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3 Trends Propel Vehicle Electrification (.PDF Download)

This article appeared in Machine Design and has been published here with permission.

Two things remain a concern for would-be electric-vehicle drivers: running out of charge and the time it takes to recharge batteries. That could soon change as an international team of researchers work on a battery solution that will help waylay range anxiety fears.

When it comes to a high-capacity lithium-ion battery that charges quickly and operates efficiently, the technology isn’t quite there yet. But a group of researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have developed a composite made of black phosphorous and graphite in its core and covered in electrolyte-swollen polyaniline. The engineered electrode material holds promise for industrial production, they said.

In contrast with previous efforts, the new engineered electrode material allows for a high charging rate, and the material does not sacrifice capacity and cycling stability, according to their research

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Utah Expands Connected Vehicle Project to Include More Autos

A connected vehicle pilot project in Utah is expanding in order to gather more data and insights into what’s happening on the roadways.

The Utah Department of Transportation, in partnership with Panasonic Corp. of North America, plans to move into the second phase of a connected vehicle study. The goal is to explore how the technology can improve highway safety by gathering data generated by vehicles, as well as putting in place a system to better communicate road, weather and other conditions with drivers.

The project will involve outfitting more vehicles — namely UDOT fleets, but also other vehicles from other public-sector agencies — with onboard technology that can connect to roadside units.

The first phase of the five-year, $50 million project began last summer. In that phase, 35 UDOT vehicles were equipped with the connected vehicle technology, which was able to communicate with roadside units along a stretch of

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Daimler signals less emphasis on future compact vehicles

Mercedes-Benz signaled it will eventually reduce the number of compact models it offers in the next-generation range as part of a new strategy to focus the brand on larger, higher margin cars.

Cars such as the A- and B-Class had helped rejuvenate the brand but would not be the main priority for devoting resources in future, said Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes parent Daimler.

“Maybe we went a bit too far to cover each and every space into each and every segment. Compact particularly comes to mind,” Kallenius told analysts during on Tuesday during an online strategy presentation.

“This is not where the main thrust should go, we should not become a competitor of the volume makers,” Kallenius said.

Mercedes sells eight compact models. Besides  the A-Class hatchback and sedan and the B-Class minivan, the range includes the coupe-styled CLA, and GLA and GLB crossovers.

The models accounted for 25

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Geely launches electric vehicle manufacturing platform

BEIJING (Reuters) – Zhejiang Geely Holding Group launched its first electric vehicle-focused platform on Wednesday, aimed at rolling out a variety of models more efficiently for both the Chinese automaker and its partners.

A Lynk & Co Zero Concept is seen displayed at a promotional event in Beijing, China September 23, 2020. REUTERS/Yilei Sun

As the global auto industry ramps up investment in electric and high-tech vehicles, manufacturers from Volkswagen AG to General Motors Co have introduced platforms for electric vehicles (EVs).

Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) will be able to support small as well as large vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks, Geely’s president An Conghui said at an event in Beijing.

An said Geely, which has a 9.7% stake in Daimler AG, spent 18 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) on research and development for SEA. SEA uses more aluminium to make vehicles lighter and a front steering

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Vehicles, visions and views from Auto China 2020

It was just days before the March 3 start of the Geneva Motor Show when the show was forced into cancellation by the Switzerland Federal Council’s decision to ban large events due to the heightening threat of COVID-19. The Geneva show was among the first major dominoes to fall in the series of lockdowns and cancelations that have disrupted the Western world ever since.

While North American shows in New York and Detroit canceled outright for 2020, Auto China (Beijing Motor Show) merely postponed, becoming the first international auto show of the post-corona era when it took place between September 26 and October 5. The feel and circumstances of the show were quite different from past events, but the event still brought plenty of wild concept cars, cutting-edge technology and forward-looking design.

Some highlights follow below …

HiPhi X

Shanghai's Human Horizons calls the HiPhi X an SUV, but the vehicle also shows influence from wagons, vans and sedans
Shanghai’s Human Horizons calls the HiPhi X an SUV, but the
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Geely’s Open-Source SEA EV Architecture Has a Lot of Potential

Recently, the company announced the launch of its Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), the world’s first open-source electrical vehicle platform, hoping to aid the rapid development of zero-emission cars and trucks all around the world.

