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Solving the carbon problem Promoting a sustainable future for the transportation industry will benefit the welfare of humankind. My Baja SAE journey Every day, I realize how much Baja SAE has taught me-both in life and in engineering. Honda unveils next-gen motorcycle powertrains New engines designed for low-speed torque, fuel efficiency, and riding 'character' are coupled with new DCT and CVT transmissions. Three rules of career management for 2012 Do you have a career management plan to ensure your career growth in times of corporate chaos?

Inside development of Unimore's high-performance Formula SAE engine The adoption of a single-cylinder engine, instead of the more powerful inline four cylinder, required a much bigger effort for getting an acceptable level of power. Academia and motorsports industry partner for enhanced performance A four-year Bachelor of Science degree in motorsports engineering at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, in addition to certificates in motorsports technology and motorsports studies, has led to the creation of some unique new college classes and associated activities. Propulsion systems for private space flight While some companies are creating high altitude air and ground launch vehicles for taking private individuals into space, companies such as XCOR Aerospace and Armadillo Aerospace are addressing other market needs in the private space flight industry. 200-mph electric racecar Drayson aims to break track records.

ETS Baja parts failure analysis: Geared for success When the ETS Baja team had to withdraw from the Baja Auburn 2012 event due to abnormal gear failure, an extensive analysis was required to ensure that problems of this nature would not surface again. After some serious investigation, the conclusion of almost 30 hours of research was unexpected and proved surprisingly simple. Body and soul rule at 2012 Formula SAE Months before the Formula SAE Michigan competition in May, teams were hashing out product development decisions. The end-game was presenting a racecar that had the right stuff for earning high points in the challenge's vehicle design evaluation as well as the acceleration, skid pad, endurance, and autocross dynamic performance events.

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.

Demon alcohol? The impact of Ethanol fuels on regulated tailpipe emissions is studied and assessed by two Chrysler researchers in a 2012 SAE technical paper.

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.

The row about rare earths Rare-earth elements are key to applications as varied as traction motors, catalytic converters, and wind turbines, but high prices and supply shortages have the auto industry grappling with design changes and other alternatives.

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.

The future of heavy-duty networking Imamoter researchers believe Ethernet can be an excellent candidate to supersede the CAN bus for SAE J1939 powertrain networks applications.

Heavy-duty engine blender Researchers at Southwest Research Institute and Navistar exploring the feasibility of micro-pilot diesel-injection dual-fuel combustion at key part load conditions found it offers ultra-low smoke and NOx emissions while maintaining diesel-comparable fuel consumption and noise levels.

Digital engineering for Tier 4 With the final phase-in of the U.S. EPA Tier 4 emissions standard set to take effect by 2015, off-highway engine developers are accelerating product introductions. Design challenges remain for manufacturers even after the final phase-in while CAE software providers improve technology.

Polymeric engine bearings for stop-start Gaining momentum on passenger vehicles, hybrid and stop-start technologies are expected to find more application in commercial vehicles. Mahle has developed a proprietary lead-free polymer overlay for bearings that's suitable for this aggressive operating environment.

Quiet in the cab As NVH gains importance in the quality of off-highway machines' performance and operator comfort, it is essential to understand every aspect of the machine noises and its annoyance effect to the operator's comfort.

FEA of light-vehicle cab's hydraulic mount Using finite element analysis on a cab's hydraulic mount can shorten product development time and reduce development costs significantly.

The light stuff Engineers look to lightweighting construction and agricultural equipment to contribute to efficiency while maintaining safety compliance.

Designing the whole Connecting model-based system engineering through PLM tools to CAD, FEA, and physical test is on the horizon.

High-performance polymers and biofuel compatibility During the material selection process for engine components such as fuel rails, filter housings, and connectors, engineers need to take into account not only the basic tenets of metal-to-plastic conversion, but also the type of fuel and its impact on the performance of the materials.