There have been three billion-dollar success stories in printed and organic electronics so far - and in each Asia has been a key driving factor. The first is OLED displays. These are not printed today but made in high volume by evaporation methods. After twenty years from their conception the market is now taking off, thanks largely to the investment from Samsung, seeking to differentiate its smart phone display technology versus the key competit...

By Dr Harry Zervos, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx The market for car traction battery packs will grow from $4.8 billion to $54.2 billion from 2012 to 2022 as discussed in the IDTechEx report Car Traction Batteries - the New Gold Rush 2012-2022. This huge emerging market has triggered efforts to create a $10 billion traction battery company and a gold rush to obtain the key materials in places as far afield as Kazakhstan and Bolivia.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) will demonstrate its high-performance electric powertrain technology on one of North America's most demanding motorsport events; the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on 8 July.

Third generation lithium-based traction batteries can be loosely defined as relatively safe versions with superior energy density as now demanded by plugin hybrids not just pure electric vehicles.

A new lithium ion battery technology capable of operating at extreme temperatures without requiring thermal management was unveiled by A123 Systems this week.

Most of us appreciate and take steps to mitigate the risk faced in our daily commute; well if you are reading this you mostly have been successful - well so far. You have just filled up and are ready to go, but a risk is lurking; No, not stop signs, speed traps nor that meandering drunk, but Cancer caused by yet another invisible agent: diesel exhaust fumes.

Sumitomo Chemical Company is filing patents this year on its advances in sodium ion rechargeable batteries that could find their way into vehicles. The present invention, even when using a carbonaceous material as a negative electrode active material, can prevent the reduction in over-discharging cycle length of the battery, and is useful particularly as a secondary battery.

Fisker launched its hybrid sports car very late and its battery supplier A123 Systems has had quality problems necessitating an expensive major recall in stark contrast to the professionalism at Tesla, the pioneer in successful electric sports cars (though Tesla did recall 439 of its electric sports cars because of a possible fire hazard involving the 12-volt electrical system in 2010). An earlier Fisker recall this year concerned a software malf...

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide has signed a supply agreement with Remy International Inc. for its high performance electric traction motors for the Quantum's Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) F-150, that is based on America's best-selling pickup truck, the Ford F-150.

Supercapacitor leader Maxwell Technologies recorded total revenue of $39.2 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. - a up 11% from the same period a year ago. Growth was driven not only by ultracapacitor sales of $22 million, which is up 3% from Q1 '11, but also by unusually strong sales of microelectronics and high-voltage capacitor products, which came in at $17.2 million - up 24% from last year's first quarter.

Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions for a number of industries worldwide as well as a long-term partner for research, development and testing for component manufacturers and the automotive industry, has constructed an on-site e-mobility test laboratory in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, Germany. As of now, the laboratory also offers abuse tests and lifetime tests for batteries and battery packs for electric and hybrid vehicles.

In 2022, over 128 million electric vehicles will be made, mainly two wheelers, according to the IDTechEx report, Electric Vehicles 2012-2022. That means over $260 billion dollars of business in our estimations, even at ex-factory prices, with cars being under 50% of that figure.

Villanova University and Unmanned Ocean Vehicles, Inc., in the USA have been developing the electric powertrain and harvesting for an unmanned surface boat using funding from the US Office of Naval Research since 2006.

The City of Amsterdam has designed a new subsidy scheme to encourage businesses in Amsterdam to switch to more sustainable means of transportation. The subsidy scheme will reimburse businesses in Amsterdam up to 50% of the additional cost of purchasing an electric vehicle.

This article shares some of the research carried out for the new IDTechEx report, Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors: Supercapacitors 2013-2023

Enova Systems has delivered 4 incremental 120kW drive systems to Optare Plc for integration into their Solo Electric Bus.

Hitachi announced a 11kW highly efficient permanent magnet synchronous motor co-developed with Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd., without using magnetic material containing rare-earth metals such as neodymium and dysprosium. The motor employs an iron-based amorphous metal(1) in the core, the heart of the motor.

Volvo Bus UK has won orders for 174 new hybrid buses as part of the Green Bus fund for England, including its single largest ever hybrid order of 77 double deck buses for Arriva.

Pilot project allows utilities to communicate charging instructions directly to EVs based on power grid conditions

Cutting the weight of new cars and trucks by up to 750 pounds by the end of the decade is a key component of Ford's strategy to improve fuel efficiency. In order to help achieve that goal, Ford Motor Company is partnering with Dow Automotive Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, to research the use of advanced carbon fiber composites in high-volume and electric vehicles.