Each year, Navigant Research releases a report that forecasts future trends in the plug-in vehicle (PEV) market. The latest edition predicts that annual North American PEV sales should break the one-million mark around 2024. The new report, Electric Vehicle Geographic Forecasts, notes that North America is the world’s strongest market for light-duty PEVs, with more… Read more »
Fiat Chrysler sometimes seems to be the most vocal holdout of the waning oil age. It’s about the only major automaker that offers no hybrid models, and CEO Sergio Marchionne is often depicted in the EV press as an anti-electric curmudgeon – he has stated that the company loses $10,000 on every unit of the Fiat… Read more »
It’s a logical convergence of three tech trends: Uber, EVs and China. The pioneering ride-sharing service, which has already been testing EVs in Chicago and Prague, has announced that it will add ten PHEVs to its fleet in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The new car service, called UberGREEN, will use Guangzhou Automobile’s Trumpchi GA5… Read more »
A pilot program in the Netherlands will give EV drivers the option of scheduling charging to take advantage of lower nighttime rates, and also to choose among different energy suppliers. “Flexible Charging Rates” is a joint project of network operator Enexis, energy suppliers Green Choice and NieuweStroom, and service providers The New Motion and Greenflux…. Read more »
As Tesla realized from the beginning, trying to sell EVs alongside legacy vehicles could be a losing proposition. Dealerships that also sell gas-burning cars have incentives to steer customers away from plug-ins and toward their proven sellers. For an automaker that actually wants to sell its electric models, it may make more sense to establish separate, EV-only dealerships… Read more »
Qualcomm Technologies and Daimler have announced a strategic collaboration focused on connectivity. In the first phase, the companies will focus on 3G/4G connectivity and the Qualcomm Halo Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology. Qualcomm’s Wireless Power Transfer 2.0 program not only provides the ability to charge EVs and PHEVs without having to physically plug them… Read more »
The Dutch charging network Fastned is offering investors a tempting perk: free fast charging at all Fastned stations for the rest of their life. Shareholders that invest over 25,000 euros in the company become a member of the Fastned Founders Club, and can immediately start charging for free. In 2012, Fastned was awarded a concession… Read more »
The German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg (which includes Daimler headquarters Stuttgart) plans to conduct a feasibility study of carpool lanes (Umweltstreifen), which can also be used by vehicles with low emissions. As reported by the Stuttgarter Zeitung (via Green Car Reports), the special lanes will be open to EVs, PHEVs, and other vehicles that meet the… Read more »
Marine motor maker Torqeedo has introduced a shaft-drive version of its 40- and 80-horsepower Deep Blue motor. The Deep Blue inboard electric drive was designed for marine use from the ground up. Its lithium-ion batteries are made in the US by Johnson Controls, and come with a nine-year, 80% capacity warranty. Maximum speed is 18… Read more »
Motiv Power Systems scored an additional $8.1 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to continue commercializing its electric powertrains, bringing the total amount of the company’s CEC funding to $12.3 million. The company has also opened a new manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, which will employ 20 workers and have an annual production… Read more »
