EPN Automotive Electronics Blog

MOST150 on a roll

While MOST certainly is the largest, most implemented multimedia network for automotive applications, it seems to have got a bit quiet around it lately. Alas, springtime is MOST Forum time, where news get spread around.

Electric cars can be safe

Are electric vehicles safe on the road? Well… nobody knows, since the usual extensive (and destructive) tests haven’t been conducted. The whole class of cars is too new to have gone through the bone crusher, but this is changing. Slowly.

Playing the fuel card

Business-to-business fuel cards offer companies that operate fleets of commercial vehicles a convenient way to pay and account for fuel and other services. However, there are at least three parties involved: The petrol company, an infrastructure provider and someone dealing with potential customers.

embedded world 2011: Infotainment-SoC

For me it is not terribly clear why one needs high-definition video in a car’s dashboard, since one is not supposed to watch the newest Coen brothers movie there and even a Sat Nav doesn’t need 1080p, much less the »virtual« tachometers. However, nowadays it’s even being installed in mid-range cars, so there seems to be some kind of demand. A good thing for semiconductor manufacturers.

The charging net

While finding a place where to charge an electric car can still be quite a challenge, Bosch Software Innovations already aims at the next level of infrastructure: A comprehensive open business platform for eMobility.

BMW and PSA: Joint Venture for Hybrid Engines

The ongoing love affair between BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën has just become more intense: Both car giants agreed to deepen their close relationship by signing a Joint Venture agreement at 50 %. The agreement known as BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification focuses on developing and producing hybrid components.

Bienvenue en France!

For a better positioning and to solidify growth in embedded systems, the German Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik, is joining the French Assystem Group. The agreement stipulates that Berner & Mattner is being integrated into the Assystem Group as an independent unit and without any change in either staff or organization.

125 years on a ride

2011 is the celebration year for the automotive industry. 125 years ago, Carl Benz registered his »vehicle with gas-engine drive« with the Berlin Patent Office and in the same year 1886, Bosch also came into existence. At Daimler’s , the year started with an anniversary party.