Those of us who follow the month-by-month plug-in sales figures can’t help but be a little disappointed by the tale so far this year. In three of the last six months, US sales failed to equal the monthly figures of a year ago. We’re now halfway through the year, and total sales of 54,388 are… Read more »
Energy storage startup BioSolar (OTCQB: BSRC) will extend a sponsored research program at the University of California, Santa Barbara to further develop its “super battery technology.” The extension funds the research program until June 2016. BioSolar’s baby is a novel polymer cathode that leverages fast redox-reaction properties, rather than conventional lithium-ion intercalation chemistry, to enable… Read more »
The California Energy Commission has approved more than $10 million in grants for four projects demonstrating medium- and heavy-duty vehicle technologies using battery-electric or fuel-cell powertrains. The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program projects include: $2.9 million to CALSTART, Inc. to buy four 33-foot BYD battery-electric buses, which will be built at BYD’s… Read more »
Skeleton Technologies has launched a new range of cylindrical ultracapacitors that offer specific power performance of up to 111 kW/kg, specific energy up to 9.6 Wh/kg, and capacitance up to 4500 farads. Skeleton hopes that the high energy density achieved by the SkelCap 4500 series will be a good fit for the heavy transportation market,… Read more »
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 »