Geely relies on the Compact Modular Architecture for its current range of electric cars, like the Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 Recharge.

It was originally built for internal combustion cars, alongside Volvo’s Research and Development Department and makes the new SEA architecture the Chinese car manufacturer’s first dedicated EV platform.

The highly scalable, pure electric architecture can be fitted to a wide range of vehicles, from small, sub-compact cars to bigger, mid-sized sedans and compact SUVs. A larger version for Light Commercial Vehicles will also be developed.

The platform is also highly customizable, it can be fitted with single, double, or triple motor drives, it features a 5-star safety standard battery protection chassis and offers optimized

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3 Trends Propel Vehicle Electrification

What you’ll learn:

  • Digitization of automotive systems. 
  • How automotive electronics helps to enhance safety in vehicles.
  • How companies are bringing about innovative advancements in automotive electronics.

 

Evolution has been a prevalent part of the automotive industry from the start, especially as the industrial landscape continues to become more technologically charged. As cars evolved from the first automobile developed by Carl Benz in 1886 to today’s automotive models, so did their technological infrastructures, which brings one to automotive electronics used in the latest vehicles.

From the replacement of the starter crank engine handle by electronic ignition in 1922, to Chrysler’s introduction of keyed ignitions in 1949, to the modern era where connected vehicles are quickly becoming the new norm, vehicle technology has witnessed a slew of developments over the years. These developments, alongside rising penetration of advanced safety systems in vehicles, the emergence of electric vehicles, and rapid progress in mobility

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Lotus To Develop Next-Gen BEV Architecture

It’s called LEVA: Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture.

Lotus announced that together with partners it will develop an all-new next-generation Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) architecture, as the project has received UK Government funding.



logo: Lotus - Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture (LEVA)

© InsideEVs
Lotus – Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture (LEVA)

The project’s name – Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture (LEVA) – clearly suggests that the major point of interest is to make electric cars lighter.

According to the manufacturer it will demonstrate “pioneering new BEV chassis and powertrain concepts”.

The engineering partnership led by Lotus includes also the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) – a non-profit organization that facilitates funding to UK-based R&D, supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries and leading academics from Brunel University London.

It will be interesting to see whether Lotus will find some new approaches in making BEVs better. Tesla recently has shown some breakthrough solutions, but for sure there are tons of ideas to check out.

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Mercedes-Benz teases new EQS and EQE luxury electric vehicles

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a lineup of new electric vehicles built on a scalable architecture that will enable the automaker to tailor its production to a variety of vehicle types and shapes.

The new models are:

  • The flagship EQS luxury sedan, which Mercedes said would be part of the automaker’s S-Class segment and will go into production in 2021
  • An SUV version of the EQS, the EQS SUV, coming in 2022
  • The EQE sedan, not unlike Mercedes’ E-Class vehicles and described as the “business limousine of the future”
  • An SUV version of the EQS

In addition, the Mercedes EQA, a compact SUV based on the automaker’s GLA series, will go into production later this year, followed by the EQB crossover SUV in 2021. That’s a total of six new electric vehicles released over the course of the next two years. This will go a long way toward helping Mercedes realize its goal

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Vine Architecture reveals plan for homes in Enfield pub car park

The housing scheme will sit on the land behind The Goat pub in Ponders End, Queensway, which is currently being used for hand car washes.

In June, Vine Architecture Studio won approval from Enfield Council for the project, which will also refurbish and extend the pub.

The Goat was built in 1778 but rebuilt with a mock Tudor façade in the 1930s. It has recently become locally listed.

According to the architect, ‘the proportions, depth and rhythm of the proposed apartment building’s facade was derived from mapping the decorative pub façade and interpreting its hierarchy’.

The owner of the pub, Developland, had intended to develop the new flats and continue running the tavern, but has now decided to put the entire property on the market.

Diagram showing how form of new flats is derived from the existing pub’s mock Tudor façade

Architect’s view

The project’s ambition was to rationalise the

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