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Spotlight on Ulrik Grape Ulrik Grape, president Ener1 Europe, gives Ian Adcock an insight into the future of EVs Technological Tour De Force This year's SAE World Congress was a showcase for advanced technologies. We highlight those that impressed most Wankel's new lease of life Once dismissed for its oil consumption and high wear rates, Wankel rotary engines could be reborn in a range extender, as Ian Adcock discovers

Valve controls Imagine a valve control system that is infinitely variable irrespective of engine speed and load. Impossible? Not according to Camcon Automotive's technical director Roger Stone, as Ian Adcock discovers Mother Nature knows best What can the automotive industry learn from nature when it comes to weight saving? Ryan Borroff has been finding out Building up the pressure Tony Lewis reports on the growing trend towards even higher line pressures in injection systems.

The welding game changer Daniel Jubera of Novelis talks exclusively to Ian Adcock about its new laser weldable aluminium On the supercharge A new variable supercharger from V-Charge could herald a new era of downsized engines. Ian Adcock reports Making the MOST of in-car data Mark Fletcher takes a look at MOST and discovers how it is helping OEMs to keep pace with consumer demands

Winning the power struggle Ian Adcock finds out more from Dr Robert Brand of Vacuumschmelze and drivetek's Drs Andrea Vezzini and Ludvica Baselgia Ethernet finds its place in automotive Mark Fletcher reports on why it has taken Ethernet so long to become an accepted automotive standard Smoothing the way to greater efficiency A common concern that unites the automobile industry is the quest to improve fuel efficiency and thus reduce CO₂ emissions, says Tony Lewin

Spotlight on Neville Jackson Ricardo's group technology director discusses powertrain development with Andrew English Charging into the future Electrically-driven superchargers could be a key technology in enabling downsized engines as Ian Adcock discovers The case for CAE Mark Fletcher reports on an advanced virtual dynamics suite

Out of thin air Thomas Korn, Alset Global's VP of product development and technology, talks to Ian Adcock on the company's pioneering hydrogen dual fuel system Quest for the missing link Modelling tyre behaviour and how that influences vehicle dynamics is a key factor in developing ride and handling, as Ian Adcock discovers Emissions mission: 2020 vision Variable valve timing for petrol engines is everywhere to be seen. So are we ready to go beyond that yet? Tony Lewin finds out

Getting greener To meet upcoming fuel economy and emissions regulations, the developmental homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine shows promise, but pursuit of more conventional engine technologies may be the better path. Highlights of Baja SAEINDIA The 2015 event, the 8th edition with the theme of Beyond Boundaries, was won by the College of Engineering, Pune. Rise of the underdogs Problem-plagued effort last year spurs Baja SAE team from VIT University of India to overhaul itself and its car. Testing reality in an increasingly complex design space Digital simulation tools have transformed the designing and testing of new aircraft, as well as the way they are manufactured and sustained.

Uncertainty quantification The technique is a must for next-generation simulation tools. Oil-pump sizing Researchers from Hinduja Tech investigate options for low friction and power consumption. The future of Indian commercial aviation The growth in traffic that airport modernization has supported has also made a significant contribution to the local and national economies, while the improved infrastructure has been positive for the perception of India in the global market. Driving EVs toward lower cost The race ison to reduce battery and electric-drive systems cost while improving efficiency. Powering on Rolls-Royce's Chief Engineer discusses new technologies that inspire current R&D design and evaluation work as part of its strategic roadmap for future big commercial programs. HMIs extend beyond the cab Telematic functions are being integrated into multi-function user interfaces.

The advent of stop-start technology As environmental concerns grow for R&D teams, OEMs look to bring the strategy further into the mainstream. Recycling opportunities for hybrid/electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries With limited reserves and strict environmental regulations, re-cyclers look to established extraction means to reuse, recycle, and dispose of the used batteries. Cameras look to go the distance Automakers seek vision systems with greater distances, improved reliability, and more functionality, thanks to ruggedized complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technologies. Getting right with composites With composites now a mainstay in most new aircraft de-signs, the engineering emphasis has switched from understanding if they work to thinking through the most efficient way to manufacture them, such as using design-for-manufacturing software.

Integration opens the door Semiconductor suppliers are integrating many functions into power devices while also cutting power consumption in an environment, automotive doors, where 8-bit microcontrollers still hold sway.

Securing IT in the sky Along with IT systems and communication links comes IT security as a new factor when evaluating and monitoring the operational risk that needs to be managed during the operation of the aircraft. Data collection made easy Heavy vehicle makers, telematics providers strive to add more features while simplifying startup.

'Infernal' combustion no more Continuous improvements to the 130-year-old ICE aim to keep conventional engines ahead of electric drive. Alternative fuels tested at altitude Federal government researchers in Canada tested certain alternative fuels at simulated altitudes and found that they do offer some benefit.

Joining metal/composite structures The interference-fit bolted joining of hybrid metal/composite can greatly improve the fatigue life of such joints, according to Chinese researchers.

Alternative fuels heat up This is a rich time for combustion researchers. The need for better fuel efficiency and improved emissions has never been greater. New software model to help engine makers meet diesel soot standards Simulation enables engineers to predict particulate formation early in the design process.

Efficient, low-cost power converters for EVs Losses when power converters change the currents, voltages, and frequencies of electrical fees mean efficiencies are in high demand for EVs and everything else electric.

On the cusp of connected cars An auto consortium is set to put the wireless V2X safety network to the test with 120 cars in the Frankfurt region. Thinking long and hard about heavy-duty telematics A study of the factors that should be considered by a vehicle OEM when implementing a telematics solution in heavy on- and off-highway mobile equipment markets.

Shed a few joules with better aerodynamics A team of engineering students from Laval University has managed to reduce the energy demand due to wind resistance of its Supermileage vehicle by 10% after carefully designing a new vehicle body with a 25% larger frontal area. Telemetry helps Formula SAE team close the loop on design Once a year, a team of students at Virginia Tech get to do something that ought to put a grin on any aspiring engineer's face: build a racecar. Unconventional steel wheel designs The drawings done by collegiate students for a steel wheel design competition had industry professionals thinking about future production possibilities.

Cummins digs in with high-speed diesel Cummins started with a clean sheet, and some legacy technology, for what it describes at the most powerful highspeed diesel ever built.

The Nano in retrospect A senior graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology looks at the development of the world's cheapest car and its effect on Indian car users. A different riff on your basic two-seat electric car Markus Lienkamp, Chair of Automotive Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, is leading the Visio.M project, a German government-supported R&D effort to produce a low-cost, high-utility electric car that might attract the interest of the middle European mass market. Materials lead the way to vehicle mass reduction Reducing a vehicle's mass opens the door for a downsized engine and transmission, a lighter cradle and body structure, smaller wheels and brakes, as well as a weight-slimmed suspension. The start point for this ripple effect is materials.

Electrochemical reactions Students from the Department of Automotive Engineering at the NED University of Engineering and Technology build the first onboard fuel-cell vehicle of Pakistan. The Baja balance How to combine heavy homework load with your CDS team responsibilities. Embraer progresses on clean-sheet military program It has been over two years since Embraer announced that it would be developing the KC-390 military airlift and tanker jet under a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which established the requirements for the aircraft as it did with other Embraer military programs. Calling all recruiters Lack of response to distributed resumes leaves many wondering, is anyone out there?