In May, Audi said that it is developing “a sporty SUV with electric drive,” to be launched in 2018 (the company also plans to sell two plug-in SUV models in Asia in 2016). Now Audi has released teaser images of its e-tron quattro concept, which will be unveiled next month at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2015… Read more »
The new and improved 2016 LEAF, which may reach dealers in October, is expected to have substantially increased range, but that’s about all we know at this point – Nissan has yet to release any details. However, it may be that an Indiana Nissan dealer has just spilled the beans. Andy Mohr Avon Nissan ( via Green… Read more »
Here’s the latest must-have item that you didn’t know you must have: a lighted charging cable. Leoni, a European provider of automotive cable systems, has developed a new charging cable that is illuminated along its entire length. The Leoni iEVC visibly tracks charging progress by changing the color of the cable jacket. A driver can… Read more »
The DOE has announced up to $10 million in funding to establish graduate-level training programs for engineers in power electronics. The five-year program will begin in the fall 2016 school year. Citing the important part that power engineers play in advanced energy technologies, the DOE expects them to be in high demand in the growing… Read more »
Swiss battery manufacturer Leclanché has acquired Trineuron, a business unit of the Belgian company Emrol that specializes in lithium titanate battery technology. With this acquisition, Leclanché adds a new development center and 10 engineers, and expects to increase its development capability, especially in transport applications such as electric/hybrid buses, ferries, mining vehicles, and automated guided… Read more »
Audi has announced pricing for the first electrified Audi to be sold in the US – the 2016 A3 Sportback e-tron. Audi’s new PHEV will be available in three trim levels: the entry-level Premium (sic) package starts at $37,900; Premium Plus goes for $42,000; and the top-end Prestige Model is $46,800. The A3 Sportback e-tron… Read more »
Does Tesla have a secret plan to disrupt yet another industry, maybe one that even Tesla doesn’t know about yet? Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas is convinced of it, and believes that the potential profits will cause the TSLA stock price to double. On a recent media conference call, Jonas asked Elon Musk about Uber’s… Read more »
Dense megacities should be excellent EV habitat – except for the pesky fact that most residents live in apartments, making it difficult or impossible to install their own charging stations. With a view to removing this roadblock, Tesla has partnered with some of New York’s well-known parking companies, as well as a few hotels, like… Read more »
The Volkswagen Group has nominated 44 of its suppliers to collaborate on a new strategic level under the Future Automotive Supply Tracks (FAST) initiative. One of the first batch of preferred suppliers is LG Electronics, which provides high-voltage batteries for the Group’s various plug-in vehicles. Volkswagen launched the FAST program in February with the aim… Read more »
US plug-in sales may be stuck in a traffic jam at the moment, but in Europe, they’re taking off like a Model S on a highway onramp. The latest report from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association shows that, for the first six months of 2015, 52,889 plug-in vehicles were sold in the EU, an increase… Read more »
