WheelTug

International Electromobility Conference Ljubljana 27-28 Oct

Dr Peter Harrop provides an update on the International Electromobility Conference Ljubljana.

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.

World's most comprehensive charging infrastructure planned in UK?

The first privately funded UK nationwide network of electric charging points was recently unveiled by Chargemaster, who are due to announce plans to float the company early next year to help support the project.

Traps and hidden opportunities in the EV industry

Most manufacturers of EVs and their components are pursuing the obvious. The result is excessive competition and a considerable chance of failure.

The green look for EV charging stations

The network of electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations in Germany is still relatively sparse, but their number is growing rapidly. The majority of roadside charging points take the form of steel-clad pillars. A group of researchers has set out to develop an alternative design based on environmentally compatible materials.

BYU-student-built electric car sets land speed record at Salt Flats

An electric car designed and built by Brigham Young University engineering students set a world land speed record for its weight class, averaging 155.8 mph over its two required qualifying runs, one of which was clocked at 175 mph.

CPT developing 48 volt electric supercharger

The low carbon vehicle specialist Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is developing a 48 volt version of its electric supercharger based on its variable torque enhancement system known as VTES. The more powerful higher voltage variant will support moves by European vehicle manufacturers announced earlier this year to introduce 48 volt passenger vehicle power networks to help meet the requirement for lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

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.

Crash-safe battery protection for electric cars

Everyone is talking about electric drives, and the scientists from Fraunhofer are also working on them. Engineers have replaced a battery box for lithium-ion batteries with a lightweight component. Not only does the housing save weight and sustain no damage in an accident - for the first time ever, it can also be mass-produced.

DoE awards $156 million for groundbreaking energy research projects

The Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), announced 60 cutting-edge research projects aimed at dramatically improving how the U.S. produces and uses energy.

Which EV motor type will win?

In its new report, Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2012-2022, IDTechEx has examined 123 electric motor manufacturers making traction motors for pure electric and hybrid electric vehicles by land, water and air.

'Roadable aircraft' available for order

A notion firmly held as the epitome of 'the future' may soon be arriving in our skies and on our roads thanks to MIT-trained engineers at Terrafugia. The Transition® 'roadable light sport aircraft' is a two-seater personal aircraft equipped with road-worthy wheels, rear-wheel drive and electromechanical folding wings.

Zero emission fuel cell taxi for the London 2012 Olympics

The London Taxi is an iconic vehicle, with currently over 21,000 in operation in London alone. A fleet of diesel vehicles this size that operates for many hours of the day inevitably makes a substantial contribution to traffic emissions, not just of CO2 but also nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates. Changing to a zero emission taxi will have a marked effect on the pollution levels in London.

Funds will be used to commercialize EV technology offerings

Mission Motors, a developer of cutting-edge electric vehicle technology, recently announced that it had closed on a $9.0 million dollar Series B financing round led by Warburg Pincus.

Modular 'micro-mild' hybrid technology - reducing CO2 emissions

Incremental manufacturing cost is €50-60 for every 1 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared with the €200-500 per cent typical for full hybrids. Further value enhancements are possible if the automotive industry were to standardise around the proposed 48 volt power networks developing in Europe.

AeroVironment receives $16 million order

AeroVironment, Inc. recently announced that it received a $15,909,962 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract order on September 1, 2011, under an existing contract with the U.S. Army. The order comprises Army contractor logistics support for Raven systems. The logistics support services are scheduled to be delivered within the next several months.

Balqon ships first on-road zero emissions electric Mule M100

Balqon Corporation, a developer of electric drive systems, lithium battery systems and medium to heavy-duty electric vehicles, recently announced the availability of its new Mule M100, a zero-emissions, all-electric on-road truck for use in inner-city deliveries and cargo transportation.

23-year-old designer set to show 1088 bhp Electric Sports Car

The Frankfurt Motor Show opened last week and a number of new brands were seen for the first time, including a Croatian company Rimac Automobili, which showed a pure electric sports car named the Concept One.

PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Electric in EV deal

PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Electric sign a european commercial cooperation agreement for the co-develoment of innovative solutions in the field of electric mobility.

Transportation ministers from Asia-Pacific nations pledge cooperation

Energy and transportation ministers from 21 economies in the Asia-Pacific region today agreed to continue progress on initiatives to make transportation in the region cleaner and more energy-efficient, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced this week.