United European Car Carriers (UECC), jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Wallenius Lines, has signed a contract for the construction of two new generation PCTC (Pure Car And Truck Carrier) with China Ship Building Trading Co., Ltd and Jiangnan Shipyard Group Co. Ltd. The vessels will be... Read more →

From 2017 to 2018, PEV sales doubled in North America, and sales in Europe and China increased 39% and 77%, respectively, according to a new report from Navigant Research. In 2019, multiple deployments of long-range battery EVs (BEVs) in crossover classes, as well as Tesla reaching full-scale production on the... Read more →

SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen Group, presented two concept cars for the first time globally at the GenevaMotor show: the el-Born, its first 100% electric vehicle based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform (earlier post), and the CUPRA Formentor, a high-performance plug-in hybrid CUV with CUPRA DNA which is... Read more →

At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, BMW announced the market launch of a plug-in hybrid variant of the globally popular BMW X3. This makes it the first model of the brand to be offered with both a conventional combustion engine and a plug-in hybrid system—with the addition of a purely... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) unveiled a twin-motor, four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) crossover concept—the Mitsubishi Engelberg Tourer—at the Geneva International Motor Show. The Engelberg Tourer takes MMC’s Twin Motor PHEV system fostered and developed in the Outlander PHEV and, using next-generation electrification and all-wheel control technologies, evolves it. The combination of... Read more →

XL unveiled its plug-in hybrid electric Ford Super Duty F-250 pickup truck (earlier post) at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. As the company first revealed in February, XL’s newest product expands its successful plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) product family, which also includes the XLP Ford F-150 that the... Read more →

Achates Power was awarded $2 million in funding from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for the development of a Highly-efficient Opposed-Piston Engine (HOPE) for Hybrid Vehicles. (Earlier post.) Achates Power has partnered with the University of Michigan and Nissan Motor Company., Ltd. for the project.... Read more →

Nissan unveiled the all-new IMQ concept vehicle at the Geneva International Motor Show. At the heart of the IMQ is the next generation of e-POWER, a 100% electric motor drive system that delivers instant, linear acceleration. e-POWER, introduced in 2016 in the Note, is a non-plug-in series-hybrid drive system. e-POWER... Read more →

Mazda Motor Corporation staged the world premiere of the second model in its new-generation lineup, the Mazda CX-30 compact crossover SUV, at the Geneva International Motor Show. As a new core model, the CX-30 will be rolled out to global markets, with sales starting from Europe this summer. The powertrain... Read more →

At the Geneva International Motor Show, Jeep presented its new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models: the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass. The new PHEVs have a pure electric range of approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) and a top electric speed of about 130 km/h (81 mph). CO2 emissions are... Read more →

BMW Group sales of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the US totaled 1,110 in February 2019, a decrease of 42.7% over the 1,936 sold in the same month a year ago. The company said that model changeover has limited the current BMW Group electrified lineup to five models... Read more →

The heart of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar’s hybrid powertrain (earlier post) is a clean-sheet Cosworth-built 65° naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. Evoking the ultra-high-revving F1 engines of the 1990s, but benefitting from two decades of progress in design, material and manufacturing expertise, it sets new standards for maximum rpm... Read more →

Ford Europe will introduce more powerful and fuel-efficient 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engines, new 48V EcoBlue mild Hybrid powertrains; and driver assistance technologies including Active Park Assist in the enhanced Ford Tourneo Custom people-mover from mid-2019. Further optimized to deliver up to a 6% improvement in fuel efficiency for reduced running... Read more →

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the GLE 53—the performance offering for the new GLE generation. The basis for the signature AMG driving dynamics is provided by the 429 hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine, the fully variable all-wheel drive, the 9-speed automatic transmission, the AMG-specific drive programs and the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL... Read more →

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. will invest a total of $4.5 billion in five of its existing Michigan plants, and will work with the city of Detroit and state of Michigan on building a new assembly plant within city limits. The move would increase capacity to meet growing demand for its... Read more →

In 2018, 4.28 million BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs were sold globally—an increase of 28.6% over the year prior—amounting to 5.2% of total global passenger vehicle sales, according to Adamas Intelligence. Not only is the EV market growing extremely rapidly, the modern EV itself is also undergoing a rapid technological evolution,... Read more →

Audi is presenting plug-in hybrid variants of the models A8, A7 Sportback, A6 and Q5 with an electric range of more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) in the WLTP cycle at the Geneva Motor Show. The new plug-in hybrid models will be available for order during the course of the... Read more →

PEUGEOT is presenting the 400 hp hybrid Concept 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED at the upcoming Geneva motor show. A derivative of the PEUGEOT 508 HYBRID sedan, the concept delivers high performance with low emissions. PEUGEOT SPORT was given the task of developing this new model line. For this concept vehicle,... Read more →

