The US Department of Energy announced $98 million in funding for 40 new projects as part of OPEN 2018, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) latest open funding opportunity. OPEN solicitations are an open call to scientists and engineers for transformational technologies across the entire scope of ARPA-E’s energy mission.... Read more →
For the first time in the United States, Toyota will offer the Corolla in hybrid form. Details on the 2020 Corolla Hybrid for the US will be announced during Toyota’s press conference at the LA Auto Show in less than two weeks. Toyota unveiled new sedan models in the Corolla... Read more →
Nissan’s e-POWER electrified powertrain (earlier post), available in the Serena minivan (earlier post), has been named Technology of the Year for 2019 by the Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC). The Nissan Serena became the second model equipped with e-POWER in February 2018, following the Nissan Note e-POWER,... Read more →
Mercedes-Benz has handed over the first GLC F-CELL (earlier post) vehicles to selected customers in the German market. The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL (combined hydrogen consumption: 0.34 kg/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, combined electrical consumption: 13.7 kWh/100 km) features both fuel cells and a battery drive which can be... Read more →
Kia Motors and Hyundai Motor plan to introduce solar roof charging technology on selected Hyundai Motor Group vehicles. Electricity-generating solar panels will be incorporated into the roof or the hood of vehicles, and will support internal combustion, hybrid and battery electric vehicles with additional electrical power, increasing fuel efficiency and... Read more →
Mercedes-Benz is delivering the first new third-generation plug-in hybrids—labelled EQ Power—to customers now and over the coming months. Mercedes-Benz is initially using this type of powertrain in the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class. The 13.5 kWh battery in the hybrid vehicles is paired with either a gasoline engine or, for the... Read more →
The third generation of the plug-in hybrid from Mercedes-Benz is due to be launched. (Earlier post.) The new S 560 e (combined fuel consumption: 2.6-2.5 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 59-57 g/km, combined electrical consumption: 20.2-20.0 kWh/100 km) can be ordered from today. The modified components and the intelligent powertrain... Read more →
By 2022, Mercedes-Benz’ entire product range will be electrified. There will be electric alternatives in every segment from smart to SUV, with well in excess of 130 variants in total, ranging from 48-volt on-board electrical system with EQ Boost to plug-in-hybrids to all-electric vehicles with batteries or fuel cells. As... Read more →
The FCA Melfi, Italy plant is beginning preparations to produce the Jeep Renegade Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) scheduled for market launch in early 2020. The Renegade PHEV will be produced alongside the Renegade and 500X full combustion engine products that are currently produced at the Melfi vehicle assembly plant.... Read more →
Boeing- and JetBlue-backed Zunum Aero has selected Safran Helicopter Engines as the turbine provider for its hybrid electric commercial aircraft, which will be available in the early 2020s. (Earlier post.) Safran Helicopter Engines will provide a new generation engine turbine, the Ardiden 3Z to drive the Zunum ZA10’s electrical generator.... Read more →
Ford will enhance the fuel-efficient Mondeo Hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle range—including the introduction of the first Mondeo Hybrid wagon variant—from 2019. The new Mondeo Hybrid wagon will enable customers who require greater load-carrying capability to benefit from the efficiency and refinement of an electric powertrain in many driving scenarios, while maintaining... Read more →
BMW unveiled the new seventh-generation 3 Series at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris; market launch is from 9 March 2019. The new 3 Series powertrain technology offers higher output, greater pulling power and optimized efficiency. Six engine variants will be available from launch: four-cylinder gasoline models, four-cylinder diesels, plus... Read more →
DEUTZ AG and Manitou Group—a world leading OEM in rough-terrain handling equipment—are partnering on the electrification of the drive line. DEUTZ has incorporated prototype electric drives into Manitou equipment for the first time. Manitou Group, the first E-DEUTZ partner, has fitted one of its telehandlers with a hybrid drive and... Read more →
ŠKODA, a member of the Volkswagen Group, is unveiling the VISION RS plug-in hybrid concept at the Paris Motor Show. The study provides the first glimpses of the next evolutionary stage of ŠKODA’s sporty RS models and the design of a future compact vehicle. ŠKODA is also demonstrating the use... Read more →
Renault will introduce a new, affordable urban electric vehicle in 2019, coming first to China, and new hybrid and plug-in hybrid options on three of its popular vehicles in 2020. The showcar Renault K-ZE, a new global A-segment, SUV-inspired electric vehicle, is capable of 250 km NEDC (155 miles). Renault... Read more →
As part of its plan to electrify its portfolio from 2021 onward, INFINITI will reveal a new Project Black S prototype in Paris, showcasing how Formula One dual-hybrid electric powertrain technology can be deployed in a road car. The prototype is based on the Q60 red S sports coupe and... Read more →
At IAA Commercial Vehicles, Dutch truck manufacturer DAF—a division of Paccar—is showcasing the LF Electric, CF Electric and CF Hybrid Innovation trucks. vocational product range that set the standard in quality, low operating cost and vehicle performance. The DAF LF series if for distribution transport, while the versatile CF is... Read more →
