This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, by Naomi Klein, is a powerful, important book, meticulously researched and beautifully written. I also found it a very disturbing book, and in a way I wish I hadn’t read it. The thesis is that the kind of action required to avert climate catastrophe is incompatible with the… Read more »
Nanostructured electrodes in Li-ion batteries have several advantages, including shorter distances for charge-carrying particles to travel and a high surface area that provides more active sites for electrochemical reactions to occur. However, working with nanoscale materials is tricky – due to their tiny size, they can be hard to control and hold in place. To… Read more »
The Metrocab, a PHEV version of London’s iconic black taxi, has been licensed by Transport for London to operate on a trial basis, and the first few are already on the streets, transporting fare-paying customers around the capital of Cool Britannia. “The Metrocab has received numerous accolades and plaudits in recent months, but now it… Read more »
Joerg Sommer, VP of Product Marketing and Strategy at Volkswagen of America, announced plans to invest $10 million in EV charging infrastructure by 2016. Speaking at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s annual conference, Sommer said the investments VW and other companies are making in EVSE should be matched by additional governmental support. “Automakers have effectively… Read more »
Tesla Roadster owners got a nice present last Christmas – a package of range-enhancing improvements dubbed Roadster 3.0. A new battery cell, enhanced aerodynamics and improved wheels and tires combine to increase the Roadster’s range by an estimated 40-50 percent. This week, a Tesla team set out in a prototype vehicle to test the Roadster… Read more »
There are many innovative battery designs in development around the world, but a Liechtenstein-based company has developed something truly unique – a flow battery, which uses two ionic fluids stored in tanks. nanoFLOWCELL will present its new QUANT F electric vehicle at the upcoming Geneva Autosalon. The latest iteration of the QUANT features four electric… Read more »
Tesla and Samsung are talking about expanding their battery partnership, industry officials have told the Korea Times. “With Tesla seeking to diversify its battery sourcing channels beyond its key partner Panasonic, Samsung SDI will have greater room to supply more EV batteries to Tesla,” said an unnamed source. Samsung is expected to supply about 8… Read more »
Tesla’s earnings report for the 4th quarter of 2014 followed the usual pattern: there’s plenty of good news, but the company is still operating at a loss; Elon Musk dropped his customary vague hint of more wondrous goodies to come in the future; and the stock market reacted in its usual way – TSLA shares… Read more »
The Federal Transit Administration FTA recently distributed $55 million in grants to 10 transit agencies as part of a program to deploy US-made electric transit buses. More than half of that money will be going to South Carolina-based Proterra, the Greenville News reported. Six transit agencies in five states will buy a total of 28… Read more »
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has asked state regulators for permission to build an estimated 25,000 EV chargers, using $654 million in ratepayer dollars, at sites across its service area in Northern and Central California. The project would represent the largest deployment of EV charging stations in the country. The chargers are to be located at the usual… Read more »
