MTU Friedrichshafen, a manufacturer of large diesel engines, has formed a development partnership with Li-ion battery-maker AKASOL, with the aim of developing battery systems for MTU’s hybrid and electric propulsion systems. Using AKASOL battery systems, MTU plans to produce hybrid powertrains for the marine, heavy-duty ground vehicle and rail sectors, as well as stationary industrial… Read more »
Researchers from North Carolina State University and Carnegie Mellon University have found that adding a magnetic resonance field enhancer (MRFE) – which can be as simple as a copper loop – to a wireless charging system can boost transfer efficiency by at least 100 percent, and possibly as much as 5,000 percent. “Our experimental results… Read more »
For those of us who are puzzled and discouraged by the recent decline in sales of hybrid vehicles, a new paper from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) offers plenty of hope for the future. According to “Hybrid Vehicles: Technology Development and Cost Reduction,” the costs of full-function hybrid systems are likely to drop… Read more »
Fiat Chrysler is the automaker that EVangelists love to hate. The brand has nary a hybrid in its lineup (although a plug-in powertrain for the Town & Country minivan is expected to appear in 2016), and, like some evil stepmother in a fairy tale, CEO Sergio Marchionne heaps derision on the feisty little Fiat 500e,… Read more »
If, as most of the media is convinced, the world’s luxury automakers are all scrambling to deliver a competitor for Tesla’s Model S, then it would seem only logical for Nissan, builder of the world’s top-selling EV, to produce an upscale EV under its luxury brand, Infiniti. In fact, the gentlemen from Yokohama already thought… Read more »
Swiss power electronics supplier BRUSA Elektronik has introduced a new electric drivetrain unit that combines a motor and gearbox. The DTSP1 “is optimal for use in sports cars and vans as well as light commercial vehicles due to its low weight and high power density.” BRUSA’s HSM1-10.18.22 motor offers continuous power output of 145 kW… Read more »
A new study from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), in partnership with the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, aims to present a comprehensive picture of current progress in electromobility, and to assess the position of German companies in the rapidly developing market. The DLR scientists developed a database of every known electric passenger… Read more »
More California cities are electrifying their transit fleets. Stockton and Porterville recently placed orders with Proterra for two of its new Catalyst battery-electric buses, with funding from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. Electric bus-maker Proterra says its Catalyst is the most efficient 40-foot transit bus on the market – at 22… Read more »
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has offered $1.6 million to the city of Los Angeles to set up a pilot EV car-sharing program in disadvantaged communities. The program’s goal is to serve 7,000 residents. The project will fulfill one of the mandates of the Charge Ahead California Initiative, a package of pro-electromobility measures enacted… Read more »
EV software company Recargo has introduced a new consulting service for the EV industry. PlugShare Guide will help clients develop plans for managing EV infrastructure and strategies to accelerate EV adoption, using the company’s market intelligence and analytical tools. PlugShare maintains a detailed database of EV charging stations in North America, including location, technology and… Read more »