The Nissan Note e-POWER NISMO S has gone on sale in Japan, offering buyers of the country’s best-selling car more power and sportiness. With a maximum power of 100 kW and 320 N·m of torque, the model is a higher-spec version of the Nissan Note e-POWER NISMO, released in December... Read more →
Peugeot is introducing gasoline plug-in hybrid systems for the Peugeot 3008 and 508 and 508 SW engines. The HYBRID engine and the HYBRID4 (four-wheel-drive) engine will be available for the second quarter of 2019. Peugeot 3008 PHEV. The 1.6L PureTech engine has been adapted, including with the addition of a... Read more →
Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland, Alstom, Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (NASA) and Rolls-Royce plan to implement jointly a new hybrid drive solution on Abellio’s fleet of Coradia Lint diesel trains. The four companies agreed to conduct technical feasibility studies regarding the integration of hybrid drives developed by MTU (earlier post), a Rolls-Royce brand,... Read more →
Rolls-Royce and Alpha Trains intend to jointly retrofit Alpha Train’s Talent, Desiro and Lint fleets with MTU hybrid drives. The two companies signed a letter of intent to this effect at Innotrans, the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology, in Berlin. The aim is to retrofit the entire Alpha... Read more →
Brazil-based Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus, part of the TRATON Group, introduced the e-Delivery electric truck (earlier post)—a battery electric version of the company’s Delivery mode—at IAA Commercial vehicles. The model is in the test phase and is to go into production by 2020. The company also introduced the e-Flex flexible... Read more →
Valeo has developed a hybrid system combining low-voltage (less than 60 V) electric motors with traditional combustion engines. Since the technology can be easily adapted to all engine types and manufactured in series to deliver economies of scale, it offers the advantage of affordability. The company is presenting two 48V... Read more →
Cummins Inc. unveiled PowerDrive, a suite of plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solutions spanning light-, medium- and heavy-duty applications, at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. The Cummins PowerDrive offers both parallel and series capabilities. The PowerDrive replaces the conventional transmission and switches in real time between two hybrid and two... Read more →
Ford revealed the production version of the new Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) at IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany. The Transit Custom PHEV targets an all-electric driving range of 50 kilometers (31 miles), and uses the multi-award-winning Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine as a range extender... Read more →
Geely Auto’s flagship B-segment hybrid sedan Bo Rui GE has been selected as an official diplomatic concierge vehicle by the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions. The Bo Rui GE comes in either a MHEV 48V mild hybrid or full PHEV plug-in hybrid version. The Bo Rui GE MHEV is... Read more →
The new Mercedes-Benz GLE features a number of significant innovations, including the 48V active suspension system E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL—a world first. Driving assistance systems take another step forward with Active Stop-and-Go Assist. The GLE will receive a completely new range of engines on market launch in early 2019. At a... Read more →
Ford will present its latest generation of connected and electrified Transit products at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany, from 20-27 September 2018. Ford’s Transit Custom plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will make its show debut in production form, and the new Transit with a segment-first 48-volt mild hybrid (mHEV)... Read more →
The BMW X5 xDrive40e, introduced in 2015, was the first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW core brand. (Earlier post.) BMW will introduce a new X5 plug-in hybrid, the BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance, in Europe in 2019, to be followed by a US model in 2020. The new x5... Read more →
As of 2020, Rolls-Royce will launch a range of completely integrated MTU hybrid ship propulsion systems onto the market. The propulsion systems will also be made available for yachts, work boats, ferries and patrol boats in a power range extending from around 1,000 kilowatts to 4,000 kilowatts per powertrain. Rolls-Royce... Read more →
At the Paris motor show in October, Toyota will introduce the Corolla Touring Sports. Joining the new hatchback first revealed in Geneva earlier this year, the new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports features a dynamic design which differentiates between the sporting, compact and dynamic hatchback and the sleek, refined and versatile... Read more →
Mitsubishi Motors’ 2019 Outlander PHEV, featuring a redesigned powertrain, is now on sale in Japan. The 2019 model, unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva show (earlier post), features a more advanced PHEV system that gives this SUV a stronger EV flavor. Mitsubishi made improvements to 90% of the major... Read more →
Aisin Seiki Co. and Denso Corporation have reached a basic agreement to establish a new joint venture company to develop and sell electrification driving modules. The company will be capitalized with the participation ratio of Aisin 50% and Denso 50%. The two companies also reached a basic agreement with JTEKT... Read more →
