Motor

Focus on...

Sealing

Seals and sealants perform a host of unsung but vital functions. Peter Donaldson explains the different types, their uses and the materials they are made from

Dossier

Candela C-7 speedboat

Hydrofoiling gives this serial production boat high speed and long endurance. Rory Jackson examines the engineering decisions behind its design. When it comes to designing new kinds of boat hulls that will get as much power and endurance as possible out of battery-electric powertrains, one of the smartest things a maritime architect can do is simply lift the boat out of the water

Web exclusive

New motor architecture could be a game-changer

At a time when EV manufacturers are eager for efficiency gains of 2-3% in their powertrains, any new technology capable of providing 10% or more would transform the state of competition among vehicle OEMs (writes Rory Jackson). With an eye towards enabling that, US company ePropelled has developed and patented a new type of electric […]

Web exclusive

DSD software optimises e-aircraft powertrain designs

In early August, electrified propulsion engineering consultancy Drive System Design (DSD) revealed that it is working on optimising the propulsion systems for electric aircraft as part of the Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) challenge at UK Research and Innovation. The initial study is intended to evaluate powertrain technology that could be used on a range […]

New Products

Dana launches e-axles for Class 7 and 8 vehicles

Dana Incorporated has expanded its Spicer Electrified e-powertrain offerings to include a family of single and tandem e-axles designed for a range of Class 7 and 8 applications. The Zero-8 e-axles include systems for direct drive and now 4 x 2, 6 x 2, and 6 x 4 multi-speed e-axle systems. The new e-axles are designed to […]

Digest

Riversimple Rasa

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...

Deep Insight

Skateboard platforms

Against the backdrop of a boom in skateboard platforms for EV designs, Nick Flaherty looks at the approaches taken by some of their suppliers. Changing the wheelbase of a traditional car or truck design by 6 or 7 in creates a ripple effect whereby half the transmission shaft has to be redesigned, changing the centre of gravity and the requirements for the suspension. That means a whole new vehicle design is needed...

In Conversation

Andrew Cross

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...

Web exclusive

Freedom from rare earth magnets?

A good alternative to magnets made from rare earth elements such as neodymium, dysprosium and samarium – which are expensive, volatile in price and supply and polluting in their extraction – is something of a holy grail for the electrical industry in general and EVs in particular. Enter Niron Magnetics with its Clean Earth iron […]

Dossier

Irizar Group ie truck

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...