Honda

Come back fuel cells all is forgiven

Billions of dollars have been spent on fuel cells over the last few decades with few commercial successes as a result. US Energy Secretary Steven Chu is reportedly against them as a major option in electric vehicles: certainly he ensured that the Obama EV billions were not directed that way. However, the two US rulemaking bodies, EPA and NHTSA, are now considering incentives for electric vehicles, including fuel cell vehicles.

Impressions from Plug In 2011 USA

We attended the Plug In 2011 event in Raleigh North Carolina last week. In contrast to the successful IDTechEx event }}Electric Vehicles Land Sea Air | http://www.idtechex.com/electric-vehicles-europe-11/}} event in Stuttgart Germany, this had the more typical focus of cars. Organised by the Electric Power Research Institute and with many prestigious sponsors, it was a great success with over 600 attending on a given day excluding the public openings.

WiTricity and IHI to develop wireless charging system for EVs

IHI Corporation and WiTricity Corporation of Watertown, MA have agreed to collaborate on the development of wireless charging systems for electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle value chain is changing

Currently the key enabling technologies in electric vehicles are motors, batteries and control systems. For the next ten years, add to that energy harvesting, supercapacitors (ultracapacitors) and range extenders that replace internal combustion engines in hybrids, notably fuel cells and mini turbines.

Penetrating the fog surrounding lithium-ion traction batteries

To penetrate the fog surrounding lithium-ion traction batteries we should use the term generically for all rechargeable batteries involving lithium ions. For example, it is false to talk of lithium polymer as an alternative to lithium-ion because the term lithium polymer simply refers to a form of electrolyte involving solid polymer electrolyte usually with gel.

BASF and Dow move further into EV technology

The world's largest chemical company is either BASF of Germany or Dow Chemical of the USA, depending on how you make the measurement. Both have been belatedly but strongly entering the electric vehicle business with materials and participation in device manufacturing joint ventures.

Report on advanced energy storage technology highlights big changes

A report covering the analysis of over 40,000 patents granted in the last five years in the field of energy storage technologies for electric vehicles - meaning e-mobility - shows that two Japanese players - Panasonic and Toyota now dominate the scene closely followed by two Korean firms - Samsung SDI and LG Chemical.

Report on advanced energy storage highlights big changes in five years

A report covering the analysis of over 40,000 patents granted in the last five years in the field of energy storage technologies for electric vehicles - meaning e-mobility - shows that two Japanese players - Panasonic and Toyota now dominate the scene closely followed by two Korean firms - Samsung SDI and LG Chemical.

New report on advanced energy storage technologies

A report covering the analysis of over 40,000 patents granted in the last five years in the field of energy storage technologies for electric vehicles - meaning e-mobility - shows that two Japanese players - Panasonic and Toyota now dominate the scene closely followed by two Korean firms - Samsung SDI and LG Chemical.

Hyundai 90 kW vehicle fuel cell

Hyundai has showcased a hydrogen fuel cell concept Blue2 at Seoul Motor Show. It delivers hydrogen fuel stack power of 90kW.

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.

Ford to surpass Honda?

Ford may be about to overtake Honda to become number two on-road electric vehicle manufacturer in the world by numbers produced. It has recently has re-opened its Michigan Assembly Plant that has been re-vamped for the production of the new electric version of its Ford Focus model.

Spike in electric vehicle sales predicted in major cities

Recent research conducted by a global management consulting firm predicts a sharp rise in electric vehicle purchases leading into 2012, expecting sales in New York to account for 16 percent of new buys. Hybrid and pure electric vehicles are also expected to account for 9 percent of new vehicles in Paris and 5 percent in Shanghai.

Volkswagen reveals its latest Super Efficient Vehicle

Volkswagen recently unveiled its new two-seater diesel-electric hybrid concept car at the Qatar Motor Show in Doha. The XL1 claims to be the world's most efficient car.

Honda ranked greenest among automakers

Honda has been named America's "Greenest Automaker" for the fifth consecutive time by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The award is earned by the company with the lowest combined score of its smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2) in its U.S. automobile fleet.

Hyundai Heavy to build Korea's largest solar cell factory

Hyundai Heavy teams up with France's Saint-Gobain to build Korea's largest thin-film solar cell factory. Hyundai Heavy held a signing ceremony for the construction contract on October 8 in Paris. The ceremony was attended by Hyundai Heavy Chairman & CEO Min Keh-sik and Saint-Gobain Chairman Pierre-Andre de Chalendar.

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.

Germany catching up in electric vehicles

Germany is the strongest trading nation in Europe with the broadest and deepest automotive activity. However, the strategy of the German government and its automotive industry has been deeply flawed.

Electric vehicles in Taiwan - Kymco and Pihsiang

70% of the world's mobility scooters for the disabled - three and four wheel sit-on vehicles - are made in China by about 30 companies.

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.