The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has been attributed to their low-carbon and environmentally friendly attributes. Extensive research has been undertaken in view of the depletion of fossil fuels, changes in climatic conditions due to air pollution, and the goal of developing EVs capable of matching or exceeding the performance of today’s internal combustion engines (ICEs). The transition from ICE vehicles to EVs can reduce greenhouse gases significantly over a vehicle’s lifetime. Across the different types of EVs, the widespread usage of batteries is due to their high power density and steady output voltage, making them an excellent energy storage device (ESD). The current downsides of battery-powered electric vehicles include long recharge times, the impact of additional strain on the grid, poor societal acceptance due to high initial costs, and a lack of adequate charging infrastructure. Even more problematic is their short driving range when compared to standard ICE and fuel cell EVs. Battery degradation occurs when the capacity of a battery degrades, resulting in a reduction in travel range. This review article includes a description of battery degradation, degradation mechanisms, and types of degradation. A detailed investigation of the methods used to address and reduce battery degeneration is presented. Finally, some future orientation in terms of EV research is offered as vital guidance for academic and industrial partners.

Over the last decade, manufacturing processes have undergone significant change. Most factory activities have been transformed through a set of features built into a smart manufacturing framework. The tools brought to bear by the fourth industrial revolution are critical enablers of such change and progress. This review article describes the series of industrial revolutions and explores traditional manufacturing before presenting various enabling technologies. Insights are offered regarding traditional manufacturing lines where some enabling technologies have been included. The manufacturing supply chain is envisaged as enhancing the enabling technologies of Industry 4.0 through their integration. A systematic literature review is undertaken to evaluate each enabling technology and the manufacturing supply chain and to provide some theoretical synthesis. Similarly, obstacles are listed that must be overcome before a complete shift to smart manufacturing is possible. A brief discussion maps out how the fourth industrial revolution has led to novel manufacturing technologies. Likewise, a review of the fifth industrial revolution is given, and the justification for this development is presented.

In this paper, a 60 GHz low noise amplifier (LNA) using a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS process is designed and presented. Common emitter (CE) and cascode topologies are used in the first and second stages respectively to ensure that minimal noise figure (NF) and maximum gain are achieved. To investigate the performance of the CE in relation to the NF, the mathematical analysis of the NF of the first stage is computed. In both stages of the LNA, the base of the transistor is biased using a current mirror. Transmission lines are used in the circuit to mitigate against a poor noise factor by reducing current utilization. The designed LNA realizes a gain of more than 17 dB, NF less than 4.3 dB at 61 GHz, and OIP3/ HP3 better than -22.5/-2.5 dBm. The LNA consumes 5.1 mW of power.