Technology

Under the Skin - black can improve batteries

Technology

Under the skin: how paint is improving EV batteries and autonomous cars

New types of paint-like coatings promise to make better batteries and help lidar to see black cars in the gloom

7 October 2019

Under the skin: how paint is improving EV batteries and autonomous cars

Under floor aerodynamics explained - Porsche Taycan

Technology

Under the skin: Why reducing lift and drag requires under-cover policing

Spoilers aren't the be-all and end-all when it comes to aerodynamics - underfloor design comes into it too

30 September 2019

Under the skin: Why reducing lift and drag requires under-cover policing

Advanced lighting technology, like this Audi A8 laser spotlight developed by Hella, makes night driving safer but is an enabler for EV technology as well

Technology

Under the skin: Why LEDs are a bright idea for fuel economy

Light-emitting diodes cast a brighter glow and use less energy, but there are other benefits as well

23 September 2019

Under the skin: Why LEDs are a bright idea for fuel economy

Technology

Nissan and EDF to expand smart charging partnership

Firms will focus on vehicle-to-grid charging systems - which could allow owners to make money by plugging in their car

18 September 2019

Nissan and EDF to expand smart charging partnership

A breakthrough in motor and electronics design by Continental AG allows mild hybrids to deliver electric-only driving like a full hybrid for less cost

Technology

Under the skin: Why modern cars need 48V electrical systems

As well as allowing cars to temporarily run on electric power, a 48V system can take care of all the ancillaries

16 September 2019

Under the skin: Why modern cars need 48V electrical systems

Automatic gearboxes like the ZF 9HP have evolved far beyond a box for swapping cogs. They now form part of a super-efficient integrated powertrain

Technology

Under the skin: the evolution of the automatic gearbox

From early three-speed pioneers to today's silky smooth nine-speed set-ups, the automatic gearbox has become a truly advanced piece of kit

9 September 2019

Under the skin: the evolution of the automatic gearbox

Torque converter-based gearboxes are the original type of automatic transmission and they’re evolving fast

Technology

Under the skin: How torque converters improve refinement

The original type of automatic gearbox, a torque converter unit can provide the most satisfying acceleration curve

2 September 2019

Under the skin: How torque converters improve refinement

Tesla developed its own processor specifically for neural networking and autonomous driving. It’s called the Full Self-Driving Computer (FSD)

Technology

Under the skin: How Tesla is making cars think like humans

Autonomous cars must interpret and react to situations as a human driver would. Here's how that will work

26 August 2019

Under the skin: How Tesla is making cars think like humans

The Volkswagen Group’s new MQ281 gearbox shows how far manual gearbox technology has progressed over the years and how it still has a big part to play in cutting fuel consumption and emissions

Technology