Battery

Dossier

Lightning Strike electric motorcycle

Stewart Mitchell explains how this road-going machine was developed to take on the ICE competition – at a competitive price. Lightning Motorcycles is an all-electric motorcycle manufacturer that produces the LS-218 ‘superbike’ and the more affordable Strike, which is pitched head-on against gasoline-powered alternatives. Founder of the San Jose, California company Richard Hatfield says...

PS

How Clean are EVs

There’s no doubt that EVs are much cleaner and friendlier to be around than anything powered by an internal combustion engine, as they produce no local emissions (writes Peter Donaldson). They also use energy more efficiently in stop-go traffic, particularly when fitted with regenerative braking systems. Even petrol-diesel electric hybrids allow the engine to be...

Show Report

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2019

Rory Jackson was on hand to investigate some of the key product launches and showcases at this recent show in Germany. The Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2019 was co-located with The Battery Show Europe 2019, and took place in the automobile hub of Stuttgart, Germany, in May. It drew together more than...

In Operation

E-Kotug tugboat

A desire to cut maintenance costs prompted the development of this hybrid version of an existing tugboat. Rory Jackson reports. The E-Kotug is a diesel-electric tugboat owned and operated by international towage services provider Kotug Smit Towage. It is a hybrid-powered version of the Dutch company’s dieselpowered Rotortug design, which features three 360°...

Deep Insight

Supercapacitors

Nick Flaherty looks at the latest developments in supercapacitor technology for e-mobility systems. Batteries are the go-to technology for powering electric vehicles of all kinds, but supercapacitors (also known as ultracapacitors) are increasing in capacity and performance to become a viable alternative in some applications. Supercapacitor technology is already well-established in...

Focus on...

Testing and simulation systems

Rory Jackson explains how various test methods work, why they are important and how EV developers can set up their own facilities. Throughout the course of electric and hybrid vehicle development, it is important to remember that the overall system consists of a number of different parts, each in need of...

Digest

Xing Mobility Miss R

Modular, immersion-cooled batteries are key to this EV’s startling range of applications. Lawrence Butcher reports. Xing Mobility is a Taiwanbased EV company with a slightly unconventional approach to powertrain technology that sets it apart in an increasingly crowded market. Through its two technology demonstrator vehicles, the Miss E and the Miss R – the first of which is...

In Operation

EVIE Street Sweeper

Rory Jackson explains what went into developing this battery powered road sweeper. Integrating a zero-emissions powertrain into a street-sweeper. vehicle makes sense for a number of reasons. The principal purpose of such vehicles – to maintain a clean environment in cities and towns, without...

Focus on...

Battery management systems

BMS technology is still evolving, so EV designers need to know the nuances of incorporating one into an electric powertrain. Nick Flaherty reports. A battery management system (BMS) is key to the reliable operation of an electric vehicle. The functions it has to handle vary from balancing the voltage of the battery cells in a pack to monitoring temperature and...

Deep Insight

Uniti One

Lawrence Butcher reports on how a Swedish start-up plans to design and manufacture a market-ready EV from the ground up. If one looks across the automotive EV market, it seems barely a week goes by without one company or another announcing that it will revolutionise the electrification of...