Printed Electronics in Asia - the hot sectors

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29 July 2010
Printed Electronics in Asia - the hot sectors
Cambridge, UK

Printed Electronics in Asia - the hot sectors

There are about 3,000 organizations worldwide actively involved in the development of printed electronics. By number of organizations, Europe has the edge over the U.S., then comes Asia. However, this disguises the fact that those involved in Asia tend to be large conglomerates that can invest much more than those in the West. Territories that are most active in these topics are Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan.

Displays

The display business is huge and there is significant progress and development by East Asian companies in a number of different printed display technologies. Over the past few years there has been some consolidation in OLEDs, for example, with LG buying Kodak's IP in this area and Sumitomo buying CDT. Earlier this year, Samsung underlined its commitment to OLEDs by announcing a $2.5 billion budget for OLED manufacture and others such as LG, Sony and Panasonic are also dedicated to this sector. The focus is on televisions and recent press announcements state that OLED TVs will become cost competitive with LCD TVs as early as 2014. Material and equipment supply is much more global however, with many companies in the West participating now in what will be a huge opportunity, particularly as it is expected to mimic the LCD market - which is currently more than $100 billion.

Display activity is not all about OLEDs, however, as Asian companies tie up the leaders in electrophoretics. PVI, having acquired E Ink, has chosen to rebrand itself using its acquirers company name, showing its dedication to the technology. In a recent interview with IDTechEx, E Ink confirmed that several Asian companies will launch colour e-readers this year. Display giant AUO purchased a 30% stake in SiPix, another e-paper vendor, who do their manufacturing in Taiwan and Wistron, also of Taiwan, acquired Dutch-based PolymerVision, working on foldable e-reading devices.

China has shown the way to reducing the cost of another printable display - AC Electroluminescent (ACEL) displays - with many companies based there able to produce even small quantities of large area ACEL displays for $10 a piece or less, including the driver electronics. These are widely used in promotional short term applications. Indeed, it is not difficult to find t-shirts in supermarkets bearing EL displays complete with microphones so that the display interacts with the environment.

Those involved in material and equipment supply need to pay attention to the region, as it will continue to be the territory where most displays are made. That is why IDTechEx is holding its annual Printed Electronics Asia event in Hong Kong, at the centre of all of this activity, with speakers from companies such as E Ink, Liquavista and Bridgestone.

Photovoltaics

Over recent years China has crept up to become the world's largest manufacturer of photovoltaics. Huge investment in silicon refining and manufacture has resulted in conventional silicon PV prices tumbling - to the point that some technologies such as a-Si thin film PV are struggling to compete. There is great interest in other forms of thin film PV which can see costs fall further or enable new markets through new form factors such as semi-transparency and flexibility.



Read full news @ http://www.evhub.biz/idtechex/printed-electronics-in-asia---the-hot-sectors

Future of Electric Vehicles USA 2010 - Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities

Why Exhibit?

Meet, network and do business with senior level decision makers from across the value chain. Exhibiting at the event will give you the highest possible profile to a world-wide audience. Already plans are in place to make this show an international series of events crossing borders and ensuring a growth in new business and attendees at each of our show. By exhibiting you will be able to piggyback our international PR and marketing campaigns across key media before the event, showcase and network at the event and benefit from our post show coverage. Enter our Future of Electric Vehicles Awards programme and you could also benefit from unrivalled peer-review and enjoy the additional global attention.Speaker program and exhibition floorplan released. Sign up now and ensure you have the best stand position.

Read full news @ http://www.evhub.biz/idtechex 

EVHUB signed as Media partner to " Future of Electric Vehicles " conference in Sanjose

It gives me immense pleasure to share with you that EVHUB.IN has signed as Media partner to " Future of Electric Vehicles" conference which is going to be conducted on 7th and 8th Dec, 2010 in Sanjose, CA, USA.
This event being conducted by IDTechEx.Com.

For more information on the event go to http://www.evhub.biz/idtechex

No Gas Required

WINTER HAVEN - His car, for comparisons sake, gets 80 miles to a "gallon." But, the car doesn't run on gasoline; it's a 2001 Toyota Rav4 Electric Vehicle (EV).

