IDTechEx

A high-performance battery for renewable energy storage

A low-cost, high-performance battery chemistry developed by researchers could one day lead to scalable grid-level storage for wind and solar energy that could help electrical utilities reduce their dependency on fossil fuels.

Highlights From EVS 32

Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) is the longest-running and largest event dedicated solely to electric vehicles. Having started in 1969, this year was the 50th anniversary of EVS, held in Lyon, France. IDTechEx Analyst Luke Gear was in attendance and presents his findings in this article.

China: The Most Spectacular Electric Vehicle Market

IDTechEx's upcoming electric vehicle forums will take place in Tokyo, Japan, on 18th and 19th of September, and in Seoul, South Korea, on 25th and 26th of September.

Electric Car Tipping Point Will Delight and Destroy

It is nonsense to forecast pure electric cars costing the same as traditional ones, then life continuing much as usual. The up-front price of pure electric cars will be dropping below that of internal combustion engine ones around 2025. The fundamentals are now clear. Short range electric cars will continue to sell badly because of range and financial anxiety: their resale value after three years can be down 80%. 200 miles/ 320 km is the tipping point where resale value can be only 40% down on purchase price. See the IDTechEx report, "Electric Vehicles 2020-2030" for the full picture of 100 categories of electric vehicle EV by land, water and air.

Silver coated flexible substrates for touch panels & flexible devices

INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, situated in Saarbrücken/Germany, is an internationally leading centre for materials research.

Stop food waste with 3D food printing?

Worldwide, around one third of all food is wasted. Despite the fact that wasted volumes in percentage of the total production amounts are relatively low, the numbers in kilos is an considerable amount and a great incentive to find new possibilities to lower the amount. 3D food printing could play an interesting role.

Researchers are developing an efficient OLED consisting of one layer

Organic light-emitting diodes are components that no longer consist of compounds containing the semiconducting material gallium, but of so-called organic compounds in which carbon is a main component. Compared to conventional light-emitting diodes, however, the luminosity and lifetime of OLEDs are currently lower, which is why they represent a current field of research.

How drones and sirens can help save the rhino

Researchers have found new ways to help save white rhinoceros from illegal poaching - using drones and sirens. They investigated the most effective ways of deterring rhinos from danger areas such as near perimeter fences where poachers often operate and spent six months on a South African game reserve testing the most effective way of persuading the animals to move to safer areas.

A new material for the battery of the future

Researchers have discovered a new high performance and safe battery material capable of speeding up charge and discharge to a level never observed so far. Practically, if the first tests are confirmed, this new material could be used in the batteries of the future with better energy storage, faster charge and discharge and higher safety targeting many uses from smartphones, to electric bicycle and cars.

Transplant recipients may soon have a test for organ rejection

To help prevent organ rejection, transplant recipients could receive drug cocktails personalised to their own immune systems if a new test, which has passed early trials, is successful. And new methods for scrubbing animal tissue could enable humans to benefit from other species' organs in the future.

Perovskite solar cells with iridescent colors

With the maturing of the perovskite solar cells technology, it is highly desirable to develop colorful solar cells to satisfy the requirements of aesthetic purposes in applications including building integrated photovoltaics and wearable electronics.

NanoDimension Inc.

NanoDimension are renowned for their electronics 3D printer, the DragonFly Pro, launched at the IDTechEx Show! USA 2017. IDTechEx Technology Analyst interviews Amit Dror, CEO and cofounder, to learn more about their latest printer, the DragonFly LDM.

Financing gives major boost to Tanzania's mini-grid sector

CrossBoundaryEnergyAccess, Africa's first project financing facility for mini-grids, is announcing its first transaction to finance 60 mini-grids in Tanzania in partner-ship with PowerGen Renewable Energy.

Greenhouses fitted with organic photovoltaic film

Within the framework of a partnership with Eiffage Energie Systèmes, Les Maraichers Nantais and Groupe Olivier, ASCA® photovoltaic films have been deployed at industrial greenhouses located near Nantes. Covering 43m² and incorporated in three different ways, the project aims to demonstrate the merits of the ASCA® organic photovoltaic film and its ability to meet the specific needs of producers.

Robots to help out at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020

At Tokyo 2020, the robots to be introduced by Toyota will be used to support the mobility of people at various locations and venues. By helping people feel and experience their hopes and dreams, Toyota believes it will be able to further contribute to the excitement and success of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Wearable trains dogs to respond to haptic vibration commands

Dogs can be trained to respond to haptic vibration commands while wearing a modified canine vest developed by an interdisciplinary research team.

Process development for innovative products made of 2D nanomaterials

AIXTRON has successfully investigated the production, properties and applications of 2D nanomaterials in the "HEA2D" project together with five partners.

Flexible Lithium-ion Batteries: bendable, rollable, wearable

Established in 1991 in South Korea, Jenax is a manufacturer of flexible and fast charging lithium-ion battery.

BYD, Toyota to jointly develop battery electric vehicles

BYD Toyota have signed an agreement for the joint development of battery electric vehicles. The two parties will jointly develop sedans and low-floor SUVs as well as the onboard batteries for these vehicles and others with the aim to launch them in the Chinese market under the Toyota brand in the first half of the 2020s.

Tiny vibration-powered robots are the size of the world's smallest ant

Researchers have created a new type of tiny 3D-printed robot that moves by harnessing vibration from piezoelectric actuators, ultrasound sources or even tiny speakers. Swarms of these "micro-bristle-bots" might work together to sense environmental changes, move materials - or perhaps one day repair injuries inside the human body.