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Why Volt? After 48 months' development, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt has enetered series production. The pioneering "E-REV" is as important to the mobility industry as it is to GM. Creating the heart of Volt GM's battery requirements meant creating new state-of-the-art in-vehicle engery storage - and doing it in less than four years. Top GM and supplier engineers reveal how they did it. Engineering with maniacal focus A dedicated, cohesive team and a conservative engineering approach put this innovative vehicle into production at moon-shot speed. A unique electrified transaxle Hybrid or not? Definitions aside, what really matters is GM wisely leveraged its next-generation Two Mode propulsion technology to give Volt greater overall efficiency. Sweating the body details Extensive wind-tunnel work gave Volt a shape that's slicker than it looks. But engineers aren't happy with the curb weight.

Hydrogen generates buzz in power generation Companies target stationary power applications to prove their hydrogen technology and to build scale until infrastructure expands for mobility. 'Mixed' approach to e-truck manufacturing Volvo Group CTO details the OEM's "mixed model assembly" strategy for battery and fuel-cell electric vehicles and provides insights on infrastructure and the transition to autonomous. Innovation at the intersection of disciplines Caterpillar alum Sri Srinath, Ph.D., focuses on more collaboration and mentoring in his new role as 2022 SAE International president.

Over-the-air affair Remote updating of software and firmware on commercial trucks and off-highway machines is on the rise, not only for maintenance functions but also to add new features like operator-assist technology. Developments in engine-based gensets With demand for generator sets steady and regulatory change settling, suppliers can rationalize their offerings and push improvements in areas like noise abatement and economy. Testing, testing and even more testing The commercial-vehicle market is eager to adopt more ADAS and automated-driving innovations, but before those technologies get to the road they must first pass rigorous testing practices that prove their efficacy. Smart and connected powertrains FPT Tech Day reveals multi-power Cursor X concept, other "4.0 innovations" for hydrogen fuel cell, electric and natural gas propulsion.

Headliners from Las Vegas Big reveals abounded at the triennial CONEXPO trade show. Following are some of the most notable unveilings from the desert. Cat doubles down on diesel with new C13D platform Deere pursues electric construction machines and charging infrastructure JCB debuts clean-sheet hydrogen combustion engine Volvo CE unveils electric asphalt compactor, announces NA arrival of L350H loader Honda reveals next-gen Autonomous Work Vehicle Deere 3D-prints fuel valves for tractors HP's binder jetting technology and GKN's manufacturing expertise helped John Deere realize its first 3D-printed metal part for mass production. Returning to the SAE presidency for 2023 Setting a "prudently aggressive" mindset in advancing SAE's goals in the mobility ecosystem.

Predicting mobility in military operational scenarios U.S. Army leads a seven-year, multinational effort to develop new off-road vehicle mobility analysis methodology. Hitting the gas on hydrogen tech OEMs and global suppliers still are betting big on hydrogen propulsion as a solution for decarbonizing the heavy-duty trucking industry. BEV truck manufacturers charge ahead Several companies announced new product offerings and prototypes of BEVs at the NTEA Work Truck Week in Indianapolis. Editorial Maintaining EV chargers yet another challenge Precision tech the 'backbone' to CNH's digital strategy Purdue prototypes new EV fast-charge cable 3DEO unveils metal 3D-printing platform for mass production Paccar launches new 18-speed automated transmissions Lightning's eChassis targets commercial EVs Quantron launches 12-m battery-electric bus; fuel-cell variant to follow Q&A Chemours' Christina Spalding shares insights on the commercial-vehicle industry's shift to R-1234yf HVAC refrigerant.

Material selection for battery enclosures Mass reduction is the main reason BEV makers choose aluminum for battery enclosures, but cost and thermal requirements favor steel and polymer composites. Startup targets medium-duty EVs Atlis Motors purpose-engineers nearly all the vital components for an electric pickup and platform capable of spanning several market segments. High-voltage hybrids FEV engineers evaluate 48V and high-voltage parallel hybrid architectures for Class 6-7 commercial vehicles. Certain setups show more promise than others. Hemphill's mission: Support the innovation ecosystem Schaeffler America CTO Jeff Hemphill brings impressive technical chops and well-honed communication skills to his new role as 2021 SAE International president.