Gary Francis figures the electricity it takes to recharge the car costs $3, which takes three to five hours, depending on how much it needs. A full charge allows him to travel about 80 miles - hence, the 80 miles for $3, near the current price for a gallon of gas.

"I want to educate people about what a great car it is. I wish everyone could own one," Francis said. "It is better than a gas powered car for many reasons."

He became interested and started learning about electric cars from Al Lococo, who also is a Winter Haven resident. Lococo has converted cars from gas to electric for his own personal use and Francis set out to get him to do the same for him.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/161#161

Electric vehicles real life testing by Thierry Koskas

Renault might not be the first car manufacturer to market electric cars, as Fluence ZE and Kangoo ZE will hit the road mid 2011, but in order to give a flavour of those exciting models, a lot of pre series cars will be seen on European roads this year.

Starting this month we intend to visit 16 countries, including Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, UK, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and Nordic countries, up until February next year.

The roadshow, that will comprise 10 electric cars and a dedicated Renault team, will give some 2,000 people – media, national and local authorities and opinion leaders – a chance to get behind the wheel of Renault's two prototype electric vehicles and experience the difference.


Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/160#160

Which electric car will win?

The Chevrolet Volt andNissanLeaf will square off later this year in a battle that could determine the course of the 21st-Century auto industry.

The Volt and Leaf electric cars take two radically different approaches to reducing oil consumption and emissions. The compact Volt will cover 40 miles on a charge and use an on-board generator for longer trips. The subcompact Leaf’s bigger battery pack promises a 100-mile range but won’t be capable of longer trips and will require hours of charging time after a long drive.
The vehicles’ prices will also differ significantly. Nissan has announced the Leaf will retail for $25,280, after a $7,500 federal tax credit. Chevrolet has not revealed the Volt’s sticker price, but it’s expected to cost around $32,500 after the same tax credit.
The Volt arrives in dealerships this November. The Leaf follows a month later.
The cars represent multibillion-dollar bets by GM and Renault-Nissan. The winner will be the early leader in a new technology that’s expected to eventually dominate the worldwide auto industry.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/159#159

AMP seeks dealers for electric vehicles

BLUE ASH

- As it prepares for next week's final competition for the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, local electric vehicle converter

AMP Holdings Inc.

is planning to establishing a sales and service network among General Motors dealers.

AMP officials say they have retained a former GM executive, Mark Valerio, as a consultant to develop its dealer network.
"As we move forward with a GM car to sell, it makes sense we have GM dealers do the sales and service," said Steve Burns, AMP's CEO.
Launched in 2007 to convert gas-powered vehicles to all-electric drive, AMP (originally Advanced Mechanical Products) has done conversions of Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice sports cars. It recently began converting Chevrolet Equinox SUVs to all-electric drives.
At GM, Valerio was involved in dealer network development, real estate image management and dealer franchising for GM brands in the Northeast.
Burns, one of AMP's founders, said he couldn't disclose the number of GM dealers it hopes to recruit or timing for the effort.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/158#158

Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric, coming late 2011, about $30,000 before gov't incentives

CAPTION

By H. Darr Beiser, USAT

Mitsubishi says it, too, will have a pure-battery car in the U.S. before long -- well, fall of next year. Called i-MiEV (innovative Mitsubishi Electric Vehicle), it'll be more than a year behind the Nissan Leaf's planned U.S. launch late this year.

Even so, it'll be among the first wave of true electrics aimed at showroom shoppers rather than fleet operators. Mitsu forecasts a price of about $30,000 before any government clean-car incentives are applied. Nissan's Leaf is $32,780 before the federal $7,500 tax credit. Nissan notes that at least three states -- California, Georgia and Oregon -- offer their own tax credits.

