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BAE Systems and Caterpillar sign HybriDrive agreement

BAE Systems and Caterpillar Inc. have signed a long-term supply agreement to collaborate on an energy efficient parallel hybrid propulsion system for heavy-duty trucks.

Wireless power could revolutionize highway transportation

A Stanford University research team has designed a high-efficiency charging system that uses magnetic fields to wirelessly transmit large electric currents between metal coils placed several feet apart.

Frontline military technology promises battery revolution

cientists at BAE Systems have successfully demonstrated the most radical method of storing electricity since the invention of batteries over 200 years ago. The technological breakthrough, called 'structural batteries' may lead to a redesign of all electrical technology and could provide a crucial advantage to soldiers on the frontline.

Axeon supplies batteries for first Hiriko prototype electric vehicles

Spanish firm Hiriko has chosen Axeon, Europe's largest independent supplier of lithium-ion battery systems, to supply batteries for its prototype electric vehicles.

First electric vehicle wireless charging trial for London

The pre-commercial trial for the first Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) trial for London is expected to start in early 2012 and will involve as many as 50 electric vehicles (EVs). It is a UK and industry-leading initiative.

Electric vehicle technology changes brought forward

With hybrid and pure electric vehicles, the future is arriving much sooner than predicted. This is a surprise to those looking only at electric cars where sales in 2011 were well behind plan.

Cybergo driverless bus

Oxis Energy Ltd of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK has joined forces with Induct of France to spearhead the latest technology in electric vehicles.

First electric vehicle to finish the Dakar rally

The Latvian built OSCar eO has become the first range-extended electric-drive vehicle to complete the Dakar rally, an 8400 km long gruelling challenge through Argentina, Chile and Peru. The two week rally is arguably the toughest motorsport event in the world with less than half of the starters making it to the finish podium in Lima.

Tokyo and San Jose: bellwethers of EV success & failure

IDTechEx is currently in Silicon Valley having spent over a week in Tokyo at EV clients and events. Both are a bellwether of what is really happening on the ground with EVs because they have a relatively large number of early adopters.

UPS to roll-out electric delivery vans in California

Last summer Electric Vehicles International (EVI) announced the purchase of 100 electric delivery vans by UPS. The new e-vans are due to begin replacing the diesel versions early this year.

Meet the WattStation from GE

General Electric recently unveiled their WattStation electric vehicle charging stations; both pedestal and wall mounted.

Printed Electronics for Electric Vehicles

More and more giant corporations are buying into printed electrics by acquiring companies partly or wholly in the field. The world's second largest chemical company Dow bought Rohm & Haas (materials), 3M bought into Printechnologics (printed patterns read by mobile phones) and DuPont bought Innovalight (nanosilicon layers to increase photovoltaic efficiency).

PowerGenix & China City Construction Corp to develop NiZn batteries

PowerGenix, a developer and manufacturer of Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) batteries is entering a joint venture with China City Construction Corporation (CCCC), one of the largest infrastructure investment and development companies in China.

A marine renewable energy solution for modern ships

Wind power has been used by ships as a means of propulsion for thousands of years, but with the advent of the steam and internal combustion engines during the Industrial Revolution the use of sail power fell away sharply from around the mid-19th century. Today however there is a resurgent interest in the use of sails for commercial vessels as shipping companies seeks ways to reduce fuel costs and comply with new airborne maritime mission standards.

Flexible and Stretchable Electronics at Printed Electronics Europe

Stretchable and conformal electronics is a relatively new but rapidly emerging and fascinating field in microelectronics.

EIB lends €180 million to Renault Group

The European Investment Bank (EIB) recently granted a EUR 180 million loan to the Renault Group to contribute to R&D for a new generation of batteries and motors for electric vehicles.

Giants buy into Printed Electronics

More and more giant corporations are buying into printed electrics by acquiring companies partly or wholly in the field.

Hybrid vehicle battery recycling system

Toyota's established nationwide battery recycling system collects end-of-life Nickel metal hydride batteries safely from the market and makes sustainable use of limited resources possible.

Blunt motor and battery talk at EV Japan

The conference speakers were surprisingly blunt in their appraisal of batteries and motors for electric vehicles at last week's EV Japan conference. Batteries control the cost of pure electric vehicles by a big margin and they are the largest part of the cost of hybrids, though a lesser percentage.

Blunt vehicle talk at EV Japan Conference Tokyo

You have to listen to the world leader in electric vehicles, Toyota, because it pulled even further ahead of number two in the last year. Its hybrid car sales nearly doubled to about 1.32 units in 2011, more than all other hybrid cars put together.