EPN Automotive Electronics Blog

Electric Entertainment

All surveys indicate that a majority of drivers would prefer an electric car over a fuel-based one - if it was fast enough and ran long enough. However, one tiny problem escaped the attention of the public until now: Radio.

Silicon anodes

Electric vehicles could be so great - if it wasn't for the battery. Unfortunately, the laws of physics and the rules of chemistry impose strong limits on the further development of current battery technology. Until something completely new comes around, battery research concentrates on fine tuning the existing tech.

The car train

One of the real interesting things about electric cars is that they don’t necessarily have to conform to traditional car construction principles. Unfortunately, electric cars usually are produced by traditional car manufacturers who tend not to think out of their boxes. Independent research institutes aren’t that limited.

Backpack car

The concept of adding a trailer to a car is not exactly new but traditional solutions require a fixed coupling, extended mirrors and in many countries a special license. A Swiss car designer changes the game with a plug-in solution.

World Solar Challenge 2011 wrap-up

»Outback racers« makes it clear that European technology can compete successfully, even in Australia. And it keeps getting better!

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.

The world’s smallest car

The heyday of huge limousines is over, small is beautiful. But, hey, you can overdo it - leave it to scientists from the Netherlands to go over the top.

Outback racers

Australia - deadly animals, marsupials, convicts, desert and sun. The perfect place for a solar car race, and this year an American student car with European electronics took part rather successfully.

Bad luck for convertibles

The widely acknowledged evolution for car's engines goes like that: Combustion engine -> hybrid engine -> electric motor. A rather obvious step along the way is equipping cars with solar cells, but apart from experimental ultra-light vehicles it hasn't been done on a larger scale - yet.

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.