Mazda

Supercapacitors improving faster than batteries

Supercapacitors replace lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries replace nickel metal hydride and lead acid batteries. There are side stories of course. Some supercapacitors replace electrolytic capacitors and others create new applications. However, in this article, we concentrate on replacing lithium-ion batteries.

Electric cars: Success by a different route

Everything about an electric car is facing total change. Different materials for bodywork, structural components leading to smart skin, laminar electrics, printed electronics and totally new components are coming along.

Vibrancy in electric buses contrasts gloom in electric cars

The market for electric buses and taxis at ex-factory prices will rise 8.7 times from $6.24 billion in 2011 to $ 54 billion in 2021. Of course, the largest part of that will be buses and detailed figures to 2022 are given in the report.

Why ultracapacitors maintain 30% market growth

Ultracapacitors, also known as supercapacitors, have seen some setbacks lately. Market leader Maxwell Technologies has seen reduced ultracapacitor sales growth in early 2012 due to softness in Europe and Nanotecture, in Europe, developing the variant called a supercabattery went out of business.

Another ultracapacitor pure electric car - Kleenspeed

Kleenspeed in Silicon Valley has put its first KAR compact car on the road with its GenESSys 40 lithium-ion battery pack solution that is being sold as a separate item. There is an ultra capacitor (supercapacitor) in the car that will be the subject of a patent.

Report on EVS26

EVS26 in Los Angeles this month reminded one of the children's chant, "When she was good she was very, very good but when she was bad she was awful". The networking opportunities were superb, the welcoming reception and the Gala Dinner being truly memorable.

Stop-start supercapacitor enables longer battery life

CAP-XX Limited a leading developer of thin, prismatic supercapacitors (also known as ultracapacitors or EDLC), announced that it has developed a supercapacitor module which supplies the cranking current to start the engine in Stop-Start vehicles (also known as start-stop, idle-stop, or micro-hybrid vehicles), reducing wear on the battery and eliminating the need for larger, more expensive ones.

Surprises at Brussels Motor Show

The 600,000 visitors to Brussels Motor Show this week will have some surprises if they look at the electric vehicles on display. World number one in electric vehicles, and specifically electric cars, Toyota, should be challenged by Honda, Ford and others in the pecking order but, on this evidence, it is pulling ahead.

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.

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.

KleenSpeed EV-X11 Shatters EV Prototype Lap Record At ReFuel 2011

On a sunny and cool Sunday the sound of the future whistled through the rolling hills of Laguna Seca as the sleek KleenSpeed Technologies EV-X11 shattered the lap record for Electric Vehicles on the Mazda Raceway circuit. This legendary race track - offering 2.238 sinuous miles, 11 unique turns and considerable elevation changes - is regarded as one of the world's most challenging circuits for man and machine. KleenSpeed Technologies president, Tim Collins, piloted the racecar of tomorrow, the EV-X11, to a new lap record for electric vehicles of 1:38.858, breaking last year's record - 1:42.5, set by KleenSpeed's prior model, the WX-10, at ReFuel in 2010 - by almost 4 seconds per lap, a remarkable step forward.

Origo Partners PLC invest in Shanghai EV-Tech

Private equity investors Origo Partners PLC have acquired a 49 per cent stake in Shaghai EV-Tech Ltd.

Mazda to lease electric vehicles in Japan

Mazda Motor Corporation is independently developing an electric vehicle (EV) with plans to commence leasing in Japan in spring 2012.

Future of electric vehicles in California

The annual IDTechEx conference on the Future of Electric Vehicles - land, water and air held in San Jose, California this week saw 200 attendees with 12 exhibitors including BMW MINI E, KillaCycle and Levant Power.

KleenSpeed Lite EV Power System

KleenSpeed Lite EV Power System enables conversion of most light cars/trucks to electricity.

Winning EnerDel strategy?

Lithium polymer construction - whatever the cathode chemistry - is also taking market share because it can have lightweight plastic casing and tolerate high pressure and it is highly unlikely to leak.

Think attracts Japanese investment

This month, Japanese manufacturer Itochu has made an initial $5m investment in Think, expanding their partnership to market and distribute the Think City model and drive system in Asia.

Kleenspeed Technologies goes mainstream

KleenSpeed was founded as recently as 2007 to develop pure electric vehicle technology and intellectual property in the NASA Ames Technology Park in Mountain View California. Already it is selling the fastest EV race cars at about 150 mph for 45 minutes, rather like the Mission Motors Mission One pure electric motorcycle made not far away. A 200 mph Formula One version is next in line.

Plug 'n play Mazda

US traction battery manufacturer EnerDel has a supply relationship with Nissan and Honda, though not necessarily volume orders, and its relationship with Think is progressing beyond the car.