Lamborghini has released the first technical info concerning the new 12-cylinder supercar LB744 that will be soon unveiled integrally. The first super-sports hybrid plug-in V12 HPEV (High Performance Electrified Vehicle) will be then ready to make its debut in the year of the brand’s 60th anniversary. The car’s goal is defining a new paradigm in terms of performances, sport character and drive pleasure, also thanks to a new architecture and a powertrain exceeding 1000 HP, combining the power of a brand-new thermal motor with three electric motors and the first dual-clutch gearbox that makes its debut on a 12-cylinder Lamborghini.
Compared to the previous powertrain, V12 has been rotated by 180° and is no longer equipped with the transmission in the front part but instead downstream the engine block, connected with the only rear wheels. The physical transmission shaft is replaced by the lithium 3.8 kWh battery that powers the electrified front axis, rechargeable at 7 kW, taking around half an hour to fill up.
The overall weight is 193 Kg, which includes the integration of a new fundamental component in the vehicle’s hybrid architecture, the rear e-motor, which has a maximum power of 110 kW and maximum torque of 150 Nm.
Placed above the gearbox, the electric unit performs the tasks of starter and generator, besides supplying energy to the two front electric motors through the battery positioned under the tunnel, acting as boost in the full electric drive modality and allowing the zero-emission four-wheel drive, directly acting on the rear axle. The tasks vary depending on the drive modality inserted, through an uncoupling mechanism. For that reason, it is equipped with dedicated synchronizer, which allows the connection to the double-clutch gearbox. When it supports the action of the V12, the e-motor is in the position that is defined P3, with electric motor downstream the gearbox, whereas it shifts to P2 to recharge the battery when stationary or at low speeds and it acts also as starter motor.
Electric powertrains improve the power delivery at low revolutions and can also make the new LB744 a fully electric-traction car, reducing the overall CO2 emissions by 30% versus the Aventador Ultimae.
Supercar Lamborghini: the four-wheel drive makes its debut in full electric mode
Electric traction for Rome Police
The uniform of the Local Police Corps of Rome Capital is worn by 40 Jeep® Renegade 4xe vehicles, among the best-selling-models in Italy in the SUV LEV B-segment, the one of electric low-emissions or Plug-In Hybrid cars.
The fleet is characterized by SUV with Plug-In Hybrid technology and cars are equipped with 1.3 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and with rear electric motor, for an overall power of 190 HP. Due to electrification, Renegade – like the Jeep range in its whole – further improves its legendary capability, through the high driving torque ensured by the electric motor and the possibility of adjusting it with extreme precision in starting phases an in the most challenging off road drive, when a very low transmission ratio is necessary. With the new integral electric traction technology, the traction to the rear axle is not provided by the transmission shaft but by dedicated electric motor. This allows releasing the two axles and managing the torque delivered independently and better than with a mechanical system.
Flying will be as easy as drinking a glass of water
Recently, Peter Ternström, co-founder of Jetson company, with headquarters in Stockholm, has revealed that piloting one of his personal electric aircrafts is as easy as it seemed in cartoons and that learning needs just five minutes. The delivery of his Jetsone One will start from the end of 2023 and therefore what is announced is a great revolution in the airplane transport. The units already sold, at a cost that approaches 100,000 dollars, are already almost 500.
«It is super-intuitive. We have developed a fly-by-wire system that helps the pilot with functions like the automatic hovering, the stable flight and landing».
Let us take a step back: expert in the luxury car industry, Ternström has collaborated with the aerospace engineer Tomasz Patan to launch in 2017 the Jetson drone, equipped with a single-seat architecture “to make the flight available for all”. In fact, the regulations for that class of aircrafts do not impose flights close to airports or crowded areas and there is neither the need of a pilot licence. The drone weighs 86 kilos, it has an aluminium frame with eight electric motors that allow it to go on flying for about 20 minutes with maximum speed limited by the software of 100km/h. Pilots, who can weigh 95 kilos maximum, control the drone by means of joystick and accelerator.
Here is the yacht Sense 62
It comes from Holland and it is produced in Soel Yachts yards, a new electric and solar catamaran, 18.8-metre long, designed to obtain utmost comfort and high performance. Its name is Senses 62 high performance. Aesthetically appreciable, the solution adopted with solar panels integrated into the roof that generate 17.6 kWp of energy, equivalent to a maximum of 50 kWh.
