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Battery breakthrough set to accelerate electric-car development

A team of scientists working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are claiming a significant breakthrough in recharging times for lithium-ion batteries. According to findings published in the scientific journal Nature, MIT researchers Byoungwoo Kang and Gerbrand Ceder have unlocked the potential of lithium-ion batteries by patenting a unique process which is claimed to allow a typical laptop power pack to be fully recharged in less than a minute--an improvement in recharging performance of roughly 90 percent over existing lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries generate electric current via the flow of lithium ions across an electrolyte, from an electrode to a cathode.

Pagani Huayra in Purple with Tricolour Calipers (video)

We have video of what looks like a new build Pagani Huayra, still plastic wrapped, in purple with Italian Tricolour brake calipers. That’s because the Pagani Huayra has not, as far as we can tell, managed to get a European Certificate of Conformity or managed to be Federalised for the US, so sales are impossible. But Pagani are still producing a few cars – although they’ve probably built more Zondas in the last two years than Huayras – but it looks like this Huayra – caught on video outside Pagaini’s premises in Modena – is a new build.

Exclusive First Sight: Pininfarina Sergio concept

Upon receiving the call from Pininfarina's PR man, asking if Car Design News would like to head to Torino for a preview of its latest concept car (not a hard offer to accept), we had no other information than its name – Sergio – and an abstract teaser shot of a detail. Driving through lovely, crumbly Turin, and out into the zona industriale towards Pininfaina's Cambiano base, the fear strikes: what if the car's a disappointment? What if it's simply some unremarkable supermini – maybe even an electric one?