GM says it'll have the Chevy Volt electric sedan out this December, roughly same time as Leaf. Volt runs entirely on electricity, but unlike the others it carries a small gasoline engine that kicks in to run a generator for power when the batteries get low. Leaf and i-MiEV both claim about 100 miles on a charge. Volt is 40 miles, then the gas engine takes over.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/157#157

Citroen mulls building electric racecar (concept car Friday)

First unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, the Citroen Survolt is a techno-organic beauty with its tasteful use of color, sharp creases, and flowing curves. Beneath those curves, the concept packs dual electric motors that convert flowing electrons into a combined 300 horsepower and enough twisting force (738 pound-feet, to be exact) to motivate the Survolt silently to 62 mph in less than five seconds and onward to a reported top speed of 162mph.

The concept's twin 31 kW lithium ion batteries should enable it to cover 124 miles between two hour charging cycles with a vehicle specific high-output charger (or a 10-hour charge from a 220-volt appliance outlet). However, the most interesting tidbit is that Citroen is reportedly considering producing the electric racecar, albeit in limited quantities.

Read this News @ http://www.evhub.in/news/156#156

Will Electric Cars Catch On?

Currently, the U.S. government has a sort of 'if you build them, they will come' attitude towards electric vehicles. Just yesterday, the President appeared at the opening of a new electric battery plant in Michigan, which benefitted from stimulus funds. Electric cars also qualify for generous tax rebates up to $7,500. Yet, an article in the Wall Street Journal argues that consumers in the U.S. might not be quick to embrace electronic cars. Is the government making a poor bet?

Here's the WSJ explaining a major obstacle:

Proponents of the technology will tell you that anyone buying an electric vehicle will want to know at least two things: How far can I drive before I have to recharge? And, where can I go to recharge when I am on the road, far from home? Companies acknowledge that clear answers to those questions aren't yet available--and may not be until a good while after the coming flock of electric cars has hit showrooms.

Of course, there are other obstacles as well. Americans have developed an appetite for giant, fast cars. Most electronic vehicles are on the small side and don't have the same zip. It isn't easy to change cultural norms. So is the industry doomed, despite the government assistance?

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/155#155

Are electric cars ready to transform Britain’s motoring in the Age of Energy?

There's little doubt that electric vehicles will play an important role in the Age of Energy, eradicating emissions at street level at the same time as cutting costs for motorists.

By Andrew Cave
Published: 6:42PM BST 15 Jul 2010

Andrew Cave in an electric car

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/154#154

Toyota-Tesla plan to build electric RAV4 shows partnership is serious

Electric SUV is the first project announced by the companies since Toyota purchased about 3% of Tesla for $50 million this year, a move that had raised eyebrows.

A plan to sell an electric version of Toyota's RAV4 sport utility vehicle two years from now demonstrates that the alliance between Tesla Motors Inc. and the Japanese automaker is more than just window dressing, analysts said.
Tesla and Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that they were developing the vehicle and that Tesla was working on a fleet of prototypes to begin testing.
The venture is the first project announced by the companies since Toyota purchased 3.2% of Tesla for $50 million this year.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/153#153

Hamilton: Electric cars coming, but can California take charge?

There are two things I couldn’t help but notice last week during a brief trip to Los Angeles. One was the earthquake that shook my hotel room and scared the bejesus out of me. The second was the number of hybrid-electric vehicles on the road.

Californians like their hybrid-electric cars, and it’s widely expected they will become the earliest adopters of a new generation of plug-in electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf and the Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

For companies developing the charging infrastructure and electric cars themselves, this makes California an attractive place to sink roots. And sinking roots they are, something Michigan and Ontario should be watching closely.

Credit, of course, goes to electric car maverick Tesla Motors, which raised $226 million (U.S.) late last month in an initial public offering. Some say Tesla, which is based in Palo Alto, Calif., is the catalyst for turning Silicon Valley into the new Detroit.

Elon Musk, co-founder and chief executive of Tesla, says his company has vision, is nimble and is willing to bet big. “We’re a Silicon Valley company, closer to an Apple or a Google than to a GM or Ford in the way we operate,” Musk said last month during an investor road show. “I don’t think that’s something that GM or Ford is going to be able to replicate – ever.”

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/152#152

Eco-friendly cars to cruise

PLAINFIELD -- Every Tuesday night classic cars line Lockport Street for a weekly cruise night, but tonight a different kind of auto show is coming to the Plainfield Public Library.

