A Scottish company has developed a new transmission technology that it claims doubles in-town fuel efficiency. Artemis Intelligent Power’s hydraulic hybrid powertrain replaces the traditional port and swash plates in its hydraulic system with computer-controlled solenoid valves.
The transmission, called the HEDDAT (High Efficiency Digital Displacement Automotive Transmission), yielded twice the fuel efficiency of a standard […]
The company behind the new kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) currently being developed for F1 sees its new technology eventually being used in production cars and envisages a number of different applications for motorists. The hybrid flywheel system stores energy recovered when the car slows down in a rotating flywheel. This energy is then transferred […]
Scientists working at Continental, funded by the EU’s Advanced Protection Systems project (or APROSYS) have developed a computerized system that can detect when a crash is unavoidable and brace the car for the impact. The system involves a side beam that moves into place at the last second before an impact, strengthening the passenger cell.
Using […]
Novel technologies to improve the efficiency of existing vehicles and combustion processes are the quickest route to improved fuel mileage. Hybrid cars are great examples of the approach. Another way to recover some of the energy converted into heat in the average engine is the Waste Heat Engine, or WHE. Though applications for the system […]
BMW’s research division, Forschung und Technik, has developed a next-generation hydrogen fuel storage system for cars and in the process has allowed the carmaker to edge closer to the volume production of hydrogen powered vehicles. Teaming up with partners, including Air Liquide, Daimler AG, Dynetek Europe and Ford, engineers have developed a new type of […]
Superlattice Power, a North Carolina based company, has announced a new development in automotive electric battery technology that, according to its creators, will “significantly increase operating voltage range and energy density.” With the new tech, electric powered vehicles will be able to travel in excess of 200 miles, a big leap over current benchmarks in […]
Expect to see smaller engines for Volkswagen’s brand new Golf MK 6 when it’s unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October. High fuel prices are pushing buyers towards engines with less cylinders and lower displacements and VW is keen to pick up on the trend.
The company recently […]
Tesla’s problems with the gearbox and drivetrain of its early models is well-known, and early buyers of the car were assured they would get updated internals installed free of charge as soon as they were ready. That update is known internally at Tesla as ‘powertrain 1.5′, and the company announced yesterday that steady […]
As the automobile continues to catch up with the digital age, we’re starting to see more and more partnerships develop between car and technology companies and a new range of co-branded features come onto the market. We’ve already seen Microsoft team up with a number of carmakers to develop new interface systems, however the gadgets […]
As manufacturers seek ways to create more efficient cars without compromising power or driveability, eyes are increasingly turning to new technologies and ideas. BMW is looking to electricity generated by exhaust gas heat and solar power to take the electrical load off the engine and thereby improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
In […]
As Europe’s emissions restrictions tighten and pollution awareness climbs even higher, many customers are eager to adopt alternative fuel platforms. Ethanol - or at least E85 - is one such fuel, and Volvo has been among the leaders in offering a full line of flex-fuel engines. The new engine for the V70 and S80 increases […]
Lightweight body panels, engine under covers and other parts can be made from carbon fiber composites to save weight, which saves fuel by decreasing the mass to be accelerated by the engine. The implications for the future of fuel consumption and regulations are obvious. The only major problem facing the widespread adoption of carbon fiber […]
The Volkswagen Group’s small car platform forms the base for the VW Polo, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza, all of which are currently only available in front-wheel drive. The next generation of the platform will get an AWD option, although not all VW Group cars will employ AWD in their cars.
Seat’s Ibiza won’t get AWD, […]
Previously we reported on a new technology dubbed homogeneous charge compression ignition, or HCCI, which allows petrol cars to improve fuel efficiency by as much as 15% by achieving combustion with only compression of the air-fuel mix rather than using a spark plug. The technology was pioneered almost 30 years ago but has only recently […]
The pinch of significantly higher U.S. fuel economy standards is beginning to get automakers talking about how they plan to meet the challenge, and Hyundai has announced a two-pronged approach. Better engine and drivetrain technology will get the company half way to its goal, and the rest will be handled by lighter materials and more […]