Electric vehicles

The market for electric vehicle inverters, both hybrid and pure electric, will grow from around $2.8 billion in 2013 to an estimated $4.2 billion in 2023 as discussed in the IDTechEx report, "Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles 2013-2023: Forecasts, Technologies, Players."

Swedish company Green City Ferries is to launch the world's first supercharged TM electric passenger ferry.

The biggest headache with traditional electric forklift trucks is the time, trouble and cost involved in constantly having to recharge them as well as the risk of damage to the battery due to improper maintenance, which leads to expensive battery replacement. But now a new concept in battery technology is completely redefining the performance users will come to expect from their electric materials handling equipment.

Electric vehicles, meaning free running vehicles with electric drive and carrying their own electricity storage are one business, whether sea, land or airborne. The components and even the complete electric drive trains are increasingly made by companies not restricting themselves to one of these applications. Despite our definition of marine electric vehicles omitting the traditional large diesel-electric and nuclear-electric ships and submarines, the marine EV sector is second only to the land sector in market value, aircraft being some way behind as yet.

As the IDTechEx report, "Electric Aircraft 2014-2024 Trends, Projects, Forecasts" explains, manned electric aircraft serve the need for reduced noise, air and ground pollution and reduced global warming.

CSR Zhuzhou, China, has unveiled what it claims is the world's first 100% supercapacitor-powered low-floor tram.

IDTechEx finds that the global sale of hybrid and pure electric cars will triple to $178.9 billion in 2024 as they are transformed in most respects.

Liberty Electric Cars, has successfully completed the build of the first fully functioning example of "DELIVER" - an electric delivery vehicle funded by the European Commissions' 7th Framework Programme which brings together ten partner companies from across Europe.

So far electrical cables are used only to transmit electricity. However, nanotechnology scientist and Professor Jayan Thomas and his Ph.D. student Zenan Yu have developed a way to both transmit and store electricity in a single lightweight copper wire.

Consider three supercapacitor riddles as we reveal how the supercapacitor industry is in good health in 2014 with added potential. What takes a lot of space and no space? What has a rival that is a partner? What do fuel cells need next?

Formula E Holdings, series promoters of the FIA Formula E Championship, concluded its first round of financing, attracting a new wave of investors totalling 50 million euros.

Toyota is using one of the hardest materials in nature after diamonds to develop a semiconductor it hopes will improve the fuel efficiency of its hybrids, such as the Prius, by as much at 10 percent.

The Volvo Group will study the potential for building electric roads, where city buses can be charged from electricity in the road at the same time as the bus is in operation. The benefit is quieter and more climate-smart public transport.

The starting point for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is rarely military; it is at the other extreme with toy helicopters and predating professional UAV helicopters and so on. Despite the emphasis in the press, it is not all about improvement of batteries.

Toyota Motor, world number one in electric vehicles by a big margin, has long done the minimum with pure electric cars, saying that they remain unready for prime time due to cost and range. The rejection of pure electric cars further firmed up in May 2014.

The Lightning LS-218 presents the first opportunity that consumers can purchase a production motorcycle capable of setting land speed records and winning road racing competitions that is as easy to ride as a 250cc commuter bike.

Phoenix Motorcars, a company who filed for Chapter 11 when they were experiencing financial difficulties a few years ago has recently announced a new 14-passenger, all-electric shuttle bus focused on the US and international markets.

In preparation for the next generation of electric vehicles and advanced battery technologies, General Motors will invest $449 million to upgrade manufacturing processes at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly and Brownstown Battery Assembly plants.

Dr Xiaoxi He is a physicist with a background in emerging technologies including organic electronics.

John Deere is an industrial machine manufacturer for the agriculture, construction and forestry industries. Based on stringent regulatory requirements on emissions the company has developed a series of hybrid electric machines.