The library will host a Green Car Show, sponsored by Waste Management, at 7 p.m. in the parking lot, featuring hybrid and fuel-efficient cars.

The free car show is part of the village's Green Village lecture series, which is sponsored by Illinois Landscape Supply.

Local dealerships will showcase vehicles and will be on-hand to talk about the vehicles.

Among the green vehicles are hybrid cars, which use both gas-powered engines and rechargeable electric motors, clean diesel vehicles and highly fuel-efficient gas-powered cars.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/151#151

Electric Car-Makers Develop 'Cartones'

(NewsCore) - Select first gear and “vroom”, off you go. Or would you prefer to go “whoosh”? Or “zoom”? The choice may soon be yours, it was revealed Sunday, with electric-car makers tailoring engine noises so their vehicles don’t endanger pedestrians who cannot hear them.

While investigating different noises manufacturers realized they could offer customized sounds to individual buyers. After ringtones, here come the car tones, and as well as the classic “vroom” noises, researchers have been playing with sounds from films such as "Star Trek" and "Blade Runner."

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/150#150

Electric cars push is on in China

China’s new rebates forelectricvehicles in five large cities put the world on notice that the economic Goliath wants to clean its filthy air and curb its appetite for imported oil.

Chinese consumers receive $8,800 off an all-electric car, or $7,320 off a plug-in hybrid. Chinese consumers have shunned first-generation gas-electric hybrids because they cost nearly twice as much as gas-engine equivalents.
But it will take more than subsidies to catapult China to a leadership role in electric vehicle technology.
Americans buying the electric-poweredChevrolet Volt or Nissan Leaf will receive $7,500 tax credits. Buyers of conventional gas-electrics qualify for smaller credits.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/149#149

Port Orchard Charging Ahead of Most on Electric Vehicle Technology

PORT ORCHARD —

The city of Port Orchard plans to install an electric vehicle charging station in the downtown area.

City officials hope to appeal to a growing market of Seattle-area electric car owners, who may be more apt to visit the town — and spend money — if they know they can get back at the end of the day.

Mayor Lary Coppola will meet in the coming month with representatives of Electric Transportation Engineering, or eTec, a company that is working with Nissan and the U.S. Department of Energy to install a network of charging stations across the nation by 2013. Nissan is involved because it is introducing a much-hyped electric car, the Leaf, in December.

Seattle is among a handful of test cities, most on the West Coast, chosen to initiate the EV (electric vehicle) Project. Electric Transportation Engineering received a $99.8 million stimulus grant to install the stations. About 2,200 to 2,300 of them will be in the Puget Sound area, said Linda Streissguth of Puget Sound Energy, which is working with Nissan and eTec to deploy the stations.

Port Orchard and PSE officials have to determine the suitability of a proposed city-owned site near the Port Orchard Marina and waterfront parking lot. The property has an underground vault with wiring that would support a charging station, said Coppola, a former electrician who is also a freelance writer for automotive industry publications.

“We see this as a cutting-edge opportunity for new economic development and a natural expansion of the city’s evolving green initiative I introduced at the beginning of this year,” Coppola said.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/148#148

Toyota, Tesla Said to Prepare RAV4, RX Prototypes

July 12 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. and its electric- car affiliate Tesla Motors Inc. will use the Japanese automaker’s RAV4 and Lexus RX crossovers as their first jointly developed battery-powered test models, a person familiar with the matter said.

Toyota will receive two prototypes this month, Tesla said July 10 without elaborating. While Toyota also aims to test an electric Corolla, the RAV4 and RX are better suited to the weight of Tesla’s battery pack, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the models haven’t been announced yet.

Toyota’s President Akio Toyoda said last week the partnership with Tesla, maker of the $109,000 electric Roadster, is the first of several the Toyota City, Japan-based company wants to pursue in advanced auto technologies. Toyota, the world’s largest seller of hybrid autos, bought a $50 million stake in Palo Alto, California-based Tesla this month.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/147#147

Electric Automobile options coming soon!