Soel Yachts has developed a proprietary system of active cooling that increases solar panels’ energy production from 15 to 20%.
its Cruise version equips two electric 100-kW motors, 282-kWh lithium batteries and 100-kW generator set, providing a cruise speed of 8 knots and maximum speed of 10 knots. The Power version, instead, is equipped with 2 200-kW electric motors combined with a 424 kWh battery packs and 150-kW generator set. In this version the yacht can reach a cruise speed of 10 knots and a maximum speed of 14 knots.
The manufacturer informs that the transmission and propulsion system is in-house designed in collaboration with the long-term partner Naval DC whose founder, David Czap, is an expert in the field of electric system integration.
The challenge of decreasing the environmental impact, while keeping the comfort and performance level high, is highly successful, that is to say a catamaran that can reach the standards of a superyacht, but maintaining notably low management and maintenance costs in comparison with a conventional propulsion boat.
EU partnership, the steps forward by Avio Aero
The public-private EU partnership for the development of new technologies in the aeronautical sector, Clean Aviation, will invest 34 millions in the next four years in the consortium led by Avio Aero for the development of Amber demonstrator. It is a technological demonstrator for the hybrid-electric in Europe, an electric motor that will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which will give a fundamental contribution to the development process of motors for lower-emission civil aeronautics.
The mission of Amber demonstrator is developing, integrating and validating the necessary key technologies for the development of a hybrid-electric motor architecture powered by hydrogen fuel cells in the class of one megawatt. In particular, they will study the integration of the hybrid-electric components that include a motor/generator, power converters and power distribution systems, with fuel cells and Catalyst, innovative turboprop engine by Avio Aero, to carry out bench tests already during next years.
«To reach the climatic neutrality, we must do more with less energy, and aviation is no exception. Ambition of the European programme is driving a radical change in aircrafts’ performances, increasing their performance efficiency and decreasing their environmental impact. For regional transport aircrafts, the target is an improvement by at least 50% versus a standard current flight» the words by Axel Krein, Executive Director of Clean Aviation.
Clean Aviation’s partnership with sector industries, in fact, is precisely aimed at speeding up the introduction into the field of key technologies, such as electrification, to support the European Union’s efforts in favour of the sector decarbonization, with the zero-emission goal established by 2050.
Manufacturing excellence for Marelli motors that equip Maserati GranTurismo Folgore
The first electric car by Maserati brand is equipped with the forefront 800-V motors by Marelli – all featuring 300 kW of power -, developed in the course of two years and manufactured at Modugno, in Puglia, in a futuristic factory. The motors, one assembled on the front axle and two on the rear one, deliver a maximum installed power of 1200 HP, with power density of 9.2 kW/kg and maximum torque of 1350 Nm. It is a performance that can drive Maserati GranTurismo Folgore to over 300 kilometres/hour.
Marelli motors are made so performing by the manufacturing process: the rotor of the electric motor is subjected to a cryogenic cooling phase, in a chamber with temperature under -200 centigrade degrees to grant the perfect insertion of the shaft into the rotor pack.
Another innovative feature of Puglia factory is the use of an exclusive double process, of which one phase in 3D, for the stator manufacturing. Moreover, they carry out 70 quality tests, of which 41 fully automated, executed on the primary features along the whole manufacturing process.
Hannes Prenn, President and Chief Executive Officer – Vehicle Electrification Division, stated: «We are really proud of giving our technological contribution to a vehicle that marks a memorable time in the history of such an iconic brand like Maserati. Our consolidated technical know-how in the field of electric motors, combined with unceasing attention to innovation and well-rooted manufacturing skills, have represented key factors that have allowed us to develop the best solutions to assure the extraordinary performances of this unique car».
Formula E, the new electric motor by Lucid Motors
Novelties in the motorsport propulsion: the American Lucid Motors has just unveiled its innovative electric motor for motorsport, which already equips Formula E cars as a standard front power unit.
Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Group, declared: «With incredible power density of 14.7 hp/kg and immense energy recuperation, this drive unit will once again transform electric motorsports, following in the footsteps of our revolutionary battery pack in prior race seasons. This new motorsports drive unit builds directly upon the groundbreaking powertrain technology developed in-house by Lucid and proven on the road in every Lucid Air. I’m excited by the prospect that some of the technical advancements introduced may in turn make their way to future Lucid road cars».
The new propulsion system can then supply 476 HP of power and is composed by motor, inverter, differential and transmission, everything for an overall weight of 32 kg. The rotor reaches a maximum speed of 19,500 rpm and an advanced high-voltage continuous-wave winding and an exclusive microjet cooling system are present.
There is already some literature about that: the new traction unit, positioned in the front part of Gen3 single-seaters of Formula E, allows recovering energy from front wheels while braking, notably increasing performances and efficiency.
Flight with hydrogen electric motor? The partnership between H3 Dynamics and Hylium Industries
Joining their forces, the two companies H3 Dynamicsm with headquarters in France, and Hylium Industries, with head office in South Korea, have developed a first unmanned aircraft based on liquid H2, weighing just 25 kg, in a first attempt of transatlantic flight powered by a hydrogen electric motor.
Spotlights are cast on the solutions of storage and liquefaction of liquid Hylium hydrogen, and the nacelles with distributed hydrogen electric propulsion, ultra-light fuel cells, and the new hydrogen drone refuelling stations.
It is worth reminding that in November 2021, H3 Dynamics completed the first operating prototype of hydrogen propulsion nacelle and in July 2022 the first distributed pod system, installed on an aircraft on small scale, took off from “Hub Drones – Systematic” airport, in the outskirts of Paris. The autonomous nacelle approach by H3 Dynamics satisfies those technical, safety and cost problems that hydrogen aircraft developers might have to face in the future: positioning more compact hydrogen and fuel cells on a series of nacelles with collaborative propulsion under wings.
«Not only our first priority is safety, but we do not want that hydrogen takes away space for revenue-generating passenger and freight transport. The distribution of compact systems solves technical inconveniences such as the thermal management and increases safety through the multiple redundancy», affirmed Taras Wankewycz, founder and CEO of H3 Dynamics.
New steps towards electric boating
A motor that represents a development element for electric boating? Wave 300 was presented, an outboard motor with a power of around 300 HP, powered at 680 V, particularly advanced from the technological point of view and developed by Explomar, brand of Qingbo Exploration Energy Technology Co, company that is developing a project for the creation of hydrogen fuel cells.
Despite its 300 HP, WAVE 300 weighs 180 kg and has a modulable powertrain, with the quantity of variable HEDB – High Energy Density Lithium Batteries, which can be selected by users according to their autonomy requirements.
The cooling system is entrusted to a closed circuit that avoids the contact of whatever internal component of the motor with the sea water, protecting it against corrosive phenomena. The Chinese manufacturer’s promise is a very competitive price on the European market, too.
Four-wheel drive for Nissan X-Trail electric SUV
X-Trail is the last Suv presented by Nissan, in the four-wheel drive version it is pioneer in being equipped with the exclusive e-4ORCE and e-Power systems.
The new Nissan e-4ORCE technology is the evolution of the four-wheel drive on electric and electrified vehicles. The name allows guessing what are the novelties hidden behind this change of pace: a fully electric traction, 4 for the wheels that are moved by the two electric motors.
Nissan engineers have focused on three aspects: the joint operation of motors, frame control technologies and, last but not least, the study of case movements (roll, yaw and pitch) to minimize them in comparison with a conventional thermal vehicle.
The 4ORCE system is composed by two electric motors, one for each axis. The motor on the front axle can develop 150 kW (204 HP), the one on the rear axle 100 kW (136 HP), for 157 kW (213 HP) overall. They are managed by a sophisticated control unit able to adjust driving force and braking action on each single wheel.
Moreover, the motor allows the Suv to shift from 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds and, compared to a mechanical 4Ă—4 system, the drive regulation on the 4 wheels is 10,000-time higher, as well as reaction times.
The torque is constantly distributed on the two axles and having mounted two equivalent electric motors in terms of weight allows a mass distribution that approaches 50:50, synonym of more frame stability and better handiness.