Harbin Institute of Technology

Hybrids at no price penalty

IDTechEx forecasts of sales of hybrid cars presume that, as the decade progresses, more and more of them will be offered at no price premium.

Flexible electronics is the winner

There is a new form of electronics that will hit that figure in half the time because, unlike the silicon chip, it subsumes electrics such as lighting, batteries, solar cells and heaters, not just electronics. It is usually achieved by printing and its most vital characteristic is physical flexibility.

Paper electronics ready for prime time

The term paper electronics refers to electronic and electric circuits printed onto paper - increasingly both at the same time. Paper electronics has its origins in the screen printing of electrodes onto battery separators for cylindrical batteries and it has been used for conductors and sensors in such things as T-Ink toys and novelties.

Ford's energy efficient Michigan Assembly Plant manufactures new EVs

Michigan has become the home of the world's first sole fuel efficient and electric vehicle assembly plant as Ford Motors overhauls the previous SUV production facility at a cost of $550 million.

Flextech conference 2011 highlights

Flextech conference 2011, 8-10 February, Phoenix, Arizona. Highlights of the presentations at the Flextech conference in Phoenix included talks from General Electric, Bayer, Plextronics and Sumitomo.

Printed electronics widens its scope

Printed electronics has its origins in conductive patterns printed as part of conventional electronics, forming flexible keyboards, antennas and so on.

E Ink Holdings announces fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010 results

Sales reach historical high of NT$9.7 billion and NT$25.2 billion respectively

Agility Global reveal their first production, all-electric motorcycle

London-based company Agility Global unveil their first product; the audacious, sculptural, all-electric Saietta.

Smart Skin for Land, Sea and Air Vehicles

Cars that glow in the dark and have far more passenger space, aircraft and submarines that monitor their complete outer surface, military vehicles that destroy missiles that hit them. The common factor here is smart skin.

World's fastest solar powered car

The University of New South Wales's Sunswift solar car has broken a Guinness World Record to become the world's fastest solar vehicle.

Germany - Leader in Printed Electronics

It's no secret that Germany is a global leader in the support of the development of the Printed Electronics industry. Government incentives, scientific and technological excellence alongside a strong educational background and highly skilled workforce are some of the reasons behind the success stories behind German technology innovators. In the past few days, several announcements have done nothing but reinforce the leadership position of German companies in the flexible electronics space.

Plug-in hybrid sailboat powered by massive lithium ion battery pack

One of the world's largest plug-in hybrid sailboats, a Tag 60 catamaran, hit the water powered by new E Motion 18 kw motors and a massive lithium ion battery pack from International Battery.

Solar power for electric vehicles

Most of the companies developing photovoltaics have been obsessed with reaching grid parity meaning competitiveness with conventional grid electricity generation which is often highly subsidised. More recently, it has been realised that the market for disposable photovoltaics on consumer goods is at least as large and even the potential on electric vehicles by land, water and air, could be an enticing billion square meters a year, comparable to that for buildings.

Sakti3 Third generation batteries backed

Earlier this year, the University of Michigan traction battery spinoff Sakti3, inc. announced $7 million in second round of venture funding led by capital firm Beringea, in addition to Khosla. Now G.M. Ventures has invested $3.2 Million in the company. Vloet/University of Michigan Professor Ann Marie Sastry of the University of Michigan is chief executive of Sakti3.

Energy harvesting and wireless sensors ready for prime time

Energy harvesting is the conversion of ambient energy into electricity to drive small or mobile electronic and electrical devices. Wireless sensors are particularly in need of energy harvesting because they are increasingly deployed in numbers and locations where hard wiring or battery changing are impracticable. We are at an exciting stage with both because harvesting is becoming better and electronics is demanding less power -so they meet in the middle.

Huge sales opportunities for EVs and their components into East Asia

Those seeking to create multibillion dollar businesses in electric vehicles, their components, intellectual property and services should look at the world's largest market - East Asia. This region of the world purchases about 56% of the global market value of electric vehicles for land, sea and air and it will still be doing that in ten years time. For Western companies to take this huge opportunity seriously they first need to slay six myths.

Using both light and heat of solar radiation to produce electricity

Engineers at Stanford University have figured out how to simultaneously use the light and heat of the sun to generate electricity in a way that could make solar power production more than twice as efficient as existing methods.

Electric vehicles in India - Part six

Hero Electric, the leading Indian electric bike and scooter manufacturer, made over 70,000 e-bikes in 2009.

Military Electric Vehicles: An introduction - part one

The effects of climate policies will require new fuels and energy systems. Ignoring these trends will make us less secure; leading the way can make us more secure. The challenges inherent in this suite of issues may be daunting, particularly at a time of economic crisis. Still, our experience informs us there is good reason for viewing this moment in history as an opportunity.

Skyline Solar appoints Thomas Rohrs CEO

T Rohrs brings more than 30 Years of semiconductor, energy and technology management experience to Skyline; Bob MacDonald to remain as CTO