EPN Automotive Electronics Blog

Threewise triple MCU

In modern automotive systems, various bus systems, rigid safety demands and the need for high performance at low power have to be balanced. While there are many specialized automotive chips like microcontrollers and SoCs around, this  is an area where the general trend towards higher integration finally makes sense.

Joystick for delivery

Delivery cars are everywhere and they are, at least in Germany, one of the major hazards for traffic safety and the environment. A think tank on future transport and mobility issues has just projected a new type of vehicle.

Kaluga’s drive to environmental protection

Russia is famous for many things, environmentalism not among them. In that huge country even small improvements can have a large impact - especially in heavily industrialized areas.

IAA 2011 - Exhausting exhaust technology

Lightweight construction concepts continue to gain ground in the automotive industry – each gram less is an active contribution towards reducing CO₂. At the International Motor Show, various companies will present interesting new concepts.

Tesla has a good Goodwood

For non-car-aficionados who like a nice read, Goodwood is just a location in a jolly good P.G. Wodehouse story. Everybody else knows that Goodwood Festival of Speed is a car culture festival for historic and contemporary motorsport with an atmosphere of luxury and excitement.

European Eco-SoC

In times of growing euro-scepticism the engineering community demonstrates the benefits of cooperation in the union. The recently completed EU FP7 project »ATHENIS« (Automotive Tested High Voltage Embedded Non Volatile Memory Integrated System On Chip) is a successful example of collaborative European Research contributing to the EU 2020 CO₂ reduction objectives with IC products manufactured in Europe.

Williams with Renault back on track

Between 1989 and 1997, the original partnership of Renault and Williams yielded four drivers’ and five constructors’ titles as well as 63 race wins. Now, the Formula 1 experts join up again and announced a long-term chassis-engine partnership.

Green seat

Car interior surface materials had generally used petroleum-based materials such as PET fibers, due to their durability and flame retardant nature. A new material, developed by Mitsubishi Motors (MMC), combines PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) and cotton fibres as a new addition to its »Green Plastic« line-up, a plant-based material technology.

Where to go? What to see first?

What a week! Last week, technics aficionados had the choice between three tremendous trade shows – each one of CeBIT (1 to 5 March), embedded world (1 to 3 March) and 81. International Motorshow Geneva (3 to 13 March) is said to have “performed extremely well” and of course to have been “highly successful”. All of the events had their own key trends, hot topics and even a few highlights.

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.