Energy/Environment

Rethinking lead-acid for mild- and micro-hybrids After years in lithium-ion battery development—and fed up over material costs that remain punishingly high—Subash Dhar decided the original automotive battery chemistry still has big potential for hybrid vehicles. Read full story

Exide takes the lead-acid battery in a new direction The drive to boost mileage is starting a transformation of one of the oldest technologies in autos: the lead-acid battery. The adoption of stop-start systems is helping drive a transition from conventional flooded lead-acid batteries to units that hold liquid electrolytes in absorbent glass mats. Read full story

Schaeffler tandem bearings reduce drag torque, increase fuel economy up to 1.5% New tandem ball bearings from Schaeffler Group are said to have about half the friction of traditional tapered roller bearings, which allows tandems to run with higher overall efficiency and lower operating temperatures. Schaeffler selected Stanyl from DSM Engineering Plastics for the advanced bearing application. Read full story

Hella banking on stop-start surge The company says it has developed a new generation of electronic system solutions to help vehicle manufacturers address increasingly rigorous fuel-economy and greenhouse-gas requirements. Read full story

Honda's 2014 plug-in hybrid Accord has three drive modes Forthcoming model has 10-15 mi (16-24 km) range on battery pack, and it also operates in hybrid mode and direct drive from engine through gearset into transaxle. Read full story

Choosing the right tube joint seal for HFO-1234yf refrigerant compatibility One of the many system components of concern to OEMs and aftermarket service providers is the elastomeric seals used at the different joints in automotive air-conditioning. One critical aspect of seal performance is permeation, and the material compatibility issues likely to arise in relation to it, due to the new refrigeration chemistry. Read full story

Materials lead the way to vehicle mass reduction Reducing a vehicle's mass opens the door for a downsized engine and transmission, a lighter cradle and body structure, smaller wheels and brakes, as well as a weight-slimmed suspension. The start point for this ripple effect is materials. Read full story

Thermal management improves Ram 1500 fuel economy and earns EPA off-cycle credits 2013 Ram truck's HFE (high fuel efficiency) model delivers 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway with help from thermal management of engine and transmission oil temperatures, featuring integration with active grille shutters. Read full story

Chrysler switches to OAT antifreeze for longer service interval The change to OAT is across the board for 2013 and is accompanied by increasing coolant service interval to 10 years/150,000 mi (240,000 km). The formula is different from that used by parent Fiat. Read full story