Electric vehicles

Faraday Motor, or Fara, is an electric motorcycle manufacturer based in Taiwan. IDTechEx Technology Analyst Nadia Tsao interviewed Faraday Motor's CEO Mr Ming-Shyong Hsu on 29 Aug 2018.

Advancements in material science and material processing will always play a central role in any technological progression. IDTechEx has been providing leading market analysis on a broad range of advanced materials and their technology analysts have given their pick of the key news stories from 2018.

Hyon AS has been awarded grants under the PILOT-E scheme for the development and realization of two maritime projects; a high-speed ferry and a short-sea freighter. The ambitions of both projects are to realize zero-emission propulsion via fuel cells using cost-efficient hydrogen produced from electrolysis based on renewable energy.

Innovators at NASA have developed a variable-frequency, alternating current power system to enable turbo-electric and hybrid electric propulsion. The technology uses double-fed electric machines and a high-voltage, variable-frequency power system to significantly decrease (by 85%) the weight of an aircraft's power electronics for turbo-electric propulsion, while still providing high specific power and variable thrust.

IDTechEx Technology Analysts Dr Na Jiao and Luke Gear report on their findings at IDTechEx Show! Santa Clara 2018.

Cities are increasingly crowded: real estate is in short supply. Servicing buses needs to be as infrequent as possible and that means having the simplest powertrain, which is the pure electric vehicle.

LeasePlan Netherlands will collaborate with Dutch scale-up Lightyear, the first company in the world to develop an electric solar car for consumers. LeasePlan Netherlands will become Lightyear's leasing partner for the Lightyear One, the first car produced by the company. The Pioneer Edition of the Lightyear One is expected to drive on Dutch roads in 2020.

A research team have developed a new drone that can retract its propeller arms in flight and make itself small to fit through narrow gaps and holes. This is particularly useful when searching for victims of natural disasters.

Fuel cell vehicles are being trialled in mines, on farms, in construction, on roads, as boats, as trains.

Ports of Auckland has an ambitious goal to become a zero emissions port by 2040 and has recently completed the first step toward that goal by accurately measuring emissions and developing a plan to reduce them.

NASA is testing Alta Devices solar technology at the International Space Station in order to evaluate Alta's technology for future NASA low-Earth orbit missions, including powering CubeSats. Alta Devices also recently announced a new efficiency record of 29.1% for its single junction solar cell.

Argonaut Power, Ingenious' flexible energy platform, has partnered with Northumbrian Water to pilot the use of large scale battery storage at a number of the utility's sites across the North East, Essex and Suffolk.

Zero Motorcycles is the next step in motorcycle evolution. By combining the best aspects of a traditional motorcycle with today's most advanced technology, Zero produces high-performance electric motorcycles that are lightweight, efficient, fast and fun to ride.

IDTechEx reports sometimes attract vehement debate and the new report, "Piezoelectric Harvesting and Sensing 2019-2039." Is one such example

Vauxhall will embark on an electric-focused technology drive, which will transform its range over the next two years at a similar rate to its first heady days as a car manufacturer at the start of the last century.

Researchers unveiled experiments with drones that can sense wind gusts and thermals, then use them to gain speed or altitude, just like birds do.

The company is investing ten billion euros in the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz Cars electric fleet and another billion euros in the global battery production network within the worldwide production network.

Scania is developing a fuel cell refuse truck together with Renova, a waste handling company in western Sweden. The truck will feature a fully electrified powertrain as well as an electrified compactor.

The joint study reports that the research team has opened new doors in the development of high energy-density batteries capable of meeting rapidly growing energy storage needs by overcoming the current temperature limitations of fluoride-based battery technology and by demonstrating the room-temperature operation of fluoride-ion based energy cells.

Amprius Inc is supplying advanced lithium ion cells to the Airbus Defence and Space Zephyr Program. Using Amprius' cells, which contain a 100% silicon anode, the Zephyr S flew more than 25 days, setting a new endurance and altitude record for stratospheric flight.