The car of the future is not only electrified, but autonomous and hyperconnected as well. Mitsubishi has incorporated all of these trends into three concept cars that it will unveil at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show. Mitsubishi’s “e-Assist” active safety technology includes a danger detection system that activates safety functions. Its “connected car” technology has… Read more »
A new class of electric vehicle moved a step closer to becoming a reality this week, as proponents of the Hyperloop formed a company to bring Elon Musk’s radical public transport concept to California commuters. Patricia Galloway, co-leader of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), told FoxNews.com, “The feasibility is done. What we’re working on now is… Read more »
In a sign that the world’s largest automaker may be getting more charged, Toyota has announced that it will carry out verification tests in Aichi Prefecture, Japan to “assess the practicality of the widespread deployment of chargers for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.” The tests are a continuation of a similar program implemented in 2012,… Read more »
Ford has announced a recall of about 2,600 Focus Electrics because a software flaw in the powertrain control module could result in a loss of power to the wheels. If this happens, Ford says a “Stop Safely Now” warning will appear on the dashboard, and braking and steering systems will continue to operate normally so… Read more »
IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ: IXYS) has announced a new high-power phase-leg in the SimBus-F outline with a total current/voltage capability of 600 Amps and 650 Volts. The discrete 650 Volt XPT Trench IGBT products are now available in module outlines, up to 600 Amperes with the IXYS fast Sonic diodes. The XPT IGBT and Sonic diode… Read more »
VIA Motors’ electric cargo van has successfully passed all crash testing required for mass production. “The engineering work done to integrate the VIA’s electric technology has been exceptional and the vehicles have exceeded our expectations in all tests that were performed,” said VIA President Alan Perriton. “We are now moving on to complete certification and… Read more »
Jeffrey Wishart, Senior Principal Engineer at ECOtality since 2009, conducts research and development on products and services in the areas of energy, the environment, and advanced transportation. In addition to his supervisory position at ECOtality, Dr Wishart worked for several years at a utility company in Queensland, Australia, conducting research into emerging energy technologies. … Read more »
EnerSys (NYSE: ENS) a provider of stored energy solutions for industrial applications, has agreed to acquire Quallion LLC, a manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, for $30 million. California-based Quallion sells cells to customers in the medical, defense, aviation and space sectors. Neither company has been particularly prominent in the EV-related headlines, but EnerSys offers a broad line… Read more »
Panasonic and Tesla have updated and expanded an existing agreement under which the Japanese giant supplies automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells to the Silicon Valley trendsetter. The new arrangement calls for Panasonic to supply nearly two billion cells over the course of four years, both for Model S and the new Model X, which is scheduled… Read more »
The German government has set a goal to have one million electric cars on the country’s roads by 2020. “We will make our contribution toward this goal,” Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn told reporters this week. However, according to Bloomberg, Winterkorn said that the goal was feasible only if plug-in hybrids are included in that million-vehicle… Read more »
