensor technology to not only identify tire treads and road conditions in real time, but also to respond to wear-out risks and change tread patterns according to the road condition utilizing variable wheels and optimized infrastructure.

    The scenario was brought into reality in a concept film and a mock-up. The productions suggest that in 2040 urban population will be able to use this mobility platform combined with pods of various forms to each meet a specific purpose. The modular platform can also be combined with commercial pods such as urban farming to maximize the scalability and efficiency of movement within smart cities of future generation.

    The unveiled productions will be exhibited at various global channels and will represent Hankook’s capabilities in design innovation globally.

    Jimmy Kwon, Vice President of Hankook Tire Brand Lab said, “Hankook Tire is incorporating new ideas with our cutting-edge technology to explore design concepts for the next generation, as Hankook believes creativity is the first step towards bringing the imagination into the reality. We are more than excited to present this year’s works as they speak for the essence of the future mobility that Hankook envisions.”

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      TATNEFT Develops New AVT Tyre Line

      TATNEFT Develops New AVT Tyre Line

      TATNEFT has announced the development of a new line of ATV tyres called the KAMA Quadro ATM. The first model has been made in 25x8-12 standard size at its Nizhnekamskshina factory in Russia.

      The ATV tyre, which is developed by Kama Scientific and Technical Center, has been specially designed for off-road driving, providing excellent cross-country ability in mud and snow. The tyre’s special rubber composition ensures high reliability and traction performance.

      The first batch of tyres will go for pilot testing to TATNEFT subdivisions that operate off-road special vehicles.

      The KAMA Quadro ATM range is currently being developed in nine tyre sizes covering 12 to 14 inches diameter, with nine more sizes coming up over the next year. The factory will begin production of 25x10 tyres for the rear axle in addition to the already manufactured  25x8 tyres intended for the front axle.

      The KAMA Quadro ATM will meet the needs of the TATNEFT Group’s all-terrain vehicles used in oil fields and will also be used to equip Russian ATV manufacturers and the secondary market. (TT)

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        Kumho Tyre Aces Summer Tyre Test Over 52 Opponents

        Kumho Tyre Aces Summer Tyre Test Over 52 Opponents

        Kumho tyres have outperformed 52 rival manufacturers to ace the Auto Bild magazine’s summer tyre test with its ECSTA HS51 high-performance pattern tyre.

        The annual test is among the most comprehensive of its type, the results of which are regarded as highly significant by both the European tyre trade and its consumers.

        Conducted on both wet and dry surfaces, it left Kumho in a fighting third place overall. However, while the further qualifications caused the two leaders to slide down the order, 33 of the 53 entries were eliminated by the initial braking test. Kumho’s highly competitive and consistent scores in almost every discipline ultimately left it as the sole test winner.

         Awarding the ECSTA HS51 their coveted ‘Exemplary’ badge, the Auto Bild testers commended it for its precise steering response, secure wet grip, well-balanced handling, short braking distance, low wear rate and affordable price.

        Unlike some tyre tests, where the products are supplied by the manufacturers, those for the Auto Bild ones are covertly purchased by the magazine from regular retail outlets. The chosen size was 205/55R16, the direct fitment for the bulk of Volkswagen Golfs and Audi A3s etc., and therefore arguably the one most common within the European car market.

        UK purchasers currently have the choice of 35 sizes of ECSTA HS51 for wheels of 15 to 18 inches in diameter. The qualification round of the test was carried out at ATP (Automotive Testing Papenburg) in Germany and the other tests were performed at the IDIADA facility in Spain. 

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          Tire Leap AI Analysis Technology: An Overview

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          • June 25, 2020
          Sumitomo Rubber Becomes OE Tyre Supplier for Toyota All-new Alphard and Vellfire

          Thus, our newly developed "Tire Leap AI Analysis" utilises advanced AI-based analysis technology to analyse (for example) electron microscope imagery of tyre rubber compounds in order to achieve high-precision analysis that far exceeds human capabilities, thereby making it possible to derive accurate estimates of rubber properties from structural data found in this imagery.

           

          Specifically, it is a technology that estimates rubber properties precise from combining data on the individual raw materials contained in a rubber compound with data on its internal structure. In the future, we will continue to develop this technology and develop technology to estimate the future rubber properties from electron microscope imagery of unused rubber.

          ■ Technology to Precisely Estimate Rubber Properties Based on Structures & Materials

           

          Tire Leap AI Analysis utilises an AI-based image analysis system to analyse the internal structures of rubber in images captured by an electron microscope in order to infer information about the properties of the rubber based on its structural data (i.e. the results of image analysis). By combining this structural data with data about the materials that make up rubber compounds, this technology is then able to derive information about the physical properties of rubber with a high degree of precision.

          ■ Technology to Detect Changes in the Internal Structures of Rubber After Use & Estimate Resulting Changes in Rubber Properties

          By comparing images of a tyre that has never been used (i.e. that is brand new) with images of a tyre that has been used (i.e. after wear over time), this AI-based image analysis system can determine where changes have occurred in the internal structures of the tyre’s rubber and then estimate the physical properties of the rubber in the areas that have undergone these changes. The practical application of this technology will facilitate the design of new rubber compounds that are less prone to performance degradation due to wear and tear, thus contributing to the development and advancement of Performance Sustaining Technology.

          Dr. Miki Haseyama, Hokkaido University: We have developed a new AI technology that is able to estimate the extent of changes in the structures based on analysis of images of the internal structures of rubber. As compiling data for this kind of machine learning would otherwise be extremely time-consuming, one of the main merits of this new technology is the fact that this AI does not require prior field data from structural changes in rubber for machine learning. Rather, this AI uses deep learning to learn about the properties of new rubber (i.e. prior to undergoing structural changes) and then estimates the extent of changes in the structure by analysing how data from old rubber (i.e. after undergoing structural changes) compares to the data that it has previously learned about new data. This approach to machine learning allows the AI to automatically detect various types of changes in the structures of rubber.

          Kiyoshige Muraoka, Senior Executive Officer, Sumitomo Rubber Industries: We have been working jointly with Hokkaido University to further advance the development of AI technology that can understand how the internal structures of tyre rubber change through use. We have already put this new technology to use in the development of our latest “ENASAVE NEXT III” fuel-efficient tyres, which not only achieve the highest possible “AAA-a” rating for fuel efficiency and wet grip performance (under Japan’s tyre labelling system), but also reduce changes in tyre performance that occur over time as a result of use by half. Moving forward, we will continue to advance our Tire Leap AI Analysis technology to find and analyse slight variations in the internal structures of rubber that human senses and knowhow have been unable to detect so that we can then use the resulting knowledge to develop new technologies that further enhance tyre performance and ensure that this high performance lasts longer. In this way, we will accelerate research and development toward producing high-performance tyres that provide greater safety and peace of mind with the aim of contributing to the realisation of a sustainable mobility society for future generations.

           

          References:

          Ren Togo, Naoki Saito, Takahiro Ogawa, Miki Haseyama, “Estimating regions of deterioration in electron microscope images of rubber materials via a transfer learning-based anomaly detection model,” IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 162395-162404, 2019.

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