Connectivity takes center stage Telematic links have become the norm, helping fleet owners and operators improve efficiency and letting OEMs predict component failures. More power, less noise, fewer emissions These key attributes drive development of new generators both big and small. TARDEC pursues advanced power generation U.S. Army, GM collaborate on fuel-cell-generated electricity to power the vehicle's propulsion system and onboard electronics, while providing off-vehicle power via an Exportable Power Take-Off unit. Developing an alternative engine concept Ricardo's CryoPower engine leverages two unique combustion techniques for reduced emissions and fuel consumption-liquid nitrogen and split combustion. Long-haul trucking and stationary power generation will be the first beneficiaries of the technologies. Technology time-warp The road to autonomous driving has been under construction for decades, as showcased by SAE's Mobility History Committee at the 2018 WCX in Detroit.

Connectivity continues its advance More OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers are focusing on embedded telematic systems, hoping to displace aftermarket hardware. Tailoring fuel injection to control NOx The next big step to help heavy-duty diesel engines meet stricter emissions regulations involves adapting the fuel-injection system to the combustion needs. Active on safety Crash-avoidance technologies are vital "building blocks" to automate commercial vehicles, implement truck platooning and ultimately achieve zero accidents. Engineering with simulation and data Companies are discovering new simulation techniques, especially optimization; the next step is to combine simulation with sensor data and predictive analytics to create even more robust off-highway equipment.

Off-highway hybrids: Opportunities and challenges With oil prices declining and emissions regulations in North America 'stabilized,' is there a place for hybrid powertrains in this new world of cheap oil? Looking for a better image Display advances are helping to reduce operator fatigue. Charging up electrified powertrains Control technologies race forward while batteries improve and adopt standard sizes. Measuring and accounting for suspension TARDEC teamed with SEA Ltd. to develop a system to measure the suspension parameters, center of gravity, and moments of inertia of wheeled vehicles in the never ending quest to model and predict vehicle dynamic behavior. Looking at mobility in 2050 Cuneyt L. Oge begins his term as 2016 SAE International President with a vision about the future of auto- and aero-mobility.

Heavy-duty composite brake crack prediction Engineers used both analytical and dynamometer data to determine the damage tolerance of a selectively reinforced aluminum MMC brake drum, which provided some answers but left a lot of questions.

Enlisting aluminum The need for lighter weight and better efficiency has led to oncreased application of aluminum armor plate for military vehicles.

A quiet revolution Optimizing design, while minimizing NVH, in off-highway equipment and systems. Inferential sensing Engineers propose an onboard electronics hardware and software architecture that can deliver condition-based maintenance solutions in a low-cost platform. Lightweight but heavy duty A look at the design, analysis, testing, and application engineering performed to develop a selectively reinforced brake drum made of aluminum metal matrix composite. Shifting gears smoothly Ric Kleine, a 30-year veteran of Cummins Inc. and former SAE Commercial Vehicle VP, seeks continuity over change as he moves into SAE's driver's seat.

Lightweight, heavy-duty protection Next-generation military ground vehicles are being designed with materials that make them lighter for mobility while stronger to resist explosive impacts.

Hydrogen possibilities Using hydrogen in an internal-combustion engine application requires not only a custom-engineered combustion concept, but also optimized operation strategies. Nets catch on Engineers have been slow to adopt networks, but that is changing quickly as electronically controlled engines take hold. Hydraulic matters There is much potential for gain for everyone if OEMs and suppliers work together early in terms of hydraulic system design. Asia hot on new cooling technology Not tied as much to aluminum as is the West, china and Russia are moving fast toward widespread use of copper and brass for radiators. Build, test, teview, and improve SAE 100 Future Look; Frank Perna, Chairman and CEo of MSC. Software writes about his experience in vehicle engineering, testing, and management positions.

