Breakthrough. Game changer. Stunning. Don’t roll your eyes. Not yet. A Canadian company, eLeap Power, developed a new type of inverter for any electric vehicle that gets rid of the on-board charger. It saves weight and cost and gets rid of bulk. It can charge an EV 3x faster even on a 110v outlet, as Russell Pullan, the CEO of the company explains.

Battery fires in EVs are not common but they always get headline news. That’s one reason why Sabic developed a new material for battery packs that can contain a thermal runaway. Dave Sullivan, the Americas EV Batteries & Electricals Leader for Sabic, explains what materials go into the pack and the other advantages it offers in weight and cost.

The front-end “grille” on the Cadillac Lyriq EV not only sets the styling theme for the car, it also incorporates a number of sensors into one part. Volker Plehn, the Global Smart Panels & Electricals Leader at Sabic, explains how this can lead to fast styling changes at very low cost. He also points out where the same concept can be used on tailgates and roof panels, as well as for certain side glass applications.

When engineers set out to design a software defined car, they first have to identify where they can create value. Martin Fisher, a Member of the Board of Management at ZF, says with all the data that cars can now capture, that has to be where engineers devote their focus. He provides examples of how they’re putting all that data to work and how it will benefit car owners.

Weight is the enemy of EV range, and that opens the door to composite battery enclosures instead of steel ones. Frank Silvagi, the Chief Engineering Officer at Teijin, says composite battery enclosures are lighter, and offer more opportunities for parts integration. He also talks about Teijin’s new honeycomb structure that can make body panels and enclosures almost as light as carbon fiber but at a much lower cost.

If the EV revolution is ever going to happen they need to be more affordable. Steve Majoros, the Marketing Director at Chevrolet makes the case that the $30,000 electric Equinox will make EVs affordable for the masses. He says the Equinox EV goes right into the heart of the market, and points out that in August, EVs accounted for 7.5% of sales in the retail market.

Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis, says when it comes to transitioning to EVs, we’ve done it all backwards. He says we should have first made sure the grid carries clean energy and that the charging infrastructure was in place. He says home charging is a solution that’s specific to the U.S. market, and he worries about the affordability of EVs.

Matteo Del Sorbo, the EVP of New Mobility at Magna, talks about their move into battery swapping for micro-mobility, autonomous sidewalk delivery vehicles and last mile pizza delivery. That’s quite a change for an automotive supplier which built its reputation on stamping and molding.

Mitsubishi Electric is developing a UX for mid-priced cars that offers features which even the most expensive luxury cars don’t have. Mark Rokoski, the head of advanced engineering, takes us on a tour of what the system can do.

Total systems engineering is the big buzz phrase in the auto industry right now. Jeff Stout, the executive director of advanced engineering at Yanfeng, explains that was the key to their development of a yoke steering wheel.