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Lofstom Loop

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...

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Tesla Octovalve analysis

It’s not often that we get the opportunity to dig into the details of an important EV subsystem from the point of view of an independent engineering team, but that is what Cory Steuben of Munro & Associates provided at the recent Battery Show and EV Tech online event (writes Peter Donaldson). The subsystem was the Tesla Model Y’s heat pump, in particular...

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Battery reuse and recycling

As awareness grows of the environmental problems associated with several types of lithium mining and extraction, it is becoming obvious that the eco-friendly shine on EVs could soon become tarnished unless those processes are cleaned up and a circular economy for lithium-ion batteries and the materials in them can be established (writes Peter Donaldson). A circular economy means reusing...

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Superconducting aircraft motors

Power density and power-toweight ratio have always been very near the top of the list of essential attributes for aircraft propulsion systems, particularly in those elements that work at the sharp end of converting stored chemical energy into thrust (writes Peter Donaldson). Rockets aside, the gas turbine engine has yet to be beaten in this respect. In the electrified...

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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...

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Augmented Sound

For petrolheads, a car is far more exciting and generally satisfying if it makes a good noise (writes Peter Donaldson). These issues have led the industry, perhaps inevitably, into the controversial area of artificial sound, partly to increase driver appeal and partly to meet regulations that demand augmented exterior sound from EVs to improve safety in...

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Hydrogen fuel cells

There is something of an ongoing debate in the world of e-mobility as to hydrogen’s place in the energy ecosystem (writes Lawrence Butcher). While manufacturers such as Toyota are throwing their weight behind the fuel, and actively marketing fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), others such as...

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The Gradual Evolution

After a promising start in the closing decade of the 19th century, the development of electric road vehicles – and to a lesser extent, the adoption of electric power in other spheres of transport – has been a slow process (writes Lawrence Butcher). The main stumbling block has been the means of storing or generating electricity. Range has always been a challenge, with battery technology lagging behind the...

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Race for battery breakthroughs

While lithium-ion battery chemistries continue to improve rapidly, a number of rival technologies and their developers are tantalising the EV industry with promises of much higher energy densities, but always with a caveat or two in other critical areas (writes Peter Donaldson). Some of these technologies represent improved...
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