Hydrostatic transmissions in conventional envelopes Kubota designed a hydrostatic transmission for a compact tractor to improve operator control and increase efficiency and productivity. Design of a hydraulic free-piston engine Dutch companies Noax and Innas have developed an engine in which nearly all combustion energy is directly converted into hydraulic energy. Optimizing tractive performance Canadian researchers correlate analytical predictions and experimental data to determine that the proper matching of front- and rear-tire sizes, aswell as careful control of inflation pressure and normal load of the tires, is necessary to achieve optimum tractive performance of four-wheel-drive tractors. Actively suspending off-road vehicles The University of Texas Center for Electromechanics evaluated a retrofit electromechanical active suspension that s hows promise of improved cross-country mobility for military vehicles.

SAE Supermileage champ achieves 2158 mpg Teams of collegiate engineering students show pathways to amazing vehicle fuel efficiency inthe 32nd annual competition, making the top 10 meant beating 500 mpg! Engineer employment study reveals positive hiring trends A recent study from SAE analysts suggests that the future may be looking up for mobility engineers on the job hunt. Oklahoma's active Aero attack Students at the University of Oklahoma have spurred new ideas for aerodynamics development in Formula SAE with their newest wing package. SJSU grad, GM engineer receives Rumbaugh Award Rumbaugh Award recipient Randy Floresca says being involved with SAE was key to securing his current job. Electronics take the lead in the motorcycle race Bike-industry engineers are integrating electronic and electrical technologies in the quest for higher performance, more features-and zero emissions.

SMACing the automotive industry: from concept to consumer Technology is making a more significant impact on today's auto industry. Perhaps one of the most notable examples is the development of connected technologies coupled with social, mobile, analytics, and cloud (SMAC) technologies. The 3i paradigm: India's story The concept of ideation, incubation, and implementation is enhancing the growth of the Indian automotive industry. Virtualization for automotive IVI systems As the demand for modern in-vehicle infotainment systems grows, automakers are increasingly looking toward virtualization as a solution to bridge the gap between consumer and automotive electronics. Command Center: Securing connected cars of the future automotive An architectural approach to minimize connectivity interfaces acts as a secure, intelligent gateway between the car and external devices/networks to better guard against malicious or sensitive data from being compromised.

Synergistic opportunities abound The horizontal deployment of technologies and knowledge evident in mass-market personal mobility needs to be scaled up in magnitude and performance for commercial vehicles. Q&A with Dr. V Sumantran The Hinduja Group's Executive Vice Chairman talks about his company's award-winning vehicle and related commercial-vehicle topics. The future of electric and hybrid vehicles in India Technical and political challenges alike have held back the electric and hybrid market, but there are signs of hope.

Next-BIG-Thing Clemson students, with the help Mazda and others, show their concept for practical Gen Y targeted car that could be marketed at a price of about $28,000. Collision welding An academic group at The Ohio State University is developing breakthrough new high energy density methods for enabling dissimilar metal joints. Carbon fiber, new aluminum structure lighten 2014 Corvette Stingray The C7, which enters production in 3Q13, boasts an all-new aluminum chassis/passenger cell structure that is 57% stiffer in torsion and 99 lb (45 kg) lighter than the previous C6 steel-and-aluminum structure.

Q&A with Dr. Pawan Goenka The Executive Director & President-- Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. answers questions on a range of subjects such as auto fuel efficiency, emissions, alternative fuels, safety, telematics, manufacturing, and sustainability. Advances in surface engineering Newer materials with improved properties can enhance the properties of the working surfaces of cylinder components for the demands of increased temperatures, pressures, and corrosive atmospheres and still satisfy performance and life requirements. E-mobility opportunities in the Indian ecosphere The Prime Minister of India in January 2013 unveiled the National Mission on Electric Mobility and formed a National Board of Electric Mobility to fast track e-mobility for India through industry-government partnerships.