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.

Infiniti sets up global HQ in Hong Kong

Nissan Motor Co. is establishing a new global headquarters for its Infiniti luxury brand in Hong Kong, in a nod to the surging sales it expects from China. Infiniti, which is not sold as a separate brand in Japan, is currently run out of Nissan's worldwide office in Yokohama, Japan.

Noble M600 – launch soon?

The new Noble M600 caught testing in the UK and almost ready to launch Next up for Noble is the M600, which signifies a big leap in target market. The Noble M600 is heading where Lotus did a generation ago with the Esprit – aiming to take on the ‘Big-Boys’. The M600 was out testing in Arizona last year in the company of a Porsche Carrera GT, which indicates just how high Noble is aiming.