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 →

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 →