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No more molecules! Companies continue to invest in new chemistries for EV batteries, but at least one company in the battery industry thinks it's time to halt the unending search for new chemical formulations and focus on driving down processing costs.

Argonne heats up Li-ion battery research The U.S. Department of Energy lab near Chicago is using federal stimulus money to dive deeper into lithium battery research. Lithium-ion battery industry moves forward From technology advances to manufacturing capacity expansions, the foundation of the lithium-ion battery industry is becoming stronger and more viable.

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.

Integration opens the door Semiconductor suppliers are integrating many functions into power devices while also cutting power consumption in an environment, automotive doors, where 8-bit microcontrollers still hold sway.

UMich-Ann Arbor team takes home Baja season's Iron Team Award Cornell University also had a strong 2014 season, but not strong enough to fend off Michigan Baja Racing. Georgia Tech and Warsaw University were double-winners at SAE Aero Design competitions University of Akron and University of Cincinnati were the other winners at the twin 3-class competitions, the former setting a record in the process. West Coast teams win 2 of 3 Formula SAE events Oregon State captures its fifth crown while Jose State enjoys its first overall victory and UPenn tops the electric field. Taking action early to conquer the STEM crisis Interest in STEM subjects falls precipitously as students progress through elementary and middle school.

Buckeye Current's TT triumph The Ohio State University reprised its third-place finish in the 2014 TT Zero for all-electric motorcycles, beating some of the pros on the world's toughest race circuit. Kettering FSAE team improved as season progressed Lowest priced may not mean the best, but certainly not the worst. Leveling the field: getting #girlsinstem Despite facing the brunt of gender segregation, women are forging ahead and dramatically improving STE M, both academically and professionally. Mercedes-AMG's SLS departure opens door to new GT Powering the car is an all-new biturbo 4.0-L V8 available with two power levels: hot (GT) at 340 kW (456 hp) and exceedingly hot (GTS) at 375 kW (503 hp).

Originality revs up Formula SAE Michigan teams More than 100 Formula SAE teams vied for top honors at the annual Michigan competition that spotlights one-of-a-kind open-wheel racecars designed and built by student engineers. American manufacturing in the hands of UNF students University of North Florida students design and build Formula vehicles for nationwide competition focused on challenging the minds of future engineers. Solar EV thunder down under Michigan is aiming for its first victory in next month's 2013 World Solar Challenge with a new asymmetrical racecar that is ready for 1860 mi (2990 km) in the Australian sun. Solar Impulse Team's next challenge: to circle the globe The next world-girdling version of the fuel-less flier will rely on featherweight polymers and composites.

Shed a few joules with better aerodynamics A team of engineering students from Laval University has managed to reduce the energy demand due to wind resistance of its Supermileage vehicle by 10% after carefully designing a new vehicle body with a 25% larger frontal area. Telemetry helps Formula SAE team close the loop on design Once a year, a team of students at Virginia Tech get to do something that ought to put a grin on any aspiring engineer's face: build a racecar. Unconventional steel wheel designs The drawings done by collegiate students for a steel wheel design competition had industry professionals thinking about future production possibilities.

ETS Baja parts failure analysis: Geared for success When the ETS Baja team had to withdraw from the Baja Auburn 2012 event due to abnormal gear failure, an extensive analysis was required to ensure that problems of this nature would not surface again. After some serious investigation, the conclusion of almost 30 hours of research was unexpected and proved surprisingly simple. Body and soul rule at 2012 Formula SAE Months before the Formula SAE Michigan competition in May, teams were hashing out product development decisions. The end-game was presenting a racecar that had the right stuff for earning high points in the challenge's vehicle design evaluation as well as the acceleration, skid pad, endurance, and autocross dynamic performance events.

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.

