Using Simcenter Amesim™ software, Simcenter Engineering experts and Honda set out to develop a new prediction technique and a new evaluation method for engine restart vibrations. Honda can now accurately predict the entire powertrain restart process, beginning with the vehicle controls signals causing a certain in-cylinder pressure, which then results into driveline torque, particular suspension and powertrain bushing interface forces and eventually body vibration shock.

One of these startups is Karma Automotive, a California-based carmaker that rose from the ashes (or rather assets) of Fisker Automotive in 2014. In the resurrection process, Karma managed to preserve the good and overcome the bad: they retained the beautiful Italian design of their cars, which held a lot of appeal to their customers, but significantly upgraded the technology. The result is a luxury electric hybrid sedan that maintains much of the original exterior and interior of the Fisker Karma, but incorporates an A123 battery, charger and electrical controls. It is “the car you drive when you want to be seen,” says Bob Kruse, chief technical officer of Karma Automotive.

The world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope is finally scheduled for launch, on Christmas Eve. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been in the works for decades, and its gold-plated, 21-foot mirror is capable of exploring much farther out into space than its predecessor, the famous Hubble Space Telescope. After many delays and years of waiting, for many, it seems almost unbelievable that it’s finally about to happen.

The same applies for durability engineers. Technology evolves so quickly that holding on to traditional processes and methodologies actually equals standing still. I hear you thinking: “I’m doing well, my business is stable.” But can you keep up? Your customers are getting more demanding, and your competitors are always close. It requires an effort to keep moving forward, innovate, and search new solutions or methodologies. But it pays off!

Today, vehicle electrification represents one of the major pillars to help reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. From the early days, there’s been a lot of effort to reduce the overall cost of the battery pack and increase its energy density. Above all, this was essential to offer commercially competitive electric vehicles (xEVs), compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE)-based vehicles. It was critical to reduce the consumer’s range anxiety, or in simple terms, remove the fear of being flat in the middle of the Mojave Desert.

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, constituting roughly 75% of all normal matter. Our own sun is 75% Hydrogen and 25% helium. Hydrogen is about three times as energy-dense as natural gas (which is principally methane) and more than twice as energy-dense as gasoline. Burning hydrogen is much cleaner than burning hydrocarbons. When mixed with pure oxygen it only produces water as a by-product of combustion.