The idea is that heat pumps prevent excess heat created by an EV’s battery and drivetrain from going to waste. They absorb the excess heat generated by EV‘s battery and drivetrain to improve the car‘s efficiency, range, and driving experience.

Porsche is still full speed ahead in taking on Tesla in the US, Volkswagen is doing the electric car reservation thing, and Hurricane Laura is pounding dealerships and everything else in Texas and Louisiana. All that and more in The Morning Shift for August 27, 2020.

While ordering a $35,000 Model 3 is technically possible, most Model 3s cost more and CEO Elon Musk appears set on the automaker building something more affordable. An Autocar report Tuesday suggests that car will be a Model 3 hatchback.

In an effort to maximize the overall efficiency of its new e-tron S model, Audi pushed hard on the aerodynamic development of the vehicle, to minimize drag both from the body and cooling system. Leveraging extensive CFD and wind tunnel testing, this resulted in an impressive level of detail engineering on the car’s aerodynamics.

Utilizing waste heat in EVs for functions such as cabin heating is key to maximizing the range of existing powertrain solutions. Manufacturers Kia and Hyundai claim to have been at the forefront of developing heat management systems for this purpose, having first introduced their heat pump technology in 2014 with the Kia Soul EV, and have now further developed this system’s heat management capabilities.

When you boil it down, improving the average fuel economy is super simple: Burn less fuel in the cylinder when cruising. Toward that end, engine developers have toiled to make lean mixtures work since way before Chrysler's Electronic Lean-Burn System of the mid-'70s. But getting such mixtures to ignite via the spark plug (in engines since the Model T) has been problematic. Now Torrance, California, startup Transient Plasma Systems is proposing a low-temperature plasma ignition system that it claims can replace the spark plug.

Expect to see some Special Vehicle Operations EVs and PHEVs debut in the next few years, but we don't know exactly when.

Around two-thirds of the 600-strong team have been working at home with remote technology but 40 specialized on-site facilities, including its 100km proving ground, are essential for work in the automotive and defense sectors.

Last week, General Motors posted a drop of 87 percent related to Q1 2020 net income. This is due to the fact that the automaker – much like all related companies – has been on a lengthy shutdown forced by the coronavirus outbreak.

If you were concerned the next-gen BMW 2-series coupe would go the way of the 2-series Gran Coupe, which shares a front-wheel-drive platform with Mini and the X1, we have great news: The upcoming model, slated for a late 2021 launch as a 2022 model, will very much keep its current configuration—and appeal.

lots of personal protective equipment and tons and tons of testing will be key to restarting the economy until people are inoculated from the virus.