Electric vehicles

A new study from North Carolina State University indicates that even a sharp increase in the use of electric drive passenger vehicles (EDVs) by 2050 would not significantly reduce emissions of high-profile air pollutants carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides.

IDTechEx research shows the electric aircraft industry is now growing rapidly with the military and industrial/commercial sectors increasing share to 67% and 27% of the 2024 value market.

Together with FEV GmbH, KSPG is currently and successfully testing a range extender developed for electric vehicles. The test vehicle, based on the FIAT 500, has already undergone comprehensive tests at KSPG.

North Carolina State University has been selected by the Obama Administration to lead a public-private manufacturing innovation institute for next generation power electronics.

YASA Motors, the company delivering ultra-high performance electric motors, has received a strong boost with the investment of £5m.

IDTechEx will be hosting a free webinar on Thursday 23rd January.

Duke University researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of wireless power transfer using low-frequency magnetic fields over distances much larger than the size of the transmitter and receiver.

A fleet of 130 virtual electric cars is set to commence on the roads of Munich, Germany.

Porsche has concluded its 2013 test programme with the new LMP1 race car which features the company's recently developed powertrain. Testing will resume in early 2014 in preparation for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) which starts in April 2014, with the Le Mans 24 Hours as the highlight of the season.

Hydrogen fuel cell range extenders for 20 FedEx Express electric delivery trucks will allow FedEx Express to nearly double the amount of territory the vehicles can cover with one charge.

Nissan plan to have an electric taxi on the streets of London in 2015 - years ahead of the Mayor's target of 2020 for the development of a zero-emissions taxi.

Hyundai will introduce its Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles to the US market in the spring for just $499 per month, including unlimited free hydrogen refueling.

Hitachi has begun operations on the demonstration site for the Japan-U.S. Island Grid Project on Maui Island, Hawaii, in collaboration with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization ("NEDO"), Mizuho Bank, and Cyber Defense Institute.

Ford has unveiled plans for a prototype solar-powered hybrid car.

By providing low, constant thrust over long periods of time, electric propulsion engines such as NEXT can accelerate spacecraft using less than a tenth of the propellant of a chemical rocket.

Lithium-ion battery manufacturer Sinopoly Battery has entered into a letter of intent with Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV) who plan to produce 15,000 and 5,000 EVs in mainland China and Taiwan respectively.

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) announced the purchase of two 40-foot, battery-electric buses as part of its clean bus initiative. The buses have been funded through a generous grant arranged by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich to support an electric bus demonstration project in the Antelope Valley.

With 200 HP and an instantaneous torque of 200Nm up to 10,500 rpm, VOXAN's WATTMAN is now the world's most powerful electric motorcycle.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus unveiled a package that focuses on streamlining energy tax incentives so they are more predictable and technology-neutral.

London Mayor Boris Johnson took an exclusive first look at an all-new Range-Extended Electric Metrocab from UK-based Ecotive and its technology partner Frazer-Nash Research to be trialled in London early next year.