Batteries get most of the press, but power electronics (gadgets like inverters, onboard chargers and DC/DC converters) are critical components of all sorts of electrified vehicles as well as high-tech energy solutions. As the electromobility/clean energy sector grows, leading companies in the power electronics field could be poised for major growth. Lux Research recently released… Read more »
Heating and cooling an EV presents a special challenge, as battery power must be used for climate control, which can significantly reduce range. Automakers and researchers around the world are working on a range of alternative solutions. Nissan and Volkswagen both use heat pumps in their EVs. The JOSPEL project, a consortium of organizations from… Read more »
Start-stop vehicles (SSVs, if you will) occupy the bottom rung of the electrification ladder, and they’re growing in importance as global OEMs search for ways to meet tightening emissions standards (anything other than selling EVs, it sometimes seems). Over 40 percent of new cars sold in Europe already incorporate start-stop technology. A battery-based start-stop system… Read more »
A Model S P85D and an i3 sporting the LAPD’s famous black-and-white livery were on display at a press conference last week as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the city’s plans to lease 160 EVs and 128 PHEVs. “When we laid out our Sustainable City pLAn, we promised that 50% of new city fleet… Read more »
A Proterra Catalyst XR (extended range) electric bus drove 258 miles on a single charge in a recent test. The bus used in the test has 8 NMC Li-ion battery packs, with a total energy capacity of 257 kWh. The Catalyst XR can also be configured with 10 packs, which Proterra predicts will achieve 300… Read more »
Indianapolis is becoming something of an EV hotspot. The all-electric car sharing service BlueIndy opened for business this week. BlueIndy is owned by the Bolloré Group, a French conglomerate that operates car sharing services in several other cities, including the successful Autolib in Paris. The new car sharing service uses the Bluecar, a two-door hatchback… Read more »
Charging at home is a snap for those of us with garages, but for the 88 million Americans living in apartments, condos and other multi-unit dwellings, installing EV charging infrastructure can be a difficult and time-consuming process. And as more drivers go electric, an even bigger obstacle may crop up: each building complex has a… Read more »
At the upcoming International Motor Show in Frankfurt, BMW will have four new plug-in hybrid models on display. All are based on the company’s eDrive technology, initially developed for the i3 and i8. The modular structure of the eDrive system is designed to make it easier to add an electrified powertrain to different vehicle models…. Read more »
Saft America has received a $6.13-million award from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), in collaboration with the DOE, to develop stop-start battery technology. The 30-month contract, which includes a 50% cost-share by Saft, will focus on the development and delivery of lithium-ion 12-volt modules for stop-start battery applications. Saft has previously worked with… Read more »
Connecticut, one of 14 states that have adopted California’s clean-air standards, has set a goal of putting 300,000 zero-emission and hybrid vehicles on the state’s roads by 2025. To further that aim, it has established an incentive program with a new wrinkle: instead of having to apply for a rebate after buying a new vehicle,… Read more »
