Electric car-sharing service Autolib has become a hit in Paris and two other French cities since its 2011 launch, and now boasts a fleet of over 3,500 EVs. Corporate parent the Bolloré Group also has a fleet of electric Bluebuses operating on Parisian streets, and has been working on bringing electric car sharing to Indianapolis… Read more »
EV drivers using the West Coast Electric Highway charging network in Oregon and Washington now have another way to pay for charging. Recargo’s PlugShare mobile app now provides access to the network on a pay-per-charge basis at no additional cost. Charging rates are: $4.00 per charge for Level 2 stations or $7.50 for DC fast… Read more »
Better and cheaper batteries will be one of the key enabling technologies for the clean, distributed energy system of the future. More specifically, they are a critical component of Tesla’s master plan to produce an affordable mass-market EV. The Seers of Silicon Valley added a big name to their stable of battery boffins this week,… Read more »
French EV drivers will soon have plenty of options for intercity travel. The Corri-Door project plans to install 200 DC fast charging points at 80 km intervals along major highways, and in nearby shopping centers, throughout the country. The first two stations are now operational, at the Bosgouet Nord (A13) and Tardenois Nord (A4) motorway… Read more »
Electric driving is about to become available to a whole new swath of car buyers, as substantial numbers of EVs enter the used-vehicle market. Continual improvements are decimating resale values for most models – a tough break for early adopters, but great news for bargain-seekers. The latest issue of the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Used… Read more »
As the air in some Chinese cities approaches the consistency of egg-drop soup, the country’s government is pushing electrified vehicles and renewable energy in a big way, and this is driving huge growth in the energy storage market, which will be worth $8.7 billion in 2025, more than four times the current $1.7 billion, according… Read more »
Unlike competitor Toyota, Honda has never had much luck with its hybrid models. For the first five months of 2015, Honda’s total hybrid sales (including Acura) were down 22% from the same period in 2014. Sales of the Accord Plug-in Hybrid have been pathetic – barely 1,000 units have sold in the US since its… Read more »
The German-based discount supermarket chain Aldi, in partnership with electric utility RWE, opened a public DC charging station at a store in Dusseldorf in May. Charging is free, and energy is generated from solar panels installed on the building. The new installation uses the QC20 charging station from Portuguese electrical equipment manufacturer Efacec. The QC20… Read more »
Volvo’s home town, the Swedish city of Gothenburg, has become something of a center for electric bus research, as the company operates pilots of electric and plug-in hybrid buses, some using dynamic wireless charging. This month the city opened its first fully operational route featuring electric buses. Bus route 55, which runs through the city… Read more »
PowerGenix, a supplier of automotive nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries, has completed a product evaluation test plan with the Institute of Automotive Technologies Dresden (IAD). IAD evaluated the capabilities of NiZn batteries used as a 12 V auxiliary power unit for plug-in vehicles, or as a 12 V starter battery for stop-start applications. “The unique cost and… Read more »
