All articles by Arjen Bongard – Page 87
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ArticleGerman researchers test new EV charging station
The industry is working hard on new EV charging technologies. Honda is testing solar charging stationsGerman researchers are testing a new charging station for electric vehicles that can adapt to different plug-in standards.The Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart (FKFS), an independent institute that provides research and ...
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ArticleGermany's project HONEY: Designing smaller chips
German technology companies hope that improved production methods will help reduce the size and weight of in-car semiconductors (Photo:XFAB)Four German semiconductor makers have concluded project "HONEY" and have come up with new methods to make smaller chips.With roughly 1,000 chips and as many as 80 networked electronic systems in the ...
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ArticleTesis, Magna promise better thermal management simulation
Thermal simulations are crucial in the development of EVs (Photo: Kuli)Automotive supplier Magna and simulation specialist Tesis Dynaware are combining their simulation products to provide a complete analysis of a car's energy and thermal management.The two companies are coupling Tesis Dynaware's DYNA4 full vehicle simulation with Magna's KULI thermal simulation ...
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ArticleFactory 2.0 challenges Toyota manufacturing concepts
Software can generate manufacturing productivity improvements (Photo: Forcam)New IT systems are beginning to compete with the Toyota manufacturing system, which has been a template for efficient production in the auto industry for many years.Sophisticated production software, which analyzes a plant's production data on a continuous basis, can sharply boost efficiency.At ...
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ArticleVW shows how to drive 130 km/h with no hands on the wheel
VW’s automatic pilot can perform all functions, but a human driver can take over any time (Photo: VW)Volkswagen has developed technology that allows hands-free driving at speeds of 130 kilometers/hour.The German carmaker, which showed the technology in final presentations for a European research project, said it represents a link between ...
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ArticleFord, Nuance testing better voice recognition
Ford wants voice control to respond to normal speech and not just to specific commands (Photo: Ford)Ford and its voice-technology partner Nuance Communications are testing new technologies to make in-car voice recognition systems work easier and more efficiently.The US carmaker would like its Sync infotainment system to recognize common words ...
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ArticleGerman Ampera buyers to get a discount on clean electricity
Opel hopes owners of the Ampera EV will use clean electricity (Photo: Opel)Opel is offering Ampera buyers the option to recharge the electric vehicle using electricity from renewable sources.The German unit of General Motors, which is getting ready to launch the Ampera later this year, said it has agreements with ...
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FeatureSteria Mummert: Automated software tests save time
Testing expert Lars Hinrichsen says there is too much improvisation in software testing (Photo: Steria Mummert)More automation in software testing would make the process better, cheaper and more efficient, according to German testing consultants Steria Mummert.Three out of four IT departments in Germany test most of their software manually. That ...
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ArticleContinental to buy Magna radar unit
Continental is buying the radar engineering unit of Canadian supplier Magna International in a bid to strengthen its position in driver assistance systems.The German automotive supplier said the acquisition of the unit, which has its operations in Ottobrunn near Munich, will enhance its portfolio competence and leading edge in radar ...
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ArticleToshiba to provide inverters for Ford EVs
Toshiba Corp, which wants to grow its automotive business globally. said it will supply inverters for hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids that Ford Motor plans to start mass-producing in 2012.The Japanese electronics group, which announced a year ago that it would manufacture drive motors for Ford EVs in its ...
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ArticleMitsubishi Electric, FAW unit to set up Chinese car multimedia JV
Mitsubishi Electric conducts tests in an electromagnetic anechoic sound chamber (Photo: Mitsubishi Electric)Mitsubishi Electric Corporation said it plans to grow its Chinese automotive multimedia business by establishing a joint venture with QiMing Information Technology Co, a subsidiary of carmaker FAW.The two companies, which have worked together since 2004, agreed to ...
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ArticleA Mercedes hybrid for the pope - Wirtschaftswoche
In 2008, this popemobile was based on the Mercedes G-Class (Photo: Daimler)Pope Benedict iwill take delivery of a new hybrid Mercedes "popemobile" when he visits Germany in late September, according to a report in Germany's Wirtschaftswoche magazine.The new papal transportation is currently being manufactured at a Daimler plant in Sindelfingen, ...
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ArticleGM invests in Proterra electric bus maker
Proterra’s battery-electric bus can recharge in 10 minutes (Photo: Proterra)General Motors is investing 6 million dlrs in Proterra, a maker of zero-emission commercial transit buses.The investment comes from funds the automaker has earmarked to identify and help develop innovative new transportation technologies.GM said its GM Ventures division is part of ...
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ArticleBrussels endorses Better Place-led transport project
Better Place already operates several battery recharging points in Denmark (Photo: Better Place)The European Commission has endorsed an E-mobility project that aims to establish a Europe-wide infrastructure for electric vehicles.The project, called "Greening European Transportation Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles" is led by EV infrastructure specialist Better Place. A coalition of ...
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ArticleUS PlayStation now features a virtual Ford showroom
Ford’s showroom on PlayStation is designed to educate and entertain (Photo: Ford)Ford, claiming a first, has built a virtual showroom for users of Sony's Playstation videogame console.The US carmaker said North American PlayStation users can now visit the showroom and virtually inspect the Ford Fiesta and Ford Edge models."The Ford ...
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ArticleMore cyber attacks in Germany, govt agency warns
BSI President Lange told reporters while presenting his 2011 report that cyber security problems are growing in Germany (Photo: BSI)A government agency that monitors dangers to IT users painted a dismal picture of IT security in Germany, saying cyber attacks are on the rise and many of them are becoming ...
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ArticleGarmin agrees to buy Navigon
Garmin, which manufactures navigation, communication and information devices and applications, wants to grow its automotive business (Photo: Garmin)Garmin said it aims to expand its automotive business by acquiring navigation specialist Navigon.The Swiss maker of in-vehicle infotainment, navigation and telematics systems, said the two companies' product portfolios complement each other, which ...
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ArticleIBM study: Automotive CIOs put more focus on Cloud
Automotive CIOs are putting a heavier focus on Cloud computing than their colleaques in other industries, according to an IBM study.The software and IT services group conducted 3,018 interviews with CIOs for its 2011 Global Chief Information Officer Study. Out of the total, 146 were CIOs in the auto industry.While ...
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ArticleGlobal IT market set to top 1 trillion euros in 2012
Global IT demand continues to rise despite the Japanese earthquake and weak consumer spending in some European countries (Photo: Infineon)The global IT market is set to top 1 trillion euros in 2012, according to the European Information Technology Observatory (EITO).The IT researchers expect the market to grow 4.3 pc to ...
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ArticleSemiconductors in cars seen rising 15%
With the growing importance of automotive electronics, semiconductor content in the car is set to rise 15 pc in 2011, according to IC Insights.The Arizona-based research firm predicts that average semiconductor content per car is going up to 350 dlrs this year from 305 dlrs in 2010. By 2014, the ...
