Porsche

Printed Electronics in Korea

IDTechEx has spent almost two weeks in Korea visiting executives at leading companies and attending conferences. Company profiles will be given in the Market Intelligence Portal over the coming weeks. In this article we summarise some of our observations from the country.

Volkswagen's XL1 the most fuel-efficient production car in the world

Volkswagen claim that the XL1 is the most fuel-efficient production car in the world, with a European combined fuel consumption rating of 261 mpg.

Fisker fights back

Fisker has greatly delayed the launch of its hybrid sports car and its battery supplier A123 Systems has had quality problems necessitating an expensive recall. There has therefore been speculation in the investment community as to whether either would be long in this world.

Flexible and Stretchable Electronics at Printed Electronics Europe

Stretchable and conformal electronics is a relatively new but rapidly emerging and fascinating field in microelectronics.

Blunt vehicle talk at EV Japan Conference Tokyo

You have to listen to the world leader in electric vehicles, Toyota, because it pulled even further ahead of number two in the last year. Its hybrid car sales nearly doubled to about 1.32 units in 2011, more than all other hybrid cars put together.

Would you buy a retro EV?

This year has seen a new phenomenon in on-road electric vehicles - many models of retro scooter.

Latest EV trends and dead ends

Europe's largest electric vehicle show eCarTec, that has just taken place in Munich Germany, was an excellent place to see the latest trends and dead ends in electric vehicles.

Auto manufacturers collaborate on harmonized EV fast charging solution

Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support a harmonized single-port fast charging approach for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States.

Electrovaya to provide lithium ion battery systems for Chrysler

Electrovaya Inc announced that it has signed a contract to supply Chrysler with Lithium Ion SuperPolymer battery systems for 25 Town and Country minivans that will be part of a demonstration fleet of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles that Chrysler Group LLC has developed in partnership with the United States Department of Energy.

Mechanical energy harvesting in vehicles is better?

The use of flywheels has yet to be commercially successful in production vehicles. Decades ago they were tried as an energy source powered up before the vehicle went on its way. That proved expensive, heavy and sometimes dangerous but the technology has reappeared as mechanical storage of braking energy and therefore potentially useful in both pure electric and hybrid electric vehicles.

Boxster E prototypes

The Boxster E, with one electric motor apiece on front and rear axle, runs on purely electric power with four-wheel drive and is equivalent to a Boxster S in terms of driving dynamics. Together with two other Boxster Es, in which an electric motor drives the rear wheels, the prototype is being used to explore the everyday practicality of all-electric vehicles and how they are used, especially in terms of driving and battery charging. What the researchers are after is an understanding of the requirements facing future products, where to go next with Porsche Intelligent Performance and how to integrate electric vehicles into the infrastructure.

Smart battery design

mPhase Technologies has been granted a United States patent for the unique concept of a smart battery design that could contain different battery chemistries within the same battery configuration or battery pack.

Electric vehicle battle moves beyond cars

By a big margin, Toyota is number one in hybrid car sales and indeed in sales of electric vehicles overall thanks to such things as sales of its electric forklifts, where it is in the top three in most countries.

In-wheel electric motors gain market share

In-wheel motors were popular in cars over 100 years ago because they did not intrude into passenger space. An example is shown below. However, they were expensive and they adversely affected the ride and steering. One motor seizing could sometimes lock a wheel.

Electric vehicle battle moves beyond cars

By a big margin, Toyota is number one in hybrid car sales and indeed in sales of electric vehicles overall thanks to such things as sales of its electric forklifts, where it is in the top three in most countries.

Energy efficient aircraft - the next 15 years

During the next fifteen years, we shall be in the transition to much more energy efficient, quieter aircraft, with much less pollution and dependence on declining hydrocarbon reserves.

Closer look on the 2nd German stimulus package & 1st model region

With joint efforts the federal government and the German economy is going to develop Germany into an international driving market for e-mobility. The objective is to have one million electric vehicles and a further 500,000 fuel cell powered vehicles operating on Germany's roads by 2020. Germany is also strong in electric aircraft such as PC-Aero and in industrial EVs.

THINK enters France in unique EV distribution partnership with MOBIVIA

Scandinavian electric vehicle (EV) maker, THINK, has announced its entry into the French market through a partnership with MOBIVIA Group

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.

Performance cars in Oman

Oman is going make electric cars, according to a company executive in the oil rich - and sun rich - state.