Propulsion

An interview with Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors. He talks about batteries, China’s COVID lockdown’s effect on supply chains and grid readiness for commercial vehicle charging.

Sony’s CES 2023 presentation hammers home this point: Afeela isn’t so much about selling cars as it is about offering consumers another space in which to play Sony’s video games and watch its movies.

Bob Galyen, currently chairman emeritus of NAATBatt, the largest battery industry association in the U.S.,and chairman of the SAE’s international battery standards steering committee, discusses the future of battery-electric vehicles and batteries.

Ram’s new Rev 1500 battery-electric pickup is a head turner. But it underscores just how different Tesla’s anticipated Cybertruck is from the other pickups. And that may not be a good thing.

The Michigan-based startup sees opportunity first with Class 8 trucks, but also expects multispeed transmissions to offer key benefits in light-duty battery-electric-vehicle applications as well.

Improvements in electric powertrains and battery technology are making battery-electric long-haul trucks a reality, but cost and weight may not make them the best option yet. Alternatives exist and should be pursued especially in light of potential battery-material shortages.

Wards Editor-in-Chief Bob Gritzinger breaks down the attributes of nominees and winners in the 2022 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems competition, with a look at how the 28th annual review reflects broader trends in automotive powertrain development. Electrification is on the rise, but engineers also are focused on wringing the last bits of performance and efficiency from internal-combustion engines.

Regulations in the Inflation Reduction Act have caused a hot debate among OEMs and suppliers around the globe, either excited by the benefits, or complaining about the requirements.  The fact that nearly all AVs will be EVs makes this debate of vital importance to tax credits that could help stimulate AV growth in the U.S. market.

This tracker covers the top battery manufacturers and which OEMs they supply, global capacity for top Li-Ion gigafactories, battery chemistry, as well as GWh demand by company based on U.S. BEV sales. 

General Motors may replace the lead-acid starter battery in its internal-combustion-engine vehicles with a solid-state lithium-ion battery by early 2030s.

Tula Technology unveils its latest innovation, Dynamic Motor Drive (DMD). The software is used to pulse electric motors in a way that improves efficiency 3%, according to the company.

A European project for structural supercapacitors could mean future EVs will share the same technology that aids today’s supercar performance.