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Inside the cell walls The high cost of lithium-ion batteries is a prison that has largely kept electric vehicles off the street; the keys to their release are more effective—but not more expensive—cell chemistries.

Argonne heats up Li-ion battery research The U.S. Department of Energy lab near Chicago is using federal stimulus money to dive deeper into lithium battery research. Lithium-ion battery industry moves forward From technology advances to manufacturing capacity expansions, the foundation of the lithium-ion battery industry is becoming stronger and more viable.

When fuel cells fly Emerging hydrogen and fuel-cell-based technologies are being developed for the future replacement of onboard electrical systems in more-electric or all-electric aircraft. Motor controls spin forward Improved power handling and software advances make electrified powertrains more competitive. Multiple controllers adds to EV complexity Model-based design has revolutionized the way products are developed, with design shifting from parts to the whole.

No more molecules! Companies continue to invest in new chemistries for EV batteries, but at least one company in the battery industry thinks it's time to halt the unending search for new chemical formulations and focus on driving down processing costs.

Bang for the buck The best technology solutions for electrified vehicles are the ones that deliver ∼80% of the performance of 'ideal' systems, at ∼60% of their cost. Rise of the P2 machines Newcomers to hybrid-vehicle development are bypassing the Prius-proven powersplit system for lower-cost and moderately less capable single-motor solutions. Rethinking battery and e-motor materials Experts reveal efforts to find lower cost, more strategically stable solutions that can match or improve system performance.

RAV4 EV races to market After just a 22-month development program, engineers from Toyota and Tesla produce an all-electric version of the popular SUV. Integrating in-wheel motors Four publicly disclosed vehicles are examined for which Protean Electric has taken a leading role in converting into electric or hybrid prototypes.

Putting electrification to work For fleets, going green is a high priority-but making green is an even higher one. A move to 'more electric' engines Researchers detail a motor control design for the fuel system of a more electric aero engine, focusing on the necessary safety and reliability aspects. 2012-13 Hybrid Vehicles Guide A quick reference to the latest production HEVs and their key specifications.

Bringing the Leaf to life Chief Engineer Hidetoshi Kadota leveraged 20-plus years of electrification experience in the development of Nissan's new EV. Making a mass-market EV Nissan's Director of Product Planning and Advanced Technology Strategy details the leaf's journey from concept to production. Power from within A new motor and inverter system have been developed simultaneously as the dedicated electric powertrain of the Nissan EV. Staying within range The Leaf comes standard with many features designed to help ease fears of running out of "juice."

Prime time for batteries Forecasts very on how many, and when, electrified vehicles will hit the streets, but auto and battery makers are ramping up efforts like there's no tomorrow. In energy storage, materials matter Batteries being electrochemical devices, innovation and advances in chemistry and materials are key to what everyone agrees is the need for improved performance and life. Comparing thermal characteristics of Li-ion celss Most Li-ion battery suppliers require that the cell temperature be as uniform as possible to achieve optimal battery performance and avoid battery system failure. But some materials in Li-ion cells have low thermal stability. The world plugs into EVs As matters begin to settle in terms of connector types, charge-station makers are ramping up to meet the needs of a growing population of plug-in vehicles.

One souped-up EV North Carolina-based Li-ion Motors draws upon the region's motorsports heritage to engineer and build what it calls the world's first all American-made electric supercar. Inductive charging gets green flag U.K.-based start-up HaloIPT partners with Drayson Racing to bring 'dynamic' wireless charging to electric racecars.

The buzz about electric aircraft Emissions limits force the aviation industry to study hybrid and battery-electric propulsion systems. Car-to-X marks the secure beamforming spot Intelligent networking of cars and infrastructure promises a future of enhanced active safety and traffic efficiency, though as an open and decentralized system, car-to-X is exposed to various attacks against security and driver's privacy. Talking big A look at factors that should be considered by OEMs when implementing a telematics solution in the heavy-duty on- and off-highway mobile equipment markets.

