Several electric revolutions have shaped society down the years, from the construction of national grid systems and electric train, trams and trolley buses to the ongoing hybrid and BEV revolution (writes Peter Donaldson). Even beyond Earth, electric propulsion is a reality for many satellites and planetary probes, although their extremely efficient ion thrusters and so on are all low-power devices incapable of developing the thrust needed...

The EV battery industry offers a variety of ways to minimise the hazards they can pose, as Peter Donaldson explains. Proximity to large amounts of energy has always presented hazards, but people have mostly learned to live with them and enjoy its benefits....

With agreement on an SAE standard for wireless charging systems set to herald their wider roll-out, Nick Flaherty reports on developments in the technology. The technology for wireless charging of e-mobility systems has reached a critical point. With the SAE J2954 standard now agreed for consumer EVs...

Rather than go all-out on the technology, this EV has been conceived with reusable components – and the circular economy – in mind. Rory Jackson reports. End-to-end sustainability is a troublesome target for EV engineers to track. Reducing vehicle emissions at the point of use is easy enough, but reducing the emissions...

Peter Donaldson reports on the tools and methods for optimising the acoustic environment in EVs. Of all the disciplines required for developing cars, psychoacoustics isn’t one that readily springs to mind. However, this science of the relationships between aural stimuli and the responses they produce in people informs the branch...

Integral Powertrain’s CTO tells Rory Jackson how he has come to lead the company’s development of high performance consumer EV drives. One of Andrew Cross’ most prominent early memories is the engineering company his father owned and ran, designing and manufacturing polymer parts, and developing much of his own production systems and tooling...

Rory Jackson investigates the development of this electric/hybrid refuse truck, which is already operating in various European countries. Developing heavy EVs for urban applications, where regulations on emissions and noise are the strictest of any operating environment, requires a wealth of research...

Dewesoft has developed an new integrated 2000 A and 2000 V sensing system for automotive testing (writes Nick Flaherty). The Sirius XHS-PWR integrates a new current sensor architecture with the DewesoftX software, XCP, or OPC/UA on PoE Gigabit Ethernet with PTPv2 time synchronisation, including high-end data acquisition...

Semikron and Silicon Mobility have developed a low-voltage inverter design (writes Nick Flaherty). The 24-96 V inverter platform is aimed at battery-powered and industrial off-road vehicles using a powertrain between 10 and 50 kW. The design combines the SKAI 3LV inverter system from Semikron and the OLEA electric motor...

Bridgestone has designed a tyre specifically for solar-power EVs (writes Nick Flaherty). It has been designed for Netherlands based solar car designer Lightyear and its Lightyear One car to reduce the weight and rolling resistance and so increase its range compared with the regular production tyre. The Lightyear One has a range of 450 miles...