Electromobility will be one of the main key topics at electronica 2010. Leading companies from all subdisciplines of the electronics industry will present the latest components and applications for electromobility at the world’s leading trade fair for components, systems and applications – from direct current converters through to complete charging stations. In addition to electric cars, electric bikes and other electromobility concepts are becoming increasingly more important. Visitors to electronica 2010 in Munich from November 9 to 12, 2010 will be able to find out more about the latest state of the art and even try out new possibilities.
The trend towards environmentally-friendly mobility concepts calls for innovative vehicle concepts from the industry. Electronics are therefore also becoming more important for drive systems. Energy storage and battery management are placing greater demands on automobile electronics, especially electronic components, modules and systems.
Power supply in electric vehicles
In its capacity as a partner for manufacturers of hybrid and electric vehicles, TDK-EPC will present components for use in converters and in the drive train of electric vehicles at electronica 2010. They include, for example, single-phase and three-phase current sensors for all relevant current paths. TDK-EPC will also present transformers up to 3 kW and storage chokes for active rectification, which are characterized by high efficiency, a compact design, scalability and good mechanical connection. TDK-EPC will also exhibit its compact PCCTM condensers (power capacitor chip) which can be designed in very different ways depending on their particular application in inverters or starter generators.
New high-quality condensers are also required for use in the “on-board charger”. The on-board network battery is charged via the vehicle’s high-voltage battery. The “on-board charger” – a charging system inside the vehicle – charges the on-board network batteries. A 12 Volt high-voltage converter is required in this case. The 12 Volt high-voltage converter makes the connection between the high-voltage battery and the 12 Volt battery of the on-board network. Due to its large storage capacity and power rating, aluminum electrolytic condensers are being used to an increasing extent in the on-board charger. These condensers are especially suitable for voltages under 100 Volts, which is why they are primarily used for electric bikes (TDK-EPC Corporation, Hall B5, Stand 506).
Deutronic Elektronik GmbH, Adlkofen, will bring a high-voltage direct current converter for use in electric and hybrid vehicles to the trade fair. Thanks to its robust design, the DC/DC-converter can cope with high environmental demands such as vibrations, shock loads, splashing water and changing temperatures. With a high output and an efficiency factor of 94%, the converters are also suitable for use in trains and wind farms (Deutronic Elektronik GmbH, Hall B2, Stand 105).
Charging technologies for electric vehicles
In addition to drive and storage technologies, the further development of charging technology will play a very important role in future electromobility. Over 50 exhibitors will focus on the topic of “power supply for e-mobility” at electronica. Geyer Electronic e.K., Gräfelfing, will present solutions for filling stations of the future at the trade fair. The e-charging column “citySmiler” has been designed for urban utilization and is ideal for use both indoors and outdoors. The metal housing meets the requirements of protection class IP 44 and can cope with wetness up to a 30 mm water column and up to 100 percent relative humidity. The charging column has two charging points and users are identified by means of RFID cards or SMS. In addition to its function as a charging station, the column can be used as an advertising area (Geyer Electronic e.K., Hall A2, Stand 570, and Hall B1, Stand 465).
Around 560 exhibitors have announced that they supply products and solutions which are used in the area of electromobility.
Electric bikes conquering the world market
The market for electric bikes is also growing continuously. According to the German Bike Industry Association (ZIV), a total of 150,000 electric bikes were sold in Germany in 2009. The market volume has therefore doubled in the last two years. According to information in the “Electric Bike Worldwide Report – 2010 Update” of the market research company PikeResearch, Boulder, USA, one million electric bikes will be sold in Europe in 2010. This represents an increase of 50% compared with 2008.
electronica is cooperating with ExtraEnergy e.V. from Thuringia for the first time. The organization has been campaigning for the propagation and acceptance of e-bikes since 1993 and will present a 20-metre-long test track at electronica. On an incline of 11%, visitors will have the opportunity to personally test the power of pedelecs and e-bikes. The majority of electric bikes sold are pedelecs whose name is derived from “pedal electric cycle”. The motor assistance on pedelecs is coupled via a sensor to the rider’s pedaling action. Only if the rider pedals is the drive system also supported by the motor. e-bikes on the other hand are electric bikes whose motor support is regulated, for example, via a twist grip, irrespective of whether the rider pedals. These vehicles are regarded in most countries as mopeds. 90% of all e-bikes now sold in Europe’s main markets – Netherlands and Germany – are probably pedelecs.
China has the largest share of the world bike market. According to the China Bicycle Association (CBA), over 22.2 million electric bikes were produced in 2009 in that country alone. 370,000 of these bikes were exported. China will also dominate the world market in this segment in the next few years.