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The SLS AMG E-CELL body shell being shown by Mercedes-Benz AMG at the IAA 2011 is one trailblazing outcome of its ambitious "AMG Lightweight Performance" design strategy. Its key element is a transmission tunnel made out of lightweight carbon-fibre composite material (CFRP), which is structurally integrated into the aluminium body shell and firmly bonded with it. The high-strength and stiff CFRP component helps to reduce weight, while also serving as a monocoque housing for the battery modules. The carbon-fibre battery monocoque in the SLS AMG E-CELL forms an integral part of the body shell and acts as the vehicle's "spine". The advantages of carbon composite materials were specifically exploited by the AMG engineers in its design. These include their high strength, which makes it possible to create extremely rigid structures in terms of torsion and bending, excellent crash performance and low weight. CFRP components are up to 50 percent lighter than comparable ...

Robert Bosch GmbH and Daimler AG have concluded negotiations and signed an agreement for the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture. The aim of the joint venture is to develop and manufacture electric motors. The contract is subject to approval by the responsible antitrust authorities. The new company will operate under the name EM-motive GmbH. It will be headquartered in Hildesheim, where a manufacturing site will also be located. The joint venture’s development site will be located in the Stuttgart area, where both parent companies are headquartered. Some 100 associates will begin working for the joint venture in the fourth quarter of 2011. EM-motive GmbH will be headed by two executives of equal status from each of the parent companies. The cooperation between Bosch and Daimler in the area of e-mobility aims to pool expertise and utilize synergies to speed up the development of high-quality traction machines for electric vehicles with batteries, fuel cells or range extenders. Wolf-H...

Audi have introduced Audi Wireless Charging (AWC), contactless induction charging, at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The infrastructure side, comprising a coil and an inverter (AC/AC converter), is placed on a normal parking spot and connected to the power grid. The 3.6 kW primary coil set into the plate generates a high-frequency alternating field. The charging process begins automatically when the EV drives onto the plate. The alternating magnetic field of the infrastructure side induces an alternating current across the air gap in the secondary coil, which is integrated into the vehicle. This current is rectified and fed into the vehicle’s electrical system, where it charges the battery or powers consumers such as the heater. The alternating field is only generated if the vehicle is standing over the plate and thus poses no danger to people or animals. Charging stops automatically when the battery is fully charged. The driver can interrupt charging at any time. The efficiency of AWC is co...

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. plans to make key parts of its Prius hybrid in China, company officials said. China is currently the world's largest automobile market, a Kyodo News report in Japan Times said Monday. The report said Toyota recently received approval from China to produce its next Prius model. Under the new arrangement, Toyota will gradually move production of Prius' key components, including batteries and electric motors to China, Toyota officials were quoted as saying. Analysts said China's restrictions on exports of rare earth elements is a factor. Some of the rare earth elements are key components for hybrid car parts such as batteries and permanent magnet electric motors. China, which produces more than 95% of the world's rare earth supplies, has imposed strict production and export quotas on these elements, citing environmental concerns. Despite such statements the World Trade Organization ruled that China’s duties and quotas on the export of ...

Fisker Automotive announced today the signing of an agreement with BMW that will cover the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models. BMW will supply a four-cylinder turbocharged engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code-named ‘Project Nina’, which are scheduled to go into production in the re-commissioned former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware at the end of 2012 and be on sale globally in 2013. The agreement calls for up to 100,000 engine units per year at peak volume. The first ‘Project Nina’ derivative will be a mid-size premium sedan utilizing Fisker’s EVer™ (electric vehicle with extended range) technology to deliver on Fisker’s corporate vision of Uncompromised Responsible Luxury. Fisker ‘s CEO and Executive Design Director, Henrik Fisker, comments; “The BMW engine was an obvious choice for us, as BMW is known for producing the best and most fuel efficient gasoline engines in the world. We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with BMW....

BMW's new carbon fiber factory in the United States has brought advanced, lightweight materials developed in Formula One racing one step closer to consumers' driveways. The German carmaker opened the ultra-modern production plant in Moses Lake, Washington state, on Thursday to supply carbon fiber for its highly anticipated, all-electric i3 Concept car. Built through a 2009 joint venture with materials specialist SGL Carbon, the $100 million (70 million euro) facility is powered entirely by locally generated hydroelecricity. It will produce up to 3,000 metric tons of carbon fiber annually. "The facility has been erected in only 10 months and will be the most cost efficient carbon fiber plant using modern technologies," said Andreas Wüllner, Managing Director of SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers. The fibers produced in Moses Lake will be woven into lightweight fabrics at a second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany, before being formed into carbon fiber reinforced pla...

The Translogic web TV series take Tom Gage CEO of AC Propulsion for a drive to talk about how ACP are driving the commercialization of electric vehicles worldwide.