Popular_Science_Australia_November_2016

Affordable electric

vehicles have struggled

to break the 350-km-

range barrier. General

Motors (no, not Tesla) is

getting there first. It

all comes down to the

battery: The Bolt’s 288-

cell, 60-kilowatt-hour

lithium-ion powerhouse

is heavy in nickel, which

boosts energy density

and extends range to

380 km. Liberal use

of aluminium in the

hood, doors, tailgate,

and suspension keep

the car from getting

weighed down.

The EV for

Everyone

B

2017 CHEVROLET

BOLT EV

Powerful as it is, a

turbocharger lags

before kicking in; it’s

asleep until exhaust

builds up to spool its

turbine, blasting

pressurised air into the

engine. The Audi SQ7 TDI

uses a 7-kilowatt

electric motor to spin its

turbine. Inspired by

Formula 1, the system

hits 70,000 rpm in less

than 0.25 seconds. For

now, the electric-

powered compressor

(EPC) is Europe-only.

We can’t wait for it

to head down under.

Full Turbo,

No Waiting

C

2017 AUDI

SQ7 TDI

Nearly half of all infant

car seats are improperly

installed, according to

the US Department of

Transportation. Cute-

named 4moms’ rear-

facing seat makes

installation idiot-proof.

The base contains

20 sensors, including

accelerometers and

gyros, that work with

motors to level the seat

and tighten the straps. As

long as the carrier is

snapped onto the base, it

will continually recheck

the fit. It’s also comfy:

The ergonomics are on

par with top baby carriers.

Foolproof

Infant Seat

A

4MOMS SELF-INSTALLING

CAR SEAT

AIRBUS APWORKS

LIGHT RIDER

D

Helping offset the heavy

battery in the APWorks

Light Rider is a fully

3D-printed body.

The prototype bike’s

skeletal aluminium frame

cuts the weight to a svelte

34 kilos— a 30 per cent

dip on conventional

manufacturing weight.

3D Printed

Motorcycle

C

B

A

28 POPULAR SCIENCE