Dec 9, 2016 - 09:07 am
Chevy Bolt, Oerlikon Graziano, Mercedes, Hyperloop.
Severe battery aging: Journalist pouring over the Chevy Bolt’s owner’s manual have made a sobering discovery. According to GM, the battery could lose between 10 and 40 (!) percent of its capacity during the eight-year warranty period or first 100,000 miles driven. To compare: Tesla just released its long-time data, showing that the battery will only lose about 5% of its capacity after the first 50,000 miles and that degradation after that slows even further.
autoblog.com, electrek.co
New transmissions: Company Oerlikon Graziano has developed a new single speed transmission for electric vehicle designed for a maximum input torque of 270Nm and maximum input speed of 14000rpm. The transmission specialist also unveiled a new hybrid transmission concept, said to offer a 40% improvement in acceleration and reduce CO2 emissions by 25% when compared to traditional technologies.
oerlikon.com (EV transmission), oerlikon.com (hybrid transmission concept)
Mercedes plugs in: Both the next generation A- and B-Class could be offered as plug-in hybrid variant. The vehicles will be based on Mercedes’ new MFA 2 platform, designed to support PHEV drivetrain solutions. Technical details are being kept under wraps, but the system is expected to feature a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and a twin-clutch automated transmission.
hybridcars.com, autoevolution.com
Fast trains in India: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has officially made the Indian government an offer regarding a pilot project involving its high-speed train. It could cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune from now 3 hours to only 25 minutes. The government has yet to give the green light.
business-standard.com, india.com
Dec 8, 2014 - 09:58 am
Volkswagen & Quantum Scape, Oerlikon Graziano, Bentley, Ferrari.
VW invests in more range: Bloomberg reports that VW has bought a five percent stake in U.S.-based battery start-up Quantum Scape, founded in 2010 by former Stanford University researchers. The alleged goal is the development of solid-state batteries that could more than triple the range of EVs and are said to be fireproof. Audi’s “Tesla Fighter” seems to get one step closer to reality.
bloomberg.com
New Oerlikon transmissions: Oerlikon Graziano will present its newest solutions for EVs and hybrids at the CTI Symposium in Berlin this week, including the hybrid transmission “OGeco” with an integrated 120 kW electric engine as well as a two-speed automated manual drive system for EVs.
greencarcongress.com, oerlikon.com
Bentley invests in SUV: The British manufacturer will add a new research and development centre to its headquarters in Crewe. It is part of Bentley’s efforts to develop its SUV, which will also be offered as a plug-in hybrid variant. Construction will begin next year and the centre will create 300 new jobs.
automotive-business-review.com, indianautosblog.com
Sold out! Barely presented to the public all units of Ferrari’s hybrid track car LaFerrari FXX K are already sold out. The Italians had limited production to 40 units, which each come with 2.5 million dollar price tag.
topgear.com
Jun 23, 2014 - 08:48 am
Boston-Power, Red Bull, Toyota, Oerlikon Graziano.
Gigafactory China-style: China-based battery manufacturer Boston-Power has collected 250 million dollars from investors to expand its annual production to 1 GWh. Currently the company is building Li-ion batteries for Beijing Electric Vehicle Company (BJEV). While this is no real match for Tesla’s planned output of 35 GWh, Boston Power CEO Sonny Wu still thinks “somebody has to compete” with Elon Musk.
wsj.com, chargedevs.com
Red Bull to build own drive train? The energy drink team is not happy with the performance of Renault’s Formula 1 drivetrain as it is far from “Mercedes standards.” Red Bull Racing thus is thinking of teaming up with Austrian AVL List to build its own hybrid motor. Some of the investment would come from Infiniti which would also be the name of the new system.
espn.co.uk, auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)
Technology transfer: Toyota said it will incorporate some technologies used in its Le Mans racer TS040 into its Prius. According to LMP1 president Yoshiaki Kinoshita the company is thinking of using supercapacitors in particular but this will take at least another five years.
drive.com.au
New transmissions for EVs: At a conference in Germany next week, Oerlikon Graziano will display its new transmission solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles. On display will be the 2SED, a dual-speed seamless-shifting transaxle, and the lightweight electric transmission 4SED.
greencarcongress.com
