Automotive Archives – Page 37 of 37

Ford, U-M work on accelerating hybrid development

By Newsroom

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October 29, 2009

Researchers from the University of Michigan and Ford are working together to turn your hybrid car into a math equation. The idea is to find the optimal levels for fuel economy, parts lifespan, comfort, and overall driveability for hybrid power systems, a technology that is still in its infancy. "Once we have developed a mathematical model of the power system and what Ford engineers are trying to optimize, we can tell them what the optimal efficiency is," says Jessy Grizzle, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan who is working on the project with U-M PhD student Daniel Opila.The bottom line is in trying to figure out the best way to meet a customer's needs and increase satisfaction level. This includes maximizing fuel efficiency, but not at the expense of wearing out the drive train or other parts.Source: Jessy Grizzle, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Latest in Automotive

Video A2 Mech Shop

By Keith Jefferies

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Economic Development

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October 22, 2009

It's all about playing nice together. Concentrate has reported on everything from food co-ops, to co-living communities to co-working facilities. It only seems fair to throw a little love to the A2Mech Shop, a shared technical space for entrepreneurial engineers and innovative mech heads.

New DOD contract bolsters Waltonen Engineering’s growth

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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October 22, 2009

More engineers are coming to Warren these days, and part of that is thanks to Waltonen Engineering.The Warren-based firm, founded in 1957, recently won a Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with the United States Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Warren. That will allow it to bid on more military contracts, giving it more opportunity for growth and hiring within the next five years.The company has been on a bit of a hiring tear lately. It has beefed up its staff of more than 100 people by 40 percent in the last year and also has a few people at an office in Germany. That growth is expected to continue in a number of sectors as new business warrants it.Waltonen Engineering has diversified its client portfolio to include projects in the automotive, defense, aerospace, and medical device sectors."Our growth has been across all of these areas," says Thomas Laboda, director of business for Waltonen Engineering.Source: Thomas Laboda, director of business for Waltonen EngineeringWriter: Jon Zemke

GM opens new advanced battery lab in Warren

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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June 11, 2009

It looks like the consolation prize could turn into a very good thing for Warren. The inner-ring suburb wasn't successful in luring General Motors headquarters away from Detroit to GM's Tech Center in Warren, but it was able to land the next best thing – a coveted advanced battery lab.The Global Battery Systems Lab is special because it will develop new advanced automotive batteries (think lithium-ion batteries) along with the electric plug-in, fuel cell, and hybrid cars designed to use them, such as the Chevrolet Volt. The new facility will use 33,000 square feet of the Tech Center, which is about four times larger than GM's last Tech Center-based battery lab. More than 1,000 engineers are expected to work on batteries.The lab, which is inside GM's Alternative Energy Center facility, became operational in May and is ready to begin conducting research. It has a number of environmentally friendly features, such as LED lighting and a floor made from recycled tires. Approximately 90 percent of the electricity used for battery testing can be recycled back to the local energy grid for use by homeowners and businesses.Source: General MotorsWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M Dearborn welcomes Connected Vehicle Proving Center

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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June 4, 2009

The Connected Vehicle Proving Center is moving from Ann Arbor to Dearborn, but still staying within the shadow of the University of Michigan.The center is making its new home at UM-Dearborn's College of Engineering and Computer Science. It previously was located at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.The center is a state-launched, independent initiative focused on growing state industries that develop safer, more efficient vehicles and roads. Think of the companies and research that allows cars and roads to talk to each other electronically. The idea is to help prevent accidents and streamline automotive logistics on highways.The center got its start in 2006 with money from Michigan's 21st Century Jobs Fund. It is meant to serve as a one-stop shop for product development, testing and evaluation of this emerging technology. The move to UM-Dearborn allows the center to collaborate with the university's Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems, laboratories, garage, research facilities, and staff that work with the world's major automakers.Source: University of Michigan-DearbornWriter: Jon Zemke