Since 2016, German parts maker ZF has supplied technology for French EV maker Venturi’s team in the FIA Formula E racing series. ZF has developed an electric drive for the team, which includes a 250 kW electric motor with a specially designed transmission ratio and power electronics. ZF says this drive enjoys much higher energy… Read more »
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Rolls-Royce hopes to shatter electric airplane speed record
A partnership led by Rolls-Royce is building an electric aircraft that it hopes will reach a top speed of over 300 mph and beat the previous speed record of 210 mph set in 2017 by Siemens. The project is part of a Rolls-Royce initiative called Accelerating the Electrification of Flight (ACCEL), which is partly funded… Read more »
FIA approves Tesla Model S racing series
The dream of a Tesla racing series is rapidly becoming a reality. The Electric Production Car Series (originally called Electric GT), has been officially sanctioned by the FIA, the governing body for world motorsports. The EPCS will be the second FIA racing series for electric cars, joining the Formula E series, which recently kicked off… Read more »
A look at Lucid Motors: Q&A with CTO Peter Rawlinson
The legacy automakers are slowly and methodically developing new EVs, with various levels of enthusiasm, but the most ambitious plans for new vehicles are coming from a handful of EV startups. Most of these pioneers of the new auto industry share a formula: deep-pocketed investors (many from China), former Tesla employees on staff, and plans… Read more »
Punch Powertrain acquires power electronics specialist Apojee
Belgium-based Punch Powertrain is acquiring France-based power electronics expert Apojee, which supplies inverters for Formula E, as well as components for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in the German and French automotive industries. The Apojee acquisition adds a fourth European development center for Punch Powertrain, in addition to its existing facilities in Belgium, the Netherlands… Read more »
Williams Advanced Engineering and Airbus collaborate on high-altitude electric drone
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Williams Advanced Engineering have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate ultra-lightweight materials, battery technologies and electrical cell chemistries into Airbus’s Zephyr High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) program. Zephyr is a solar-powered unmanned aerial system, or drone, that will fly at more than 65,000 feet – above commercial air traffic – for… Read more »
Switzerland’s first auto race in 60 years – and it’s electric
For over half a century, Switzerland has been a land with no auto racing. In 1955, the Swiss government banned racing after 80 people were killed at a disastrous crash at Le Mans in France. EVs to the rescue! The law was changed in 2015 to allow racing, but only if it is fully electric…. Read more »
Electric GT Championship brings a modified Model S to the racetrack
Fans of electric racing have long wished for a chance to see what Tesla’s Model S can do on the track. In a few short months, they will get that chance, when the Electric GT (EGT) Championship kicks off with a double-header at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on November 25-26. The inaugural season is… Read more »
LeEco pulls out, but Aston Martin will still produce electric RapidE
In February 2016, Aston Martin announced that it would work with Chinese tech company LeEco on the RapidE, an electric version of the Rapide four-door sports sedan. LeEco, facing a cash crunch, has pulled out of the project, but Aston Martin Chief Executive Andy Palmer told Reuters that his company will still produce the EV…. Read more »
Schaeffler acquires motor manufacturer Compact Dynamics
Automotive supplier Schaeffler has acquired 51% of the shares of electric motor manufacturer Compact Dynamics from SEMIKRON International. Schaeffler and SEMIKRON have also agreed to cooperate on the development of power electronics systems and the integration of power electronics components. Compact Dynamics, based in Starnberg, Germany, specializes in lightweight electric drive concepts in small volume… Read more »