There are several interesting developments to report on the EV sales front this month – an overall increase, a lead change, and a sales surge in the most unexpected of quarters. Total plug-in sales for the month were 10,341, a healthy recovery from February’s slump, and a 7% increase over the March 2014 numbers. Interestingly,… Read more »
Tesla just has to be different. While every other major automaker regularly reports US monthly sales, Tesla has never done so. While this is frustrating for those who cover the EV scene, the company may have valid reasons for its reticence. For EVs, which sell in comparatively small numbers, monthly figures probably have more to… Read more »
Solid-state electrolytes’ potential advantages in energy density and safety compared with conventional liquid electrolytes have made them the hottest topic in the battery world. However, there are several challenges to be overcome, including the low mobility of lithium ions in solid electrolytes. Now, a team of Stanford researchers have used ceramic nanowire fillers to enhance… Read more »
Australian-based Tritium has signed an exclusive US contract with ChargePoint to install Tritium’s Veefil DC fast charging stations. The shapely Veefil has a power output of 50 kW, and is available with both SAE Combo and CHAdeMO connectors. The Veefil is designed not only to look cool, but to be light and compact. Its polycarbonate… Read more »
Islands make perfect EV habitats, and the state of Hawaii is rapidly getting charged. To encourage off-peak charging, the Hawaiian Electric Companies offer special time-of-use (TOU) electric rates. The new EV Bill Savings Estimators give residential customers an online tool to estimate how much money they can save by driving electric. With a recent electric… Read more »
Public EV chargers are popping up at all kinds of locations, including, of all places, gas stations. Convenience store chain Ricker Oil has installed nine DC fast chargers at locations in central Indiana. Ricker partnered with the Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition and Nissan, which offers two years of free public charging to LEAF buyers… Read more »
Charging station software developer EV Connect has signed a joint marketing and product agreement with GE’s Industrial Solutions business. GE will be a preferred charging station supplier of EV Connect, and EV Connect will be a preferred management provider for GE charging stations. EV Connect gains a perpetual license to access the GE WattStation Connect… Read more »
Elon Musk is at it again, dropping hints about something really cool to be launched in a month’s time. “Major new Tesla product line — not a car — will be unveiled at our Hawthorne Design Studio on Thurs 8pm, April 30,” tweeted the Iron Man this week. Now begins another round of the Tesla… Read more »
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will be offered in a hybrid version that uses an adaptation of GM’s Voltec plug-in hybrid system. This will be the third generation of Malibu Hybrids, but the previous two had only a “mild hybrid” system that assists the gas engine. The new ‘bu is a “strong hybrid,” and can drive… Read more »
Volkswagen has acquired a 5% stake in US battery startup QuantumScape, with an option to buy more, and it is evaluating the company’s solid-state battery tech with an eye to using it in VW’s next generation of EVs. Last November, Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn said he saw “great potential” in solid-state batteries, which potentially… Read more »