Volvo Cars is releasing upgraded and newly-developed electrified powertrain options to be made available across its entire model range going forward. The company has upgraded its existing T8 and T6 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrains, while at the same time confirming that plug-in options will now be available on every... Read more →

The new Audi SQ5 TDI diesel features a powerful V6 engine with a mild hybrid systems and an electric powered compressor to ensure that maximum torque is available to the sporty SUV at just above idle. The 3.0 V6 TDI engine delivers 255 kW (347 hp) and 700 N·m (516.3... Read more →

Borg-Warner reported that a major European commercial vehicle manufacturer has chosen the company’s proven High Voltage Hairpin (HVH) 410 electric motor for a plug-in hybrid electric truck (PHEV) to be launched in 2019. Generating 130 kW (174 hp) of power and 1,050 N·m of torque, the HVH motor will work... Read more →

Audi is expanding the engine line-up for its luxury SUV, the Q8—as well as its roll-out of its 48V mild hybrid system (earlier post)—by adding two V6 engine versions. Beginning now, customers can also order the Q family’s top model with a 3.0 TFSI and an additional variant of the... Read more →

YASA, a leading manufacturer of axial-flux electric motors and controllers, signed a long-term joint innovation agreement with a global automotive OEM. The partnership will focus on developing custom electric motor and controller solutions for the OEM’s high-performance hybrid and pure electric vehicles. YASA’s innovative axial-flux electric motor and controller designs... Read more →

Jaguar Land Rover is expanding its Ingenium engine family with a new six-cylinder gasoline engine designed and engineered in-house, and manufactured at its £1-billion Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC) in Wolverhampton, UK. The 3.0-liter straight six cylinder gasoline engine, which will debut on the Range Rover Sport, is available in 360PS... Read more →

All American Marine recently launched the Waterman for Kitsap Transit. The 70′ x 26′ USCG Subchapter T, hybrid-electric passenger vessel was designed by Glosten in Seattle, and will serve as a water taxi, transporting 150 passengers between Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Annapolis Washington. Featuring BAE’s HybriDrive system, the Waterman is... Read more →

The technology group Wärtsilä has signed an agreement with the international shipping company Hagland Shipping AS for a hybrid retrofit installation. The project will take place onboard the Hagland Captain, a general cargo vessel owned by Hagland Shipping. It will be the first project of its kind ever in short-sea... Read more →

Volkswagen has revealed some of the features of the updated Passat, which will launch later this year. Among the technical updates are an upgrade to the plug-in hybrid system in the Passat GTE that extends the all-electric range to to up to around 55 km (34 miles) in the WLTP... Read more →

XL, a provider of connected vehicle electrification solutions for commercial, utility and municipal fleets, will unveil a plug-in hybrid electric version of the popular Ford F-250 pickup truck at the NTEA Work Truck show, 5-8 March in Indianapolis. In 2018 at the NTEA show, XL displayed a hybrid-electric F-250, as... Read more →

British luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker International and Rolls-Royce will present the first yacht fitted with an MTU series-production hybrid propulsion system in 2020. Sunseeker and MTU are presenting the new hybrid propulsion system at Boot Düsseldorf until 27 January. The MTU hybrid propulsion system will consist of two 12-cylinder MTU... Read more →

Ford revealed the enhanced Mondeo—including a new Hybrid Wagon variant for the first time—at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. Further significant Mondeo powertrain upgrades include: Ford’s advanced 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine introduced to Mondeo, for superior long-distance cruising; Ford’s new intelligent eight-speed automatic transmission introduced to Mondeo, which adapts... Read more →

Eaton’s eMobility business has developed compact power-dense automotive inverters capable of increasing the range of electric vehicles. The inverters, which draw electricity from the battery and control how it is applied to the motor to manage power and torque, will be tested by a global automaker in first quarter 2019.... Read more →

Continental’s liquid-cooled 48-volt Eco Drive—a belt-driven starter generator with integrated inverter—supports FCA US’ eTorque mild-hybrid technology in the new Jeep Wrangler. (Earlier post.) Continental’s compact 48-volt Eco Drive with integrated power electronics contributes to the benefits eTorque technology offers, including better fuel economy, improved auto-start response, overall start-stop functionality and... Read more →

BMW’s new 7 Series features a number of powertrain changes, including a plug-in hybrid drive system with a new design offering an increased electric range, enhanced performance and lower consumption. The new BMW 7 Series is also available with gasoline and diesel engines using six, eight and twelve cylinders. The... Read more →

Last week, Ford unveiled the new 2020 Explorer, featuring lighter, leaner and stronger construction with its broadest model lineup to date, equipped with more powerful and efficient EcoBoost engines. At the Detroit Auto Show on Monday, Ford announced two new members of the 2020 Explorer lineup: the Explorer Hybrid and... Read more →

