Connect, no.151, November/December 2007, p.6

Electrifying visitor at sector meeting

Tesla Motors all electric sports car

TWI, via its automotive and electronics sector activities, is addressing technical problems for its Members in areas such as component reliability, legislation, design and production. As part of Member services, TWI runs sector specific panel meetings to keep abreast of leading edge technical issues, to disseminate key areas of TWI research such as reporting on the CRP and involvement in UK and European collaborative programmes.

The most recent panel meeting 'Driving electronics performance' was held at TWI on the 4 October this year. The event was supported by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and East of England Investment Agency (EEIA). The aim of the meeting was to help with supply chain networking and technology integration within the TWI automotive electronics membership and broader electronics community.

The presenters from TWI, TRW, BAE Systems, MIRA and Tesla Motors covered topics such as electronics reliability modelling, lead free soldering, spraying coatings and interconnections, high conductivity ceramics and the hot topic of micro friction stir welding for micro electronic fabrication high performance electronic developments, reliability and autonomous vehicles, electro magnetic compatibility and the future of electric cars.

All the presentations stimulated focused questions from the audience. However the limelight was stolen by the arrival of the Tesla motors all-electric sports car.

The interest in the vehicle by all who saw it was outstanding, and Brian Randall from Tesla was very keen to explain to those assembled about the virtues and technical advances to be found in the vehicle. Details of the presentations given on the day are available to members. Please contact helen.everson@twi.co.uk if you would like a hard copy of the proceedings.

For more information on TWI activities in the automotive or electronic sectors, contact automotive@twi.co.uk or electronicsandsensors@twi.co.uk.