EPN Automotive Electronics Blog

Between sun and light

Remember the development of the Laser? At first, it was a »solution looking for a problem«, then it replaced traditional components and today, most of modern technology wouldn’t be possible without it. The OLED – organic LED – seems to be on a similar track; since these are not the sixties however, it’s going much faster and the categories blur. The thin lines between nonsense, good idea and outstanding innovation are hard to make out, even when you’re looking up to your car’s roofliner.

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!

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.

Hydrogen racer

In the olden, golden days of EDA when everyone who was able to afford a trade licence in the Valley just knew he would make a fortune selling to Cadence one year later and Magma was a synonym for good parties at DAC. Since then, EDA has lost some of its glamour and, longing for it, some companies try their luck at the races.

Joint venture for electric motors

A bold move: Daimler and Bosch plan to cooperate in the development and production of electric motors for all-electric vehicles in Europe. This is certainly good for Daimler where know-how in this area is scarce. Bosch on the other hand can but hope that its other customers don't see a conflict of interest.

At the charging post

Slightly oversized companies like Siemens do have an advantage: ideally, one business area can profit from the development work of others. At times, one of the business areas is missing (think VDO), but a topic that’s out of sight doesn’t have to be out of mind. That’s when the industry automation division constructs a charging point for electrical vehicles.

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.

Not for rainy days

The usual thick smog might obscure the common Californian sunshine in Los Angeles but in late October that region is still a good place for a solar power trade show. Visitors may even take bicycle ride along Venice Beach - and this doesn’t even have to be exhausting.

The speed of electricity

One of the really exciting opportunities of electrically powered cars is that they won’t have to look like cars used to. Small motors, no exhaust pipes, gear boxes and fuel tanks, but flexibly configurable batteries. At ‘normal’ speeds, not even aerodynamic is an issue. It is, however, when the vehicle is powered with 340 horsepowers.

Isolators for hybrid cars

The simple I2C bus connects controllers and peripheral devices. In automotive and especially hybrid electric vehicle applications, controllers or peripherals are isolated from the bus to avoid interference or harmful voltage levels. Usually, optocouplers are being used, but this increases the cost and complexity disproportionally. Digital isolators have the potential to simplify I2C design in electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.