SAKOR Technologies, Inc., a recognized leader in the area of high-performance dynamometer systems, designed and provided a dynamometer testing system to a major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for testing starter/alternators for hybrid/electric vehicle (H/EV) applications. The dynamometer test system consists of a 42 kW AccuDyne AC motoring dynamometer and features... Read more →

XL, a provider of electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, today, announced that the Tacoma Public Utility, Clark Public Utilities and the City of Palo Alto are the latest West Coast municipalities and utilities to electrify portions of their fleets with XL-equipped vehicles. XL plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Ford... Read more →

BAE Systems, a global provider of more than 10,000 electric-hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel-cell electric systems, announced that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has ordered 194 electric-hybrid buses using the BAE Systems Series-ER extended range propulsion system. Series-ER components. The Series-ER uses the same components as the Series-E hybrid-electric system,... Read more →

FEV and automotive supplier SEG—formerly the starter motor and generator division of the Bosch Group—have developed a 48V mild hybrid Mercedes AMG A45 concept vehicle. The 48V mild hybridization is powered by the Boost Recuperation Machine (BRM) from SEG Automotive. A 48V belt starter generator—the BRM from SEG Automotive—replaces the... Read more →

Automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler predicts that in 2030 some 30% of all newly registered passenger cars will be fully electric and 40% will be propelled by hybrid powertrains—i.e., 70% of all passenger cars will be using at least one electric motor as a source of propulsion. At CES 2019,... Read more →

Leading gear and drive solutions provider Oerlikon Graziano, together with Vocis, will show its latest hybrid and electric technologies at the forthcoming CTI Symposium 2018 in Berlin. Heading the product line-up will be H-RAM, the company’s hybrid rear axle module, which will also be detailed in a technical presentation. H-RAM... Read more →

Ford will begin commercial trials of the plug-in hybrid Transit Van in Cologne, Germany. This will extend to a third European city research into the use of plug-in hybrid electric vans that run solely on electric power for most city trips. From spring 2019, Ford, supported by the City of... Read more →

Toyota is offering a new electric all-wheel drive system (AWD-e) on the facelifted 2019 Prius. Toyota projects fuel economy of 52 mpg city / 48 mpg highway / 50 mpg combined for the AWD-e model, and estimates that the AWD-e model—which is debuting at the LA Auto Show—could account for... Read more →

In Japan, Mazda Motor Corporation hosted the world premiere of the all-new Mazda3. The fully redesigned model will be rolled out to global markets starting from North America in early 2019. The all-new Mazda3 will be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The all-new Mazda3 adopts Mazda’s new... Read more →

Toyota is introducing the Corolla Hybrid to the US market at the LA Auto Show. (Earlier post.) The new hybrid version of Toyota’s all-time best-selling car series achieves at least 50 mpg (4.7 l/100 km) combined fuel economy (projected). That makes the 2020 Corolla Hybrid the most fuel-efficient model to... Read more →

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have utilized a series of simulations to model the performance of twin-engine hybrid-electric general-aviation propulsion systems. Their paper appears in the Journal of Aircraft. They created a flight-performance simulator to represent accurately the true flight performance of a Tecnam P2006T on a... Read more →

In London, Land Rover unveiled the New Range Rover Evoque luxury compact SUV. The new Evoque offers a choice of three- and four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline and diesel engines, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (MHEV) and a 3-cylinder plug-in hybrid system (PHEV). The compact footprint is almost identical to its predecessor’s at... Read more →

Toyota has introduced the fifth-generation 2019 Toyota RAV4. Gasoline models arrive next month, and RAV4 Hybrid models follow in late March 2019. 2019 RAV4 Hybrid Much has changed in the 22 years since the US market introduction of the first RAV4 compact crossover SUV. Compact crossover SUVs have grown in... Read more →

SAKOR Technologies, Inc., a leader in the area of high-performance dynamometer systems, has designed and provided a dynamometer testing system to a major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for testing starter/alternators for hybrid/electric vehicle (H/EV) applications. The dynamometer test system consists of a 42 kW AccuDyne AC motoring dynamometer and features... Read more →

Subaru Corporation is introducing its first plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, in the US. Offering real all-wheel capability in a hybrid package, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Hybrid features the new Subaru StarDrive Technology that uniquely integrates electric motors, a 2.0-liter direct-injection SUBARU BOXER engine, Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive,... Read more →

Rosenbauer Deutschland, a company of the Rosenbauer Group, and the Berlin Fire Department plan jointly to develop a hybrid electric fire engine in the next two years. The two have formed an “innovation partnership” which will be responsible for carrying out the project “eLHF” (German equivalent for “eRFF”/ electric rescue... Read more →