Automobile

Automobile Electronics Miniaturization and systems integration lie at the forefront of automobile electronics design, which is itself driven by a demand for vehicles with higher fuel efficiency, improved safety, seamless connectivity, and autonomous functionality. Subsequently, circuit design has evolved to meet demands for higher energy output. With smaller electronic components and a higher energy density, thermal management becomes a concern. Since the smaller devices have less surface available to act as a heatsink, dissipating heat from these systems remains an operating and safety challenge. Thermal management is an evolving branch of vehicle design that uses advanced  thermal interface materials  (TIMs) to facilitate better heat conduction away from circuits. Thermal Management Inside Vehicle Cabins Some of the main heat-generating electronic components inside the passenger compartment are: Vehicle Infotainment Systems These highly integrated, powerful systems with mult...

  1. Requirement gathering and analysis: Development teams examine the functional and performance needs of the electric vehicle powertrain system at the outset of the process. At this point, it’s important to comprehend how the various parts of the powertrain will work together as well as how the control software will operate the entire system to meet objectives like performance, safety, efficiency, and range optimization. 2.   Control Design and Architecture: Creating the control system architecture comes next after defining the requirements. This involves defining the control logic and creating algorithms that can manage the intricacies of the powertrain, such as coordinating motor control and controlling energy flows. At this point, interactions with further parts, such as the battery and transmission systems, are also specified. 3. Model-Based Design: Model-Based Design (MBD) is used in this situation. The powertrain system’s physical components are represented mathematica...

  Exhaust emissions are a mixture of different gases and particles emitted by vehicles when the engine is running.  These emissions can reduce the quality of the air around us, particularly in big cities that are congested with cars.  The combination of exhaust fumes and other particulates released into the atmosphere are a major factor of global warming. According to the the UK Government's Transport and Environment Statistics 2024, domestic transport is the largest contributor to our total greenhouse gas emissions, at 28% in 2022. These emissions also include harmless chemicals such as oxygen, nitrogen and water. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the one we’ve all heard of, but there are other less well-known substances coming from our cars that are damaging. Vehicle exhaust gases and pollutants Cars emit a potent cocktail of exhaust gases, many of which have harmful effects. They include: Carbon dioxide (CO2)  – CO2 is a greenhouse gas, thought to be a major contr...

Advancements in vehicle braking systems are primarily being shaped by the industry megatrends of electrification and autonomy. ZF is a world leader in braking systems for both light and commercial vehicles following the acquisition of WABCO last year – for the purposes of this discussion we will concentrate more on the light vehicle market but ZF is now a major player for larger trucks globally for both the base air and hydraulic braking systems and foundation brakes where we see drum brakes being replaced by air disc brakes at a rate of more than 5 percent per year in selected markets. ZF also has an outstanding offering of electronic braking systems supporting applications like automatic emergency braking with our OnGuard suite of collision mitigation products. On the light vehicle side, the drivers of technology are similar and ZF is at the forefront of developments. Future braking systems must be powertrain independent as they can no longer rely on the vacuum supplied by internal c...

  The Biodiesel Association of India (BDAI) has warned that the country’s biodiesel industry is facing a “severe crisis” following repeated breaches of government assurances under the 2018 National Biofuel Policy, non-purchase of biodiesel by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and steep price cuts. Under the National Policy on Biofuels notified in June 2018, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had assured entrepreneurs that all biodiesel produced would be purchased, with mandatory blending targets later fixed in September 2022. Relying on these commitments, over 150 MSME units set up biodiesel plants across India. However, the industry alleges that OMCs failed to lift supplies despite issuing Letters of Intent, forcing many firms into heavy losses. Matters worsened in March 2025 when the KPMG-managed pricing mechanism was scrapped and tenders were reissued at ₹80 per litre—over ₹21 lower than the previous formula—despite a sharp rise in raw material costs. While ethanol blending...

  Expanding the use of thermoset composites in the automotive industry The use of composite materials in the automotive industry has increased in recent years. The use continues to grow and Mar-Bal, a leader in thermoset compound products, meets the sophisticated requirements of this highly-engineered industry. With use on exterior and interior vehicle parts, thermoset compounds offer lighter weight, durability, and a host of benefits to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Mar-Bal relies on its proven commitment to quality, accuracy, and timeliness to produce the compounds and components this changing industry needs today and tomorrow. The Environmental Protection Agency took a strong stand in 2012 when it mandated that the U.S. auto fleet average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. This legislation was designed to lessen reliance on foreign oil and reduce auto emissions. Automotive scientists and engineers knew they would have to find new ways to lighten the weight of automobiles ...

  The automotive industry is poised to get a tech update. Like other software-enabled devices that are an inseparable part of our daily lives, our cars will also become a part of a technology-forward ecosystem. From voice commands to cloud services, the trends in the industry signal towards an interconnected web of devices, which includes our cars. History For the last century, automakers have focused on the mechanical side of car development, leaving software to third parties. But times have changed and software now plays a central role in our daily lives. People rely heavily on it—whether it is their mobile phones, televisions, household appliances or vehicles. What The Future Holds Software will become the primary profit growth driver for automakers across the globe. Automobile manufacturers will eventually become technology or software companies. Their primary goal will be to improve the user’s experience inside the vehicle. The vehicle will be an extension of the everyday devi...

  The Importance of Cooling Before we delve into the intricacies of the cooling system, let’s first understand why it’s so crucial. Your car’s engine generates a tremendous amount of  heat  as it operates. Without a proper cooling system, this heat can quickly build up and cause severe damage to vital engine components. Components of the Cooling System The cooling system’s primary function is to dissipate this heat and maintain the engine’s operating temperature within a safe range. Here are some of the main components: Radiator:  The radiator is perhaps the most recognizable component of the cooling system. It’s essentially a heat exchanger that helps dissipate heat from the engine coolant. As hot coolant flows through the radiator, air passing through its fins helps cool it down before it returns to the engine. Water Pump:  The water pump is responsible for circulating coolant throughout the engine and the radiator. It ensures that coolant flows continuously, ...