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MIT researchers rethink electric-car batteries

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say a new battery design for electric vehicles could be a lightweight and inexpensive alternative. The goal for the team's three-year project, launched in September 2010, is to have a functioning prototype ready to be engineered as a replacement for existing electric-car batteries. At this point in the project, the prototype uses a “semi-solid flow” to separate the two functions of a battery--storing energy and discharging it when needed--into separate physical structures.

Renault Formula E racer (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Formula E, the new elite racing series for electric single-seaters, has got the FIA’s backing, confirmed the major cities that will host the races, and now we've finally seen the crucial racecar. This is the Spark-Renault SRT_01E, a joint project developed between Renaultsport and Spark Racing Technology (SRT) which has just been unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. There’s also been input from F1 legends Williams and McLaren, plus Dallara (which builds all the cars for the IndyCar series in the US).

New Porsche 911 (2012): New photos, new video & 911 Configurator live

New Porsche 911 (2012) - New photos, new Video & Configurator The 2012 Porsche 911 will officially arrive in a couple of weeks time at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and Porsche are taking every opportunity to shove the latest 911 under our noses. And who can blame them? We had the official reveal of the new 911 just over a week ago, with plenty of detail and a decent amount of photos – enough to satiate the appetites of all but the 911 nutters until Frankfurt arrives.