Abstract:
Methods of forming bi-metallic castings are provided. In one method, a metal preform of a desired base shape is provided defining a substrate surface. A natural oxide layer is removed from the substrate surface, yielding a cleaned metal preform. The method includes forming a thin metallic film on at least a portion of the substrate surface of the cleaned metal preform, and metallurgically bonding the portion of the metal preform having the metallic film with an overcast metal to form a bi-metallic casting. The metallic film promotes a metallurgical bond between the metal preform and the overcast metal. In one aspect, the metal preform may comprise aluminum (Al) and the metallic film may comprise zinc (Zn).
Abstract:
A method for making a pre-lithiated electrode for a lithium ion battery cell, a method for making a battery with a pre-lithiated electrode, and an electric vehicle with a pre-lithiated electrode are provided. An exemplary method for making a pre-lithiated electrode for a lithium ion battery cell includes electrochemically connecting a magnesium-lithium alloy to the electrode. Further, the method includes pre-lithiating the electrode by transferring lithium ions from the magnesium-lithium alloy to the electrode. Also, the method includes electrochemically disconnecting the magnesium-lithium alloy from the electrode.
Abstract:
An electroactive material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electroactive material includes a plurality of atomic layers and a plurality of cations disposed between the atomic layers. The plurality of atomic layers includes an atom selected from the group consisting of: silicon, germanium, boron, and combinations thereof. The plurality of cations is selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, nickel, potassium, sodium, and combinations thereof. A ratio of the cations to atoms that define the atomic layer may be less than about 1:2.
Abstract:
A bi-material permanent magnet for an electric machine includes a core including a first magnetic material and a shell portion located on the core and made of a second magnetic material. The first magnetic material comprises a magnet material with an energy less than 20 Mega Gauss Oersteds (MGOe). The second magnetic material comprises a magnet material with an energy greater than 30 MGOe.
Abstract:
A battery cell pack has a plurality of battery cells that are assembled into a prismatic frame, with deformable separators interposed to accommodate elastic and plastic deformation caused by cyclic and acyclic expansion and contraction thereof during charging and discharging over the life of the battery cell pack. The battery cells are arranged in a horizontal stack within the prismatic frame, and the deformable separators are interposed between subsets of the battery cells. The deformable separators exert compressive force on the subsets of the battery cells along a longitudinal axis that is defined by the horizontal stack. The compressive force exerted by the deformable separators is at least a minimum force over a service life of the battery cell pack.
Abstract:
A method for using idle computing power of an electric vehicle includes receiving computing tasks while the electric vehicle is electrically connected to a charging infrastructure, accepting to perform the computing tasks while the electric vehicle is electrically connected to the charging infrastructure, and in response to accepting to perform the computing tasks, performing the computing tasks while the electric vehicle is electrically connected to the charging infrastructure.
Abstract:
A rotor for an electric machine includes strengthened structural elements effected through surface alloying and heating via an induction heating fixture. A rotor includes laminations formed to have internal cavities and structural members adjacent the cavities. A number of the laminations are stacked to form a lamination stack. An alloying material is applied to the lamination stack at the structural members. The lamination stack is placed in a fixture so that an inductor extends along the structural members and cooling elements extend through the cavities. A current is applied to the inductor to heat the structural members, alloying the alloying material into the structural members.
Abstract:
A battery electrode, and a method for fabricating the battery electrode are described. The battery electrode includes a current collector having a woven mesh planar sheet that is composed of metallic strands. The metallic strands define a multiplicity of interstitial spaces, and the woven mesh planar sheet includes a first surface and a second surface. An active material including lithium is embedded in the interstitial spaces of a first portion of the woven mesh planar sheet, and an electrical connection tab arranged on a second portion of the woven mesh planar sheet.
Abstract:
An alloy composition is provided. The alloy composition includes silicon (Si) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, magnesium (Mg) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, chromium (Cr) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.15 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.3 wt. %, and a balance of the alloy composition being aluminum (Al). The alloy composition has an intermetallic phase content of less than or equal to about 3 wt. %. Methods of preparing the alloy composition and of processing the alloy composition are also provided.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes a method of manufacturing a vehicle body structure component. The method includes extruding a tube to include at least one reinforced region extending along a length of the tube. The tube has a first thickness in the at least one reinforced region and a second thickness in other regions of the tube. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes cutting a blank from the tube such that the blank includes at least a portion of the at least one reinforced region and forming the blank into a desired shape of the component.