Automotive

Web exclusive

ZF offers three-step service with new Bike Eco

With the market launch of its ZF Bike Eco System, ZF has given details of its three-step service and training concept, which, it says, guarantees minimal effort for manufacturers, dealers and customers when it comes to servicing and retrofitting.

In Conversation

In conversation: John Stamford

The advanced powertrain chief engineer of Jaguar Land Rover got into EVs before EVs were even a thing. He tells Will Gray how far things have come If you want to understand the evolution of electric vehicles (EVs), there are few better to speak to than Jaguar Land Rover’s advanced powertrain chief engineer, John Stamford.

Digest

Dynisma DMG family

Seamless simulation Peter Donaldson checks out simulators designed to give drivers the most realistic response and feel Dynisma’s DMG family of simulators is designed to reduce the time and expense involved in building and testing vehicles by moving as much prototype development as possible into the virtual world. We caught up with the company’s commercial director, […]

Web exclusive

Stark Future unveils world’s most powerful Enduro motorcycle

Stark Future has launched a road-legal motorcycle, the VARG EX, with the aim of revolutionising the Enduro world. The drivetrain delivers 80 hbp, making it the most powerful Enduro bike on the market, Stark said. Riders can customise its performance with options for power delivery, engine braking and regenerative curves, all adjustable via the five-mode handlebar control switch.

Grid

Making powertrains faster with the aid of AI

Monumo has used two forms of artificial intelligence (AI) to speed the development of powertrain systems for e-mobility, writes Nick Flaherty. Time pressures often limit collaboration between sub-system teams in the early stages of design, which means genuine system-level optimisation is limited, said Simon Shepherd, head of hardware development at Monumo.

Web exclusive

Donut Lab claims new platform builds faster, cheaper, better EVs

Donut Lab has taken a new approach to building electric vehicles with a development platform that offers a library of inter-compatible components that can be used to produce supercars, buses, UVs or SUVs in record time, it says.

Digest

ICEBreaker hydrogen HGV

Two companies have teamed up to build a hydrogen-powered HGV using a fuel-cell powerplant, as Peter Donaldson reports. Spearheaded by powertrain energy-management specialist Viritech, Project ICEBreaker has built a hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicle (HGV) using a fuel-cell power plant, focusing on minimising the weight penalty compared with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Grid

Machine learning to reduce EV cost

Machine learning is being used to improve the quality of laser welding systems and powder metal 3D additive manufacturing, writes Nick Flaherty. Laser welding machine maker TRUMPF is working with software developer SiMa.ai to develop lasers with artificial intelligence (AI).

Grid

Robot makes light work of wiring harnesses

The first version of Q5D’s robot for automating the assembly of wiring harnesses for electric vehicles (EVs) is being shipped, writes Nick Flaherty. Q5D is using its CY1000 system to assemble the wiring harness in the roof lining of a prototype SUV being tested in the UK.

PS

The EV support structure

One of the signs of maturity we should look for in BEV technology is the existence of a robust market in used cars, writes Peter Donaldson. Evidence of this would include a good choice of makes and models with prices that, while strong, are significantly lower than new prices, and they reflect age, mileage, service history and overall condition.
ONLINE PARTNERS