A new report from the California Center for Jobs & The Economy indicates that cumulative plug-in vehicle (plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles) sales in California have reached 8.6% of the 2030 goal of 5 million units. Full battery-electric vehicle sales are at 4.4%. Source: “State’s Progress on 5 Million... Read more →
XL received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to sell hybrid electric Ford F-250 pickup trucks in California, marking the 14th CARB executive order achieved by the company. XL has earned the highest number of CARB executive orders for commercial vehicle electrification in the automotive industry. The hybrid-equipped... Read more →
BAE Systems, a global provider of more than 9,000 electric-hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel-cell electric systems, announced that the Association du Transport Urbain du Québec (ATUQ) ordered 497 electric-hybrid buses using the BAE Systems Series-E electric drive propulsion system (earlier post). The five-year contract includes an option for up to 1,028... Read more →
Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), the joint venture between Nissan Motors and Dongfeng Motor Group, will accelerate the “Green 2022 Plan” rollout with a focus on green products, production and materials reuse. DFL plans to introduce 20 electrified (EV and e-POWER) models under its four brands by 2022, with Nissan... Read more →
Ford has released the first images of the new Territory, a mid-size SUV targeted at new buyers in emerging cities in China. Ford developed the Territory together with its joint venture partner, Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC). Territory customers can choose between a fuel-efficient gasoline engine option; 48V mild hybrid with... Read more →
At the 14th International Fair of Public Transport TRANSEXPO in Kielce, 23-25 October 2018, Solaris will introduce the new Solaris Urbino 12 LE lite hybrid. The company will also showcase facelifted version of the Solaris Urbino 12 electric and the Solaris Urbino 12 hybrid. Solaris Urbino 12 LE lite hybrid... Read more →
Canada-based Loop Energy’s heavy-duty fuel cell range extender (earlier post) will power two new zero-emission hybrid-electric Class 8 drayage trucks that will operate for a one-year period as part of a FAST TRACK Fuel Cell Truck Project in southern California. The Loop-powered, long-haul trucks will work in demanding road operations,... Read more →
New analysis by IHS Markit suggests that automakers failing to meet 2021 fleet CO2 emissions compliance for passenger vehicles sold in the European Union (EU) could be fined more than €14 billion (US$16 billion) in 2021. Legislators in the European Union (EU) are imposing a new passenger car fleet CO2... Read more →
A new 7.2 kW charging system on the 2019 Chevrolet Volt cuts recharging times nearly in half by adding about twice the all-electric driving range per hour of charge. The new system headlines a number of additional enhancements for the 2019 Volt and increases the vehicle’s all-electric utility for owners... Read more →
The European car market recorded its best H1 performance of the century, with 8.6 million car registrations between January and June—a year-on-year increase of 2.7%. Despite uncertainty in the UK, where the market was down 6.3% on H1 2017, the growth recorded in Germany, France and Spain allowed the overall... Read more →
Developed for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), BorgWarner’s innovative Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) can improve fuel economy by up to 8.5% and reduce emissions significantly. The EHRS enters production later this year for vehicles from a major North American automaker. By using the heat... Read more →
The 2019 Lexus ES 300h’s US EPA mileage estimates of 43 mpg city, 45 mpg highway and 44 mpg (5.47 l/100 km) combined make it the most fuel-efficient luxury vehicle without a plug. The ES 300h uses a new, fourth-generation Hybrid Drive System. In addition to delivering stronger performance and... Read more →
Kia Motors’ upgraded 2018 Kia Sportage (earlier post), the brand’s global best-selling vehicle, offers a 2.0-liter diesel engine now available with Kia’s new eight-speed automatic transmission, and—in certain markets—48-volt mild-hybrid power (earlier post). The Sportage is also available with an all-new 1.6-liter diesel engine, employing the company’s new SmartStream efficiency... Read more →
Hyundai has lowered the price and slightly increased the all-electric range of the refreshed 2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV). The new PHEV model adopts the same distinctive design of the recently released Sonata gasoline and Hybrid models while delivering 28 miles (45 km) of all-electric range (vs. 27 miles... Read more →
As part of its contribution to a recently completed major European research initiative to achieve more efficient and cost-effective hybrid powertrains for both passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Ricardo developed a new 48V e-motor offering up to a 50% increase in power density compared with current production machines. Ricardo designed... Read more →
Honda’s latest addition to its PCX series of scooters is the PCX HYBRID, the world’s first mass-produced motorized scooter (125cc or less) equipped with a motorcycle hybrid system. Sales begin in Japan in September. The PCX HYBRID, based on the PCX released in April 2018, is powered by a new... Read more →
Cummins Inc. is acquiring Silicon Valley-based Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), which designs and produces hybrid and fully-electric power solutions for commercial markets. Adding EDI to the Cummins portfolio is the latest step forward in Cummins’ efforts to become a global electrified power leader. EDI’s hybrid-electric drivetrain systems, the EDI PowerDrive... Read more →