Silicon has a theoretical charge capacity ten times higher than typical graphite. That is why a mind-blowing number of researchers are working towards replacing more and more of the graphite used in today’s lithium-ion battery anodes with silicon. In the last issue of Charged, we discussed Tesla’s announcement that it had begun to use small… Read more »
Posts By: Christian Ruoff
In one year, Tesla added over 850 public charging sites in the US
Tesla’s large network of proprietary public charge points continues to rapidly expand. In addition to the high-power Superchargers placed along well-traveled highways, the company has been deploying destination chargers at locations where drivers would want to stay for several hours at a time: like hotels, ski resorts, and restaurants. According to data in PlugShare’s latest… Read more »
DC Fast Charging maps highlight differences between Tesla and CHAdeMO/CCS rollouts
Tesla touts its Supercharger network as a no-compromise solution for electric road trips, and has strategically placed Superchargers along well-traveled highways. Elon Musk himself has embarked on a coast-to-coast adventure in a Model S to demonstrate that it can be done in about the same timeframe as with any other vehicle. On the other hand,… Read more »
Tesla tweaks its battery chemistry: a closer look at silicon anode development
In mid-July, Tesla Motors made a trio of Model S update announcements. The new options included a 70 kWh rear-wheel-drive base model, an upgrade for the high-end battery pack from 85 to 90 kWh (providing about a 6% increase in range), and Ludicrous mode, which offers a 10% improvement in the car’s 0 to 60… Read more »
A closer look at torque ripple – minimizing its effects on electric machines
The Switched Reluctance Motor, or SRM, is often discussed as a prime choice for the next-generation EV traction motor. It is simple, robust, and arguably the least expensive of all motor types to manufacture. However, SRMs are notoriously difficult to control, and prone to emitting significant amounts of vibration and acoustic noise. The good news… Read more »
Tesla reveals prototype of snakelike automatic charger
On December 31, 2014, Elon Musk tweeted: “We are actually working on a charger that automatically moves out from the wall & connects like a solid metal snake. For realz. This can be used with all existing Model S cars, not just future ones.” Musk first mentioned the automatic charging idea in October 2014 at… Read more »
Proterra CEO on the economics of the electric bus business
Venture capitalists assume a large amount of risk when they invest in early-stage companies. They do so because of the potential for huge returns. To ensure that a portfolio of investments delivers the greatest return with the least risk, VCs spend a considerable amount of time evaluating companies, looking for the key ingredients of success…. Read more »
EVgo is future-proofing its fast charging sites with the ability to double charging capacity
NRG EVgo has over 350 DC fast chargers in 19 markets – more than four times more than any other public network – as of May 2015. The company also lays claim to the most powerful network of CHAdeMO and CCS chargers in the US. While others are rolling out DC chargers in the 20… Read more »
EVgo’s fast charging network has doubled in size in the past eight months
NRG EVgo has quietly become one of the largest and fastest-growing DC fast charging networks in the US. In total, it’s currently operating more than 350 DC fast chargers in 19 markets – doubling in size in the past eight months. In fact, as of May 2015, it has over four times more CHAdeMO and… Read more »
Nissan North America’s EV Director, Brendan Jones, joins NRG EVgo
After more than 20 years with Nissan, Brendan Jones has joined NRG EVgo to help the company with its aggressive rollout of DC fast charger infrastructure. Most recently at Nissan, he served as Director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Infrastructure Deployment. Charged has interviewed Jones several times over the past four years, and his passion… Read more »