Author Archives: markandrewpreston

“Designing a new BEV: all I can predict is that I will be wrong!”

I was talking to a Programme Manager for a future battery electric vehicle (BEV) and the only thing she knew for certain was whatever she designed would be wrong!  It’s difficult predicting the future and it seems that predicting the right way to go in the electrification of vehicles is an art not a science. “IfContinue reading ““Designing a new BEV: all I can predict is that I will be wrong!””

Formtech E1 – Lightweight Concepts for Future EV’s – Future Car Body 2012 Bad Neuheim

I presented Formtech’s lightweight concept at the recent Future Car Body last week in Bad Neuheim in Germany.  An interesting event looking at lightweight concepts of the future. The presentation looked at concepts that were developed during the creation of the Formtech E1 EV research concept vehicle.  We approached the development from the ground upContinue reading “Formtech E1 – Lightweight Concepts for Future EV’s – Future Car Body 2012 Bad Neuheim”

Formtech launches the E1 research concept EV

Formtech created a vision of EV when they launched the E1 atFrankfurt’s IAA Motorshow in September.  The research study provides the base for a number of concepts in lightweighting technology using composites, high-end materials and machining. Formtech’s EV started out as a concept for the companies CEO Franz Hilmer, “I wanted to develop a carContinue reading “Formtech launches the E1 research concept EV”

Megacities and EV’s

I recently looked into what it would take to own a Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt/Ampera in a city.  I live in the centre of Oxford in the UK and have a membership of a car sharing organisation (Commonwheels) which has a number of cars just nearby.  I have done a lot of research intoContinue reading “Megacities and EV’s”

Randomness and Excitement – Part II

As a follow on to my blog last year where I discussed how randomness drives excitement in F1, the first few races of 2011 certainly provided some interesting racing with KERs, DRS and Pirelli providing a set of variables that the teams have not yet completely mastered. However as I was watching the German GP recently IContinue reading “Randomness and Excitement – Part II”