Electrical, Electronics and Avionics Publications

Responding to a change in chip architectures while also focusing on power consumption, the test, developed with support from Volkswagen and a number of semiconductor suppliers, focuses on the peripherals that surround microprocessor cores while also giving engineers a way to compare the power consumption of different microcontrollers.

Automakers are beginning to leverage integrated GPS receivers, using positional data much like input from other sensors. Integrating GPS with electric powertrain controls can conserve energy, while locational data can also enhance telematics services and apps.

Automated road trains such as the one demonstrated on a test track in Tsukuba City, Japan, help prove out new truck platooning technology for real-world use. Similar programs have been conducted in Europe and the U.S.

At an April 2013 NTSB forum on batteries, a Saft representative says the company tests every one of the cells it produces—something not all cell makers can say.

Stranded energy refers to the residual charge or stored energy left in a battery after an automobile accident that cannot be directly accessed but still poses a potential shock or fire hazard.