Lithium-ion refinement Even as high-profile fires create concern, battery and car makers accelerate their move toward lithium-ion technology with advances in cost, performance, and safety. NASA's quest for maximum efficiency As part of its hybrid body wing aircraft with turboelectric distributed propulsion system, NASA has proposed to use a superconducting and cryogenic electrical system to connect the electrical output of the generators to the motors.

Fuel cells for auxiliary power OEM and supplier researchers explore the benefits of utilizing solid-oxide fuel-cell APUs to help meet heavy-duty truck anti-idling requirements. Safer EV batteries could enter the crush zone ARPA-e targets "robust" batteries that not only bear loads but also absorb crash-impact energy to save weight.

Electrifying, fast, quiet-and usually dirty IAV developed the e-Crossbike to prove the potential of electric drive in one of the most demanding vehicle environments-motocross racing. Here's how the engineering team did it. Next-gen eAssist aims at cost reduction Lower cost, lighter weight, more refinement-Chief Engineer Steve Poulos gives a glimpse of GM's third-generation eAssist mild-hybrid system now under development for 2015.

BMW i3 was born electric The carbon-fiber-bodied city car is the German automaker's first series-production entry into the electric-vehicle space. High temperatures narrow material choices for electrified vehicles One of the biggest challenges confronting electric and hybrid-electric vehicle designers today is how to manage the high temperatures stemming from the electrical losses associated with high-power electronics.

Why Volt? After 48 months' development, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt has enetered series production. The pioneering "E-REV" is as important to the mobility industry as it is to GM. Creating the heart of Volt GM's battery requirements meant creating new state-of-the-art in-vehicle engery storage - and doing it in less than four years. Top GM and supplier engineers reveal how they did it. Engineering with maniacal focus A dedicated, cohesive team and a conservative engineering approach put this innovative vehicle into production at moon-shot speed. A unique electrified transaxle Hybrid or not? Definitions aside, what really matters is GM wisely leveraged its next-generation Two Mode propulsion technology to give Volt greater overall efficiency. Sweating the body details Extensive wind-tunnel work gave Volt a shape that's slicker than it looks. But engineers aren't happy with the curb weight.

Into the DEAP The Distributed Electrical Aerospace Propulsion project looks toward a future optimized integrated propulsion system that will allow cleaner, quieter, and more efficient performance incorporated into a radically innovative airframe that will feature enclosed electrically powered fans.

Harley-Davidson's e-bike shocker (video) Is the motorcycle market ready for a Harley-Davidson EV? Project LiveWire was designed to provide answers, said Chief Engineer Jeff Richlen. Airbus has its eye on the future of cleaner flight CleanSky 2 targets are to increase aircraft fuel efficiency enough to reduce CO2 emissions by 20-30% and reduce aircraft NOx and noise emissions by 20-30% compared to newly designed aircraft entering into service in 2014-or essentially halve 2005 CO2 emissions levels by 2050. Soul EV extends the range frontier (video) Specially formulated NCM battery cells are key in giving the vehicle class-leading EV range while enabling engineers to fit a high-energy-density battery pack underfloor with little sacrifice of passenger cabin space.

A new Formula for racing The new Formula E series' electric racecars are intended to pioneer new technology for broader use in production, encouraging fans to think differently about the technologies they use. Production of satellite with first all-electric propulsion system advances Electric propulsion has been limited so far to small movements of the satellites once it is in its geostationary orbit. The Boeing 702SP innovation is its use of electric propulsion to raise the satellite from its launch-vehicle drop-off point to geostationary orbit. Using CAE to assess whining noise of electric powertrains To develop an electric powertrain with a minimum noise level and minimized whining it is necessary to have accurate CAE simulation and precise criteria to assess whining noise.

In hybrid systems, mild beats wild The coming wave of 48-v mild hybrids aim for maximum benefit at minimal cost.