The auto industry has been scrambling to find ways and technology to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Over the past 10 years, the automobile has changed dramatically from large SUVs ruling the roads to cars so small they could be mistaken for an enclosed golf cart -- or even a go cart. The first push to reduce dependence was ethanol and hybrids. Both would prove to help bridge that gap, although some consumers would find it hard to justify the cost of buying a hybrid versus a similar model for several thousands less. For 2010 and 2011, we should see a wave of electric vehicles hitting the show room floors.

Ford, Chevy and Nissan will probably be the first to sell electric vehicles in the United States. Although limited on a charge, they may prove beneficial in certain situations allowing companies to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gases. All three of the auto companies mentioned above are bringing at least one electric-powered car or van to consumers by the end of 2010. The neat thing is that they are very similar but also different in terms of what they are designed to do.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/146#146

Articles which may be of interest to you. 

Pros & Cons of Electric Vehicles @ http://evcontest.evhub.biz/article-archives/pros-cons-of-electric-vehicles

Switch on your six sense for Electric vehicles @ http://evcontest.evhub.biz/article-archives/switch-on-your-six-sense-for-electric-vehicles

Petition To Supreme Court Of India To Issue Direction To Government To Promote Electric Vehicles @ http://www.evhub.in/content/petition-to-supreme-court-of-india-to-issue-direction-to-government-to-promote-electric-vehicles/

India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr. Ananth , M.M. Technologies , Mysore @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles/

India Ready for Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr.Ananth part 2 @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles-by-mrananth---2/

Brushless DC Motors - Technology For Future Transportation. Read this article @ http://www.evhub.in/content/brushless-dc-motors---technology-for-future-transportation/

How About Creating An Electric Vehicle Platform For Individuals Businesses And Like Minded People @ http://www.evhub.in/content/how-about-creating-an-electric-vehicle-platform-for-individuals-businesses-and-like-minded-people/

An Esoteric Presentation On Electric Bikes In India @ http://www.evhub.in/content/an-esoteric-presentation-on-electric-bikes-in-india/

The Gullwing Goes Electric

Mercedes debuts a prototype of the AMG E-Cell Gullwing that features four electric motors promising 0 to 100 km/h speeds of 4 seconds

The Audi e-tron has been at the top of our list of awesome electric cars for some time. Now there's a new contender — the SLS AMG E-CELL. Mercedes-AMG hinted at the possibility of an electric drive SLS gullwing last year and has now rolled-out a prototype which looks set for small series production. Along with a very hard to miss fluorescent "AMG lumilectric magno" paint job, the prototype features four electric motors positioned near each of the wheels which produce 392 kW and 880 Nm of instantaneous torque and acceleration of zero to 100 km/h in 4 seconds — just 0.2 seconds under the performance of the 6.3-litre V8 SLS AMG.
Instead of hub motors, the gullwing SLS E-CELL uses four compact electric motors positioned near to the wheels (two for each axle) to reduce unsprung weight. Each motor achieve a maximum rpm of 12,000/rpm for a combined output of 392 kW.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/145#145

Articles which may be of interest to you. 

Pros & Cons of Electric Vehicles @ http://evcontest.evhub.biz/article-archives/pros-cons-of-electric-vehicles

Switch on your six sense for Electric vehicles @ http://evcontest.evhub.biz/article-archives/switch-on-your-six-sense-for-electric-vehicles

Petition To Supreme Court Of India To Issue Direction To Government To Promote Electric Vehicles @ http://www.evhub.in/content/petition-to-supreme-court-of-india-to-issue-direction-to-government-to-promote-electric-vehicles/

Brushless DC Motors - Technology For Future Transportation. Read this article @ http://www.evhub.in/content/brushless-dc-motors---technology-for-future-transportation/

How About Creating An Electric Vehicle Platform For Individuals Businesses And Like Minded People @ http://www.evhub.in/content/how-about-creating-an-electric-vehicle-platform-for-individuals-businesses-and-like-minded-people/

An Esoteric Presentation On Electric Bikes In India @ http://www.evhub.in/content/an-esoteric-presentation-on-electric-bikes-in-india/