Kia is continuing its progressive launch of the Soul EV (which was profiled in the January/February 2015 issue of Charged), adding 12 EV-certified dealers in Washington and 8 in Oregon. Each dealership will be equipped with two Level 2 chargers, and 10 of them will also have a 50 kW Signet DC fast charger. Charging… Read more »
Bosch Automotive Service Solutions has introduced the Power DCPlus DC fast charger to North America. The new commercial charger uses the SAE Combo standard, and is ChargePoint network-enabled. It can be installed indoors or outdoors, in wall- or pedestal-mount configurations, and weighs less than 150 pounds. Bosch sees the 24 kW Bosch Power DCPlus as… Read more »
BMW and the SCHERM Group have put a massive 40-ton EV into service for a one-year pilot. The Terberg YT202-EV electric tractor will travel a 2 km route eight times a day between the SCHERM group logistics center and the BMW plant in Munich, transporting vehicle components such as shock absorbers, springs and steering systems…. Read more »
As more and more French drivers go electric, public charging stations are proliferating – the country currently has around 9,400 – but so are charging networks, each requiring its own subscription and payment method. Now the French government plans to make things easier for consumers by requiring network operators to unify some of their features… Read more »
Global auto parts supplier BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA) has agreed to buy motor manufacturer Remy International (NASDAQ: REMY) for about $950 million in cash. The offer of $29.50 a share represents a 44% premium to Remy’s Friday closing price. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015. Both companies have histories in the… Read more »
The Department of the Navy is planning to lease 300 to 600 passenger EVs, with an initial focus on its sedan fleet, to be used at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in California. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command will hold an Industry Forum on July 21st in Sacramento to discuss leasing possibilities with industry… Read more »
Kandi Technologies Group (NASDAQ: KNDI), a Chinese EV-maker and car-sharing operator, has announced a new sale that will not only significantly expand its volume, but also explore the potential of online EV sales. Kandi Electric Vehicles Group, a joint venture with automaker Geely, has signed a sales contract with Zhejiang Shi Kong Electric Vehicle for… Read more »
Oregon’s Government Ethics Commission has ruled that the state cannot provide free or reduced-cost EV charging to state employees, unless it is counted as compensation. The Department of Administrative Services is developing a policy for EV charging stations across state government. “We have been working to develop a policy that will guide state agencies, and… Read more »
Australia’s Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has unveiled a network of fast charging stations it calls the Electric Highway, which will connect Perth with Western Australia’s southwestern region. Twelve public fast charging stations will be installed along the route. The first six are located in Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and Augusta. Stations in Dunsborough,… Read more »
A recent analysis from the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed the value of something that several automakers are already investigating: repurposing used EV batteries for stationary storage applications. The NREL found that battery second use (B2U) strategies are capable of offsetting the costs of recycling vehicles at the end of their lives,… Read more »