Engineering a turnaround After months of financial turmoil and a scarcity of jobs, new engineers may finally be finding some relief about life after college. Do you have what it takes? When the stress of a school project becomes too much to handle, passion and determination can take you a long way. Bloodhound on the land speed record trail One thousand miles per hour is the ambitious target for Project Bloodhound SSC (super sonic car). A record run is planned for August 2011 at the Hakskeen Pan, in Northern Cape province, South Africa. Where the rubber meets the road and grease meets the fingernails Participants in SAE International's Collegiate Design Series (CDS) generally lack in one significant area: sleep.

The advent of stop-start technology As environmental concerns grow for R&D teams, OEMs look to bring the strategy further into the mainstream. Recycling opportunities for hybrid/electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries With limited reserves and strict environmental regulations, re-cyclers look to established extraction means to reuse, recycle, and dispose of the used batteries. Cameras look to go the distance Automakers seek vision systems with greater distances, improved reliability, and more functionality, thanks to ruggedized complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technologies. Getting right with composites With composites now a mainstay in most new aircraft de-signs, the engineering emphasis has switched from understanding if they work to thinking through the most efficient way to manufacture them, such as using design-for-manufacturing software.

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.

Uncertainty quantification The technique is a must for next-generation simulation tools. Oil-pump sizing Researchers from Hinduja Tech investigate options for low friction and power consumption. The future of Indian commercial aviation The growth in traffic that airport modernization has supported has also made a significant contribution to the local and national economies, while the improved infrastructure has been positive for the perception of India in the global market. Driving EVs toward lower cost The race ison to reduce battery and electric-drive systems cost while improving efficiency. Powering on Rolls-Royce's Chief Engineer discusses new technologies that inspire current R&D design and evaluation work as part of its strategic roadmap for future big commercial programs. HMIs extend beyond the cab Telematic functions are being integrated into multi-function user interfaces.

Oil debris monitoring in aero engines In a gas turbine engine, small particles or "chips" are generated at the point of wear, serving as an advanced warning that catastrophic failure will occur if the wear is not addressed. Health monitoring systems, such as oil debris monitoring, are used to find these small particles so that the wear can be resolved before it's too late. Indigenous powertrain development Customer needs and expectations on drivability, fuel economy, and safety has pushed Indian and multinational OEMs to think about the development of powertrains and gearboxes for local needs with global standards. The next wave of crash simulation As computing speed has improved and software itself has made significant speed and performance gains with each release, modeling tools are now quick enough to build high-quality, large, high-detail vehicle models in a very efficient manner.

Knowledge wins at 2017 Formula SAE Lincoln The University of Pennsylvania and Texas A&M win the Electric and Internal Combustion Classes, respectively. Flying high at SAE Aero Design New for the twin 2017 competitions in Texas and Florida was a requirement for planes registered in the Regular Class to carry "passengers." Pedal to the metal at Formula SAE Michigan More than 100 university teams compete in this premier student racecar design competition combining static and dynamic events. Removing bumps on the path to fully automated driving Inaugural workshop for new AutoDrive Challenge student competition held at SAE World Headquarters.

Getting an engineering foundation through Formula SAE Having an underclassman with no leadership experience as team captain proved to be no hindrance to the University of Texas-Arlington Formula SAE team. Experience and innovation walk hand in hand Team from Pontifical Catholic University carries success in native Brazil to U.S. in SAE Aero Design competition. 'Complete, finish, win' University of Stuttgart team rides that motto to victories and podium finishes by the dozen.

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.

A greener future for two-wheelers New BS VI emissions standards for two-wheelers are an enviro-opportunity. Additive manufacturing How 3D printing will transform the A&D support chain. Autonomous plows ahead Agriculture, construction, mining-even marine-are advancing autonomous technology to improve the productivity and safety of vehicles on the job. Bridging the power gap with 48 volts New 48-V technologies are poised to arrive in volume to help meet CO2 regulations and satisfy the "vampire" power demands of new electrical subsystems and accessories. Advances in lightweight electronics protection Conformal coatings increase reliability of aerospace and military assemblies.