History of the Automatic Transmission General Motors and REO both released semi-automatic vehicle transmissions in 1934. These models posed fewer challenges than the traditional manual transmission but still required the use of a clutch to change gears. The GM transmission was the first of its kind to use a hydraulically controlled planetary gearbox, allowing the gears…
A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually used with internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or diesel. The National Emissions Standards Act, an amendment made in 1965 to the Clean Air Act, set the first federal vehicle emissions standards. Each state has regulations that…
When buying a car, there are lots of things that customers look at. The most important one being the engine power. That’s why some of the most common terms in car sales adverts are related to the engine. Some of them include brake horsepower(bhp), torque, cc, and horsepower(hp). For a car salesperson, understanding these terms…
A company from Edinburgh Scotland is building the worlds first hydraulic drone to address the shortcomings of conventional drones such as range and payload weight capacity. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was inspired by the U.K.S Royal National Lifeboat Institutions (RNLI) building a companion drone for offshore lifeboats challenge. At the moment flowcopter is the only UAV…
The combustion engine is, hands down, one of the most important inventions of all time. But, it comes with a very high cost to the environment – hazardous emissions. While many leaps in efficiency and emission control have been made over the decades, we can never fully eliminate the release of emissions like carbon dioxide…
Back in March of 2021 Audi announced it was halting the development of new combustion engines. The firm has now taken a step further toward its vision of carbon-neutral mobility by approving many of its current six-cylinder diesel engines for use with the renewable fuel HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil). The company has ambitious plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050. V6 engines on renewable…
Airbus’ double-decker A380 has plenty of space for hydrogen fuel tanks. The European aviation giant aims to test a hydrogen engine on a modified A380 by 2026, as it strives to lower its emissions amid global efforts to curb fossil fuel consumption. A hydrogen-fueled giant of the skies Airbus explains that it’s working with engine…
SLOW SPEED – REAR STEER MODE At slow speeds, the rear wheels turn in the direction opposite to the front wheels. This mode comes in particularly useful in case of pickup trucks and buses, more so when navigating hilly regions. It can reduce the turning circle radius by 25%, and can be equally effective in…
Have you heard of mega-casting? It’s a way for automakers to simplify the car-manufacturing process by replacing many small parts with one large metal casting. Swedish automaker Volvo Cars is investing 10 billion ($1.1 billion) Swedish Kronas (SEK) in its Torslanda manufacturing plant in Sweden to add mega-casting to its processes. Volvo now mega-casting “The introduction of mega-casting of…
For years now firms have been promising to deliver on hydrogen engines, claiming that hydrogen is the clean fuel of the future. However, we have seen little in terms of development. This could all soon change. Carmakers Toyota and Yamaha have joined forces to develop a hydrogen-fueled 5.0-liter V8 engine, according to a statement released by Yamaha. A hydrogen-fueled…