Mansory Unleashes a Luxurious Beast: The Extended G-Class with 820 HP

Mansory Unleashes a Luxurious Beast: The Extended G-Class with 820 HP

The tuner, infamous for its flamboyant creations, has added rear suicide doors to the G-Wagen, among other things
Embrace the Fun: The Buggy Version of the Ami Goes Mainstream

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Clearly there's demand for these adorable doorless, roofless micro EVs so following the Ami's recent facelift the Buggy version is no longer limited production.
Revolutionary Battery Tech Halves Charging Times for Renault Megane EV

Revolutionary Battery Tech Halves Charging Times for Renault Megane EV

Total energies lubrifrants Renault Megane E Tech New battery tech has improved Megane EV’s range and charging times

Total Energies Lubrifiants, the lubricants arm of French energy giant Total, has fitted a Renault Megane E-Tech with an immersion-cooled battery that uses a new fluid called Cell Shield – and is claimed to have halved the EV’s charging times and extended its range by 6%.

Immersion cooling is a conveniently obvious term: reducing the temperature of something by putting it into a fluid.

But where electrical components are concerned, that’s not as simple as it sounds, as introducing water-based fluid to the circuitry of any electrical device causes a short circuit and instant destruction. This is why EV batteries are waterproof.

In a combustion engine, heat is conducted through the walls of the cylinders and combustion chambers into water flowing through channels. That water passes through the radiator (a heat exchanger) and is taken away by cool air passing through it.

It’s a form of immersion cooling in that heat is transferred directly from the hot metal of the engine to the water in the cooling system.

In electronics, heat is either transferred directly to the air or, with components that get very hot, such as a computer processor chip or EV battery cell, transferred to a heat sink that in turn is cooled by either air or a liquid.

Both are effective methods, but immersing the hot component in a cooling fluid is more so.

A special fluid is needed, however. In electronics, a dielectric fluid is one that doesn’t conduct electricity. This isn’t a new concept, having been used in power distribution equipment like transformers for many years, mainly as a special type of electrical insulator.

EV battery cells are usually mounted on a heat sink through which coolant flows but doesn’t actually come into contact with the cells. Submersing them fully or partially in a dielectric fluid is more effective, because it conducts heat away directly from the cells into the fluid.

The complexities lie in developing the right fluid to flow through the cells. Weight is also a consideration, although immersion cooling means other components that carry fluid in liquid-cooled batteries can be ditched.

Total’s Megane battery is the result of several years of work on immersion cooling technology. It hired British engineering firm Ricardo to develop a prototype of such a battery for a Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid in late 2020.

Apart from superior cooling and faster charge times, Ricardo concluded that immersion-cooled batteries would fit in existing vehicle architectures, cost 6% less and be lighter.

One more important factor is further improved safety. Promisingly, testing has proved Total’s new fluid is “unprecedentedly” good at suppressing thermal runaway and internal fire.

New Jeep Compass Unveiled: A Bold Leap into Electric and Hybrid Terrain

New Jeep Compass Unveiled: A Bold Leap into Electric and Hybrid Terrain

The all-new SUV will be available in the US from 2026 with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrain options
Taxing Electric Vehicles: A Culture War Disguised as Policy

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This isn't about raising revenue to maintain our roads, but fighting a ridiculous culture war.
Ford's Employee Pricing Extended: A Summer Deal with Uncertain Future

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Ford's employee discount has reportedly delivered a big sales boost and they're eager to keep it going
Navy's $60 Million Jet Takes an Unexpected Dive from Aircraft Carrier

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The U.S. Navy managed to lose an entire F/A-18E Super Hornet as well as its tow tractor when the pair fell off the USS Harry S. Truman as the ship made a turn.
Unbeatable Deal: Snagging a Kia EV6 GT for Half Price

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If you love practical cheap supercar speed, this might be the car for you
Versatile and Premium: U-Haul's Game-Changing Trailer for All Your Hauling Needs

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Whether it's a bigger car, or something without four wheels (or even a hot-tub), U-Haul's new trailer is much more flexible - and more expensive.
Elon Musk's Exit: A Farewell to the White House and the Next Chapter Ahead

Elon Musk’s Exit: A Farewell to the White House and the Next Chapter Ahead

As his time as a special government employee is coming to a close, Musk is saying his goodbyes