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Laser Automotive Lighting
Laser Automotive Lighting
February 14, 2014 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Competitors, Factors, Lighting, New Entrants, Regulatory Trends, Substitute Products & Services, Supply Chains, Systems, Technology, Topics, TrendsOne comment
The incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison in 1879 has shown remarkable longevity in automotive applications. Automotive LED applications had a market leadership position for almost a decade. In the near-future automotive lighting market innovation will soon be pioneered by lasers. The market reign of LEDs is not coming to an end already, but it’s notorious position as a technology leader might soon be threatened. Lasers will become the next generation of automotive lighting technology. Read more
Vehicle Companion Peripheral Systems
Vehicle Companion Peripheral Systems
February 10, 2014 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Factors, Substitute Products & Services, Support, Systems, Technology, Technology Trends, Topics, TrendsOne comment
Automotive systems and modules have been used mostly in order to manage automotive complexity. The current trend indicates that the next generation of vehicle systems will be peripheral companion systems, which complement future automotive requirements. Read more
Volvo New Power Concept Replaces Conventional Batteries
Volvo New Power Concept Replaces Conventional Batteries
October 21, 2013 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Electrical, Factors, Substitute Products & Services, Systems, Technology, Technology Trends, Topics, TrendsOne comment
Volvo has developed a new concept for storing electrical power using car body panels instead of a traditional battery. It may be a few years away from production, but it’s a very smart concept. Volvo is working together with independent research groups to develop a means of energy storage for future electric cars that does away completely with traditional battery and super capacitor systems, which typically carry considerable weight and take up a lot of space. The solution is a new type of material that integrates nano-structured batteries and super capacitors together with carbon fibre, which can be formed into body panels for a car. Read more
Lapa: Social Lost & Found
Lapa: Social Lost & Found
October 2, 2013 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Factors, Infotainment, Manufacturing, New Entrants, Substitute Products & Services, Systems, Technology, Technology Trends, Topics, TrendsNo comments
Losing your car keys can be more than just inconvenient; it can also be very expensive. But what can you do to avoid losing a set of keys? The best thing, of course, is to not lose them in the first place, but a recent survey found that 26% of drivers have suffered such a mishap. And one in 20 has been a victim of car key theft. Misplace your keys often? Better break yourself of that habit if your car has smart key technology. Lost or stolen keys can prove expensive and increasingly advanced car key systems mean the cost of getting a spare set has been rising. Read more
Upcycling Car Parts
Upcycling Car Parts
March 14, 2013 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Commodities & Other Resources, Design, Environment, Factors, Manufacturing, Needs & Demands, Style, Substitute Products & Services, Topics, TrendsNo comments
Upcycling Car Parts: Taking a car part that would otherwise go to waste and finding a way to make it into something else/useful. Two of the most basic terms in the automotive Eco-Design field are ‘Cradle to Grave’ and ‘Cradle to Cradle’. They relate to the product life cycle from the raw materials (Cradle) to disposal (Grave). Cradle-to-Grave A term used in life-cycle analysis to describe the entire life of a material or product up to the point of disposal Cradle-to-Cradle A model of industrial systems in which material flows cyclically in appropriate, continuous biological or technical nutrient cycles. All waste materials are productively re-incorporated into new production and use phases. Read more
Glowing Infotainment Roads
Glowing Infotainment Roads
November 5, 2012 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Design, Factors, Infotainment, Substitute Products & Services, Systems, Technology, Technology Trends, Topics, TrendsNo comments
A smart-road design that features glow-in-the-dark tarmac and illuminated weather indicators. Smart Highway is a futuristic concept that incorporates glow-in-the-dark technology into the road to make them safer for drivers. Although this would seem like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, the Smart Highway is set to be realised mid-November 2013 in the Netherlands. In addition to the glowing roads, it will boast Dynamic Paint, Interactive Lights, an Induction Priority Lane and Wind Lights. Read more
Silvercar Airport Car Rental
Airport Car Rental 2.0
November 5, 2012 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Consumer, Factors, New Entrants, Substitute Products & Services, Topics, Transport, TrendsNo comments
Silvercar aims to streamline the car rental process by offering a new disruptive business service The brainchild of one of Zipcar’s founders Silvercar has raised a first round of funding to in its attempt to disrupt the dismal airport car rental experience. There’s been a lot of excitement in Silicon Valley lately over new disruptive automotive business ideas. We are witnessing a new generation of companies breathing new life into everything from taxi services to auto repair. In particular, startups like RelayRides, GetAround, Wheelz, Zipcar, RideJoy, SideCar, Lyft and Uber – to name a few – are leveraging collaborative consumption and peer-to-peer models to bring a new buzz to traditional automotive business models. Read more
New e-fuels developed by Audi
Audi Pioneers Fuel Alternatives Using Waste Water
October 12, 2012 | Posted by Anthony Spark in Engine, Factors, New Entrants, Substitute Products & Services, Supply, Systems, Topics, TrendsNo comments
Audi engineers have contributed to a breakthrough of almost miraculous proportions by helping to develop fuels for the TFSI and TDI engines of the very near future using nothing more than lengths of ordinary-looking pipe, waste CO2, sunlight and microscopic organisms suspended in waste water. Read more
