Electric racer: Germany's e-Wolf.

The Chinese government is also committed to promoting alternative auto fuels, so many of the futuristic ideas presented at the market research company IDTechEx's Electric Vehicles 2011 conference in Stuttgart, Germany could have practical applications in China.

One example is energy harvesting solutions like photovoltaics on the roof or the whole skin of a vehicle to make it run, according to IDTechEx Analyst, Harry Zervos. "That produces the energy for subsystems like air conditioning or sound systems and thus unburdens the battery, providing particular opportunities for China."

Zervos: China controls lanthanum.

Zervos said Chinese companies are well positioned in advanced crystalline solar cell technology, while another great market opportunity is the growing global demand for battery packs.

"China controls more than 95% of the worldwide resources of lanthanum which gives it pole position in the market for battery packs used in electric vehicles," Zervos said. Lanthanum is an intermetallic component of nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries which are used by several electric automobile producers.

"But to prosper in this market, Chinese suppliers have to achieve very high quality demands and this could be a problem," Zervos added.

Developing powerful but safe batteries has been a key challenge for Chinese automakers so far. "Some of what they have produced is dangerous, not just unreliable and short lived. For example, batteries in [China-made] cars have exploded more than 10 times during experiments," claimed the research company, quoting the China business magazine Caijing.

	Norwegian vehicle with 120 km range.

E-bikes lead the way

The Chinese government sees electric cars as an important market where it can generate huge exports. However, electrically-powered bicycles are expected to remain the main electrical vehicle market for China in consumer terms for a long time, said experts at the conference.

With the exception of the last couple of years, the market for so-called e-bikes was concentrated in China, Japan and the EU. IDTechEx analysts said sales will hit 130 million a year up to 2025, making this sector one of the world's largest electrical industries.

"China is the biggest stakeholder in the worldwide e-bike market," said Zervos. "There are 3,000 manufacturers, of whom 200 are quite sizeable."

E-bikes remain in demand.		Art of compromise: half bike, half car from Switzerland.

He sees opportunities in the coming decade for these manufacturers, where they replace lead acid batteries which are used today with high energy, lithium-ion battery cells which are produced at low cost in China.

Lithium-ion battery technologies are also starting to replace the older and lower energy density lead acid and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in electric vehicles. The result should be an increase in production volumes and a parallel drop in prices, since battery prices have been at the heart of resistance to this class of vehicle.

Drive for e-mobility

Noise measuring equipment at the show.

In fact, nearly all leading car manufacturers are now focusing on developments in electric vehicle sales.

The conference and exhibition were held under the theme "Electric Vehicles - Land, Sea, Air Europe 2011" and it was no co-incidence that it took place in the stronghold of the German automobile industry, Stuttgart, on 28 and 29 June.

UK-based engineering firm Antonov Plc outlined its three-speed transmission, designed specifically for electric vehicles. The transmission promises to bring significant efficiency gains and a better driver experience.

So far, most electric vehicles have featured a single speed transmission, with efficiency developed through the embedded electric motor at different speeds.

Antonov wanted to optimise efficiency at all speeds by adding a multi-speed transmission to the EV drive train.

According to Business Development Manager Dave Paul the three-speed transmission improved efficiencies by 14.7% in tests, while delivering the same performance of the base line vehicle, which translates to a greater range or alternatively, a smaller battery pack.

Antonov took the technology award for the most significant electric vehicle technical development over the past two years.

Component "shrinkage" a challenge

	Rugged fuel system for airport luggage vehicle.

"Currently, the key enabling technologies in electric vehicles are motors, batteries and control systems but within the next 10 years technologies like energy harvesting, supercapacitors and range extenders (that replace internal combustion engines in hybrids) will gain importance," said Peter Harrop, Chairman of IDTechEx.

According to Harrop, the traction battery will be replaced by a supercapacitor and the skin of the vehicles by so-called "smart skin". For example Japanese giant Honda has gone into production with new, flexible photovoltaics because of the potential for use in its electric vehicles.

Another trend outlined by IDTechEx is the adoption of AC motors. Traction motors have become mainly AC induction rather than DC, though DC motors are still favoured for high speed, as with electric aircraft, and high power as with buses.

Also many in-wheel motors are DC. Adoption of AC motors started with golf carts and forklifts but now this is true for most of the leading electric cars from GM, BMW, Fiat, Ford and others, with Toyota also switching over for new models.

The all-electric Tesla Roadster is said to be able to achieve a battery-to-wheel efficiency of 88% with AC, three times better than a conventional car.

Tesla being re-fuelled.		Better battery capacity for Opel.

Other reasons for AC include inherent safety, avoiding the need for permanent magnets and therefore scarce neodymium, and improved reliability and durability. This also provides regenerative braking and the equivalent by air and sea, without extra parts.

A major issue discussed in Stuttgart was the application of range extender technologies. Gerrit Riemer, Director for Future Mobility with German car manufacturer Opel, presented the Opel Ampera, an electric car that will be brought to market in autumn 2011.

Snowmobile with range extender device.

The typical hybrid car uses an internal combustion engine as its prime source of energy, with intermittent support from a less powerful electric motor. In contrast, Ampera's prime mover is the super-efficient, battery-powered electric motor which uses the support of the on-board engine-generator only when necessary. The Ampera's price is set at Euros42,900 and interest is understood to be up to 5,000 orders already.

According to Riemer, pure electric vehicles are best for short distances and light loads. For longer distances and heavier loads vehicles will be developed which use advanced fuel cells burning hydrogen as range extenders.

IDTechEx also presented mini turbines burning almost any fuel being used as range extenders. A mini turbine range extender was used in the new Jaguar electric supercar. "Our mini turbines will be acting as range extenders in electric aircraft not just cars and other land vehicles," said Paul Barrett, Executive Chairman of Bladon Jets, the company backing the Jaguar mini turbine.

from special correspondent Silke Thole, Stuttgart