Engineering sciences - Transport
Electric vehicles could catch on in Africa sooner than expected
A new study led by researchers at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in collaboration with African partners shows that electric vehicles could be economically competitive in many African countries before 2040 - just as long as charging infrastructure is developed and geared specifically towards solar powered off-grid systems.
Fast and easy charging of electric cars without cables
Automatic charging instead of plugging in cables: In a cooperative project, researchers investigated inductive charging of electric cars. This is not only similarly efficient to cable-based charging, but could also simplify the integration of vehicle batteries as flexible storage devices into the electricity grid. The first cars in Switzerland to be converted for inductive charging have already been approved for road use.
Anthony Patt, how can we boost e-mobility in Switzerland?
Only a few cars on Swiss roads are purely electric, and the fleet is still growing slowly. New taxes on e-cars are likely to slow down the switch in future. Anthony Patt explains how the mobility transition could nevertheless be accelerated.
How electric cars and heat pumps can help Switzerland implement its Energy Strategy
In future, flexibly operated heat pumps and electric cars could reduce both electricity imports and electricity prices. That is according to a new study by a Swiss research consortium led by ETH Zurich.
Redesigning junctions to protect cyclists
The measures introduced in Switzerland to improve protection for cyclists at intersections have their limits in practice, as a study by the University of Lausanne has shown. Many cyclists fear riding in the center of the lane at roundabouts, or hesitate to turn right at red lights when authorized. This may be due to a feeling of lack of legitimacy, fear of being stigmatized or fears for their safety.
