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2014

From nutshell to supercapattery

Scientists have created a hybrid sodium ion capacitor from peanut shells in a pioneering study bridging the gap between conventional ion batteries and supercapacitors.

Electrically conductive plastics promising for batteries, solar cells

An emerging class of electrically conductive plastics called "radical polymers" may bring low-cost, transparent solar cells, flexible and lightweight batteries, and ultrathin antistatic coatings for consumer electronics and aircraft.

Turning on the football pitch with kinetic energy

Pavegen installed 200 tiles into a local football pitch in Brazil. The kinetic-harvesting Pavegen tiles convert the energy from footsteps into electricity. It works day and night alongside solar panels to light the pitch and surrounding area for 10 hours a night on a fully-charged battery.

Shiny quantum dots brighten future of solar cells

Superior light-emitting properties of quantum dots can be applied in solar energy by helping more efficiently harvest sunlight.

Electric vehicles set for 2014 MPG Marathon

Electric vehicles will feature strongly in this year's MPG Marathon for the first time - but the drivers will have to plan their recharging points carefully if they want to finish first in their class.

New fuel efficiency record with Midsummer's flexible solar cells

The Swedish Royal Institute of Technology set a new Swedish fuel efficiency record with 181.5 km/kWh in the Shell Eco Marathon competition.

A look inside SLAC's battery lab

A team of scientists is making and testing new types of lithium-ion batteries. Their goal: create a battery five times better than the ones we use today.

Can the world's most promising electric-car battery be saved?

Over the last half-dozen years, a swarm of companies from around the world including General Motors has snapped up licenses for a lithium-ion electrode that promised to deliver the next big step in making electric cars competitive with conventional vehicles.

Tightening air pollution laws boost e-ships

In two parts of the world — along the U.S. and Canadian coasts, and in the Baltic and North seas as well as the English Channel — the SOx limits are ultra-strict. As of 2010, the sulfur content of marine fuel in these "emission control areas" must be 1 percent or lower. As of 2015, the sulfur content must be 0.1 percent or lower.

Nano-sized silicon oxide electrode for lithium ion batteries

The authors have successfully produced nanocomposite SiO powders by plasma spray physical vapor deposition using low cost metallurgical grade powders at high throughputs.

Energy harvesting from jaw movement to power hearing aids

What if hearing-aids could be self-powered? Researchers are investigating energy harvesting to power hearing aids.

Rare chemical phenomenon could be harnessed to harvest solar energy

A team of international scientists has successfully unraveled the chemical reaction responsible for propelling microscopic crystals to leap distances up to hundreds of times their own size when they are exposed to ultraviolet light.

The state of the graphene industry

Early stage companies continue to be formed across the world to commercialise graphene technology and governments commit large sums to R&D on graphene and other 2D materials. Companies are still searching for the killer application and the commercialisation strategies are still mostly one of substitution.

Shiny quantum dots brighten future of solar cells

A house window that doubles as a solar panel could be on the horizon, thanks to recent quantum-dot work.

Shale gas profitability doubts cast shadow on fuel cell cars launch

Last year finally saw the kick-off in sales of electric cars with 2014 seeing a new impetus on fuel cell cars.

The all-electric Nissan e-NV200

Nissan continues to pioneer the electric vehicle sector with the introduction of the Nissan e-NV200, which brings unprecedented refinement, with zero emissions and ultra-low running costs to the compact van segment.

High temperature piezoelectric materials

A spin-out company from the University of Leeds is set to transform industry's ability to electronically monitor and interact with extreme environments.

Toyota launches fuel cell car in the US

The supercapacitor industry closed last year (2013) with a continued double-digit growth. According to Maxwell Technologies' executives, China has been the main source of growth. New announcements confirm what IDTechEx has stated in recent years: the supercapacitor and the battery industry are the same.

2013

Daimler AG

German auto maker Daimler AG and specialty chemicals maker Evonik Industries AG are considering a sale of their unprofitable battery joint venture Li-Tec Battery GmbH, in a transaction owners hope could fetch as much as €1 billion ($1.32 billion). Daimler, which owns 49.9% of Li-Tec and Evonik, which holds the rest, are weighing a sale of the Dresden-based company after efforts to get a third owner on board have not succeeded so far, and expectations of a pure electric-car boom have faded. Industry sources suggest the joint venture could be a good fit for Asian battery specialists. It leaves Daimler exposed to Japanese and Korean leadership in the vital lithium-ion batteries.

Fingers produce electricity with new nanogenerator

A research team has developed has developed the biotemplated design of a flexible piezoelectric energy harvesting nano generator.

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