More sustainable sea transport

According to the International Maritime Organization, in recent years the global maritime industry has improved its carbon footprint but the sector’s total greenhouse gas emissions are 90 percent higher than in 2008, so much so that last January in Europe the Emissions trading system “ETS” has also been applied to maritime transport. According to the Organization, it is necessary to have low-emission energy sources capable of providing at least five percent of the energy used by ships by 2030 and this is because the sector is continuously expanding and it…

Read More

Studies on hydrovoltaic

It is called hydrovoltaic and is based on the ability to produce electricity by exploiting the interaction of water with specific nanostructured materials. Working on this front is the Polytechnic School of Lausanne in Switzerland. The flows of fluids and ions due to water evaporation can generate electrostatic charges by interacting with a hexagonal network of silicon nanopillars, spaced in such a way as to create microchannels for the passage of water vapor. In laboratory tests, a power density of eight microwatts per square centimeter was measured using a low-concentration…

Read More

China is near, Europe is not

Editoriale di Furio Oldani – Macchine Motori 86 After nine months of investigations, on June 12th, the European Commission acknowledged the substantial subsidies that the Chinese government grants to its electric vehicle manufacturers, genuine gifts that allow brands from the Celestial Empire to sell in Europe below production cost. Hence the decision to impose additional tariffs ranging between approximately 17 and 38 percent on top of the existing ten percent. This measure would take effect on July 4th, and since today is June 18th, it is currently unclear whether it…

Read More

Cummins “X15” engine: 700 horsepower

cummins x15

522 kilowatts of power, equivalent to just under 710 horsepower, and torque reaching 3200 newton-meters. With such performance, Cummins presented the new version of its 15-liter displacement “Next Gen X15” units at the largest French construction fair, Intermat, last April. These engines were developed to meet off-highway applications by implementing the latest technologies developed by Cummins and realized on the “Helm” platform. This solution allows different cylinder heads and fuel systems to be associated with a single engine block, structuring the engine to accommodate different types of fuel. From diesel…

Read More

Ces 2024, near future preview

On January 9th of this year, the 2024 edition of CES, the consumer electronics trade show that has become a showcase for new technologies, was held in Las Vegas, United States. The absolute protagonist was artificial intelligence. In these pages, a summary of the two themes proposed on-site and most debated, which will surely impact the world of transportation as well: hydrogen and human-machine interface software. Following are the most interesting products from a design perspective. Since in most cases these are concepts and therefore feasibility studies, it is anticipated…

Read More

Airbus “CityAirbus NextGen”, urban specialization

Under the influence of ecologically-driven initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of urban mobility for both people and goods, the aeronautical sector is witnessing a diversification in air transport solutions and the development of a new generation of aircraft specialized in short-range travel. “Advanced Air Mobility” is the term coined for this new category of aircraft, although it’s somewhat misleading to define them as such, given their specialization in facilitating the movement of people and goods within large cities or areas with operational radii of just a few dozen kilometers.…

Read More

Fpt Industrial and Longen Power have signed a new partnership

Fpt Industrial and Longen Power have signed a global partnership agreement for the export of engines compliant with various emission standards in different regions of the world, thus inaugurating a new phase of collaboration. Fang Tingwang, President of Longen Power, and Riccardo Pavani, Head of China Powertrain Commercial Operations, were present at the signing ceremony. The New Partnership The agreement stipulates that over the next three years, FPT Industrial will supply engines for Longen Power’s gensets, and both companies will collaborate to promote the use and development of power generators and industrial power…

Read More

Dacia “Duster” m.y. 2024: third generation

dacia duster

Among the most successful SUVs, the Dacia “Dunster” has been produced in over two million and 200 thousand units in just 14 years, with 300 thousand sold in Italy alone. Therefore, it’s a global success, achieved through a design strategy aimed at achieving the best possible quality/price ratio without sacrificing content and technology, a goal reaffirmed by the third generation of the vehicle presented at the end of 2023. True to its image but modernized in design and developed on the basis of the “Cmf-B” platform also adopted by other…

Read More

Interstellar “Cosmos”, innovation “Made in Japan”

Founded in 2005 by a diverse group of aerospace engineers, writers, and volunteers, Interstellar Technologies is a Japanese company established in 2019 and located on the island of Hokkaido. It was the first to launch a private carrier rocket capable of reaching space, a milestone achieved in 2021 and repeated twice thereafter. Now advancing further, the company focuses on developing new technologies to accelerate human activities in space, with a keen eye on environmental considerations. Among the most intriguing research areas is propulsion systems, with the “Cosmos” project standing out.…

Read More