Numerous start-up companies are attempting to carve out a niche in the green car market. Unfortunately, they face huge obstacles, such as the global recession, low gas prices and the credit crunch, that will limit their ability to succeed.
Lithium-ion batteries are today’s hot technology in the auto industry, yet most of the products are made overseas. But, the domestic battery manufacturing infrastructure will be getting a big boost thanks to several new assembly plants.
Manual assembly processes can be improved if engineers consider ergonomic guidelines that address job-related stressors such as force, position, repetition and vibration.
Recent economic turmoil, coupled with record oil prices, have forced automakers and suppliers to rethink their green strategy. But, new initiatives to build electric vehicles is creating a huge demand for batteries, electric motors and other types of components.
The Big Three dropped a bombshell at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. All three automakers have announced major green initiatives that will spur lithium-ion battery production.
Several weeks ago, I urged Congress to consider funding a domestic battery manufacturing program as part of its multibillion dollar auto industry bailout plan (see “Batteries Not Included”). Several lawmakers are urging their colleagues to include advanced battery manufacturing as part of the $800 billion economic recovery bill that’s expected to be signed into law next month by president-elect Obama.
Orthopedic device manufacturers have developed “gender knees,” which accommodate numerous shape differences between the average male and female knee, such as narrower shape and thinner density.
Knees are one of the most complex types of orthopedic implant to manufacture. Artificial knees must accommodate a range of motion up to 120 degrees, allowing them to naturally bend and rotate.
Medical engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have coated a titanium implant with a new biologically inspired material that enhances tissue healing, improves bone growth around the implant, and strengthens the attachment and integration of the implant to the bone.
For artificial implants to be successful, bone must meld to the metal that artificial hips, knees and shoulders are made of. A team of engineers at Brown University have discovered that bone cells are more apt to adhere to a rough carbon nanotube surface than other surfaces.