American Manganese is developing a recycling process for Li-ion batteries, and processing partner Kemetco Research has begun processing a sample of cathode scrap material at the company’s pilot plant. The pilot plant will operate in five stages: Pre-treatment of cathode material Leach of active material Purification Recovery of base metals (e.g., nickel, cobalt, manganese) Lithium… Read more »
The city of Tallahassee’s public transit system, StarMetro, has agreed to purchase 22 electric transit buses from Proterra, a California-based manufacturer of electric transit buses, to service Florida State University (FSU). The 22 Proterra Catalyst FC buses bring StarMetro’s electric fleet up to 27 buses. The 35-foot Proterra Catalyst FC buses will serve FSU’s Seminole Express… Read more »
Automotive parts supplier BorgWarner is releasing an integrated axle called iDM. The modular eAxle contains a transmission, electric motor and power electronics. The iDM is available in three versions and can be integrated into the front or rear axles of passenger and light commercial vehicles. The iDM’s integrated power electronics are designed to allow for a… Read more »
The DOE has announced plans to provide $30 million for new research that uses modern data science approaches to accelerate discovery in energy-related chemistry and materials sciences. National laboratories, universities, nonprofits, and companies will be eligible to apply for the three-year awards, which will be selected via peer review. The Basic Energy Sciences program in… Read more »
Industrial EV battery provider Voltabox has received a major order for trolleybus battery systems from electrical systems provider Kiepe Electric. Voltabox will provide 80 modular battery systems and the corresponding air conditioning systems. The batteries will equip trolleybuses in four cities in Italy and Switzerland. Delivery will begin in the middle of this year and… Read more »
Bosch has acquired electric motor manufacturer EM-motive from Daimler. Since Bosch and Daimler set up EM-motive as a fifty-fifty joint venture in 2011, the company has manufactured some 450,000 electric motors. “For Bosch, the complete acquisition of EM-motive is the next logical step on the path to becoming the market leader for electromobility,” said Stefan Hartung,… Read more »
Researchers at Oregon State University have shown that a chemical mechanism known as proton-hopping may provide a new method of energy storage for EVs and other high-power applications. “Coming up with Faradaic electrodes that afford batteries energy density and capacitors power with excellent cycle life has been a big challenge. So far, most of the… Read more »
Nikola Motor Company, which has been developing fuel cell trucks, recently announced that it also intends to offer some battery-electric models. The Nikola Two and Nikola Tre (European version) will be available in BEV versions, while the biggest truck in the lineup, Nikola One, will remain FCV only. The company plans to present the new… Read more »
Wireless charging pioneer WiTricity announced the acquisition of Qualcomm’s Halo wireless technology platform. The acquisition will bring over 1,500 patents and patent applications related to wireless charging under WiTricity’s control, while Qualcomm Incorporated will become a minority WiTricity shareholder. Qualcomm and WiTricity have been working collaboratively with global standards organizations, which currently use reference designs… Read more »
Fuel retailer Propel Fuels has announced plans to launch an EV charging network in California. Propel calls the charging network Propel Power, and plans to begin testing it by the end of 2019, with the aim of performing a broader rollout in 2020. Propel Power will complement Propel Fuels’ existing fueling stations, which Propel will… Read more »