Just imagine! What if something so interesting is discovered or invented that will bring about a drastic change in the car’s fuel system! Will it not be great to finally just break up with the petrol and diesel that we’ve been in a relationship with so long? Not to mention, their extremely annoyingly high prices have been a real burden? Well, there’s good news. We already know of plenty of hybrid and electric cars that are slowly trying to bring a change in the car industry. Now, Volvo has come up with something better.
Electric cars are nice, but they require a boot full of batteries, don’t they? The lithium-ion batteries are really heavy and reducing the weight of these batteries has been an arduous and time-consuming task for auto engineers. Luckily, we have a Swedish car maker experimenting with a new composite material that can hoard and discharge energy more quickly than a convention lithium-ion cell. Yes, it’s Volvo trying something different.
In fact, a group of nine European companies and organizations launched by the Imperial College in London and funded in part by the European Union is working on the development of the composite material. The revolutionary material would comprise carbon fibres and polymer resin. The composite material is believed to be both tough and compliant permitting it to substitute steel panels on cars in the future. With the elimination of the heavy batteries, the body structure is of course going to be lighter, and certainly there will be significant improvement in the overall efficiency.
Dr Emile Greenhalgh, the project co-ordinator who works in Imperial College London’s Department of Aeronautics said, “We are really excited about the potential of this new technology. We think the car of the future could be drawing power from its roof, its bonnet or even the door… Even the sat-nav could be powered by its own casing.”
The €3.4 million (approx. $4.65 million U.S.) project plan would be to boost the charging capacity of plug-in hybrid electric cars making them lighter and more energy efficient. The cars could then travel longer distances before experiencing the need to recharge. The carbon fibres and a polymer resin produce greater amounts of energy much more promptly than conventional batteries.
No chemical processes are involved which makes the recharging process too quicker than conventional batteries. In addition to the quickness, unlike conventional chemical batteries, the recharging here causes little degradation in the composite material.
Imperial has patented the material and researchers believe it could also be used as both battery and shell of consumer electronic devices like mobile phones and computers. Without conventional batteries, the devices could be smaller and more lightweight.
Currently, researchers are looking at developing it in order that it would replace the metal flooring in a car’s wheel well, and Volvo is already looking at the possibility of fitting the wheel well component into prototype cars for testing. The first priority, however, would be developing the material to store more energy and improve its mechanical properties by growing carbon nanotubes on the surface of the carbon fibres.
The question now remains if the composite material can be produced on an industrial scale. Well, let’s wait and see what happens, but it would be really good to see new cars coming with such advancements, especially when it’s got something to do with fuel.
While the automobile blogging community was still busy with the launch and reviews of the 
Bharat Stage IV emission norms came as the final nail in the coffin for a number of car models. While some are now content with their status outside the 13 great Indian cities, some bounced back and invaded the market with new force and vigour. The BS IV norms also forced Skoda to pull out the diesel version of the Fabia, but the facelifted Fabia is ready for a comeback now.
HSCI has just rolled out an exclusive version of the Honda City and the car has been named Honda City Exclusive. The car has been launched with superior and dynamic styling. The newly launched Honda City flaunts a host of new interior and exterior luxury features.
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