The ever-evolving automotive industry has always had a symbiotic relationship with scientific and technology research. The desire for faster, more efficient and reliable automotive technology has propelled new fields of exploration but, at the same time, discovery of new materials and improved analytical resources has fed automotive development teams with alternative and innovative options.

For example, lithium-ion batteries of viable production quality were first developed in the early 1980s by the now Nobel prize laureate, Akira Yoshino, with the aim of powering portable electronics and, at that time, it was difficult to imagine that this technology would also power large, heavy passenger vehicles. The limitations of these batteries for automotive purposes are well understood, which is why there is a plethora of research activity into alternative power sources and technology. Rigaku’s expert analytical X-ray devices, such as the SmartLab^®, support the understanding of battery technology using operando measurements.

Battery research is not the only driving force behind the automotive industry. Lubricants and fuels, semiconductor technology and physical components such as the raw materials in brake pads and tires continue to be developed to advance the industry. Rigaku’s analytical expertise is often at the core of these research efforts, providing insights into the physical, chemical and structural properties of materials.