For this weeks technical article, I thought that it would be good to cover the current and ongoing trend for hybrids. Nearly every time I talk technology I start with a comment that the subject is not new. Well, guess what - hybrid cars aren’t new and are certainly not 21st century vehicles. Back in 1901 the famous engineer, Ferdinand Porsche designed and drove a prototype … [Read more...]
Sumitomo’s Superconducting Motor
Back in 2008 when I started podcasting, I discussed a new story about Sumitomo releasing a prototype of an electric car using a superconducting motor. This was hailed as a world first. The benefit of using such a motor was to provide greater torque from a lower voltage. Sumitomo had plans to test it in larger vehicles such as buses and trucks. At the time Sumitomo had built a … [Read more...]
Hydrogen Powered Cars
In the past few years many manufacturers who were developing prototype hydrogen powered cars have dropped them in favour of hybrids or pure electric cars. Ford, Nissan and Renault have all dropped their programs although BMW, Toyota and Mazda have been the three notable proponents of this technology who are pushing on with their development. Hyundai and Honda have also been … [Read more...]
Wearable Technology Meets the Auto Industry
I have written several articles that shows the connection between consumer and automotive technology. The most obvious must be the use of lithium based batteries that started in consumer devices such as laptops and with greater power and length of use, have now been fitted to electric cars. Another example is Bluetooth, which has simplified how mobile devices share content … [Read more...]
Toyota Absorbs Daihatsu
In February, Toyota announced that it was going to absorb the remaining 49% of Daihatsu that it didn’t already own. Toyota has owned 51% of the fourth largest manufacturer in the Japan market (by sales) since 1988, and had an agreement to co-operate way back in 1967. Daihatsu is actually the oldest brand on sale today in Japan and is based in Osaka. The deal is expected to … [Read more...]