It’s no surprise that EV usage is growing much faster in some countries than in others. A recent report from IHS Automotive comparing EV uptake in eight of the world’s most advanced economies shows huge differences not only in the market share of plug-in vehicles, but also in the specific models favored by consumers. Most… Read more »
International automotive supplier MAHLE has been testing electrified powertrain technology using a range-extending combustion engine and a demonstrator vehicle that it developed in-house. The company’s Powertrain division has developed control software that can manage the consumption of battery energy for plug-in hybrids through a combination of GPS and topographical road data. MAHLE’s REEV demonstrator vehicle… Read more »
San Diego-based Envision Solar has secured a contract from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to supply state and local agencies with the company’s EV ARC portable solar-powered EV chargers. The first purchase order is for 11 units, to be delivered within the next 90 days for around $750,000. The EV ARC is a standalone… Read more »
New York-based battery management specialist Sendyne has obtained a patent for an invention that dynamically reduces offset error in shunt-based DC current measurement systems. Offset error – an erroneous value read by the measurement system when the actual current is zero – has a significant impact when Coulomb counting information is utilized for State-of-Charge (SOC)… Read more »
Not all in the oil industry are inclined to dismiss EVs as a passing fad. In a recent article in the trade magazine Alberta Oil, Max Fawcett writes, “The Tesla Model S is one of the most beautiful and interesting automobiles to ever get made. It might also be one of the most dangerous. That’s… Read more »
ClipperCreek seems to have a charger for just about every application. The latest to join the product line is the HCS-50, a Level 2 charging station that uses a standard 240 V, 50 amp outlet to deliver 40 amps to the vehicle. EVs capable of high-power charging can add approximately 30 miles of range per… Read more »
Oil and barbecue ain’t the only sources of energy in Texas. Since a 1996 breakthrough at the University of Texas, Austin has been something of a center for rechargeable battery technology. One of the many companies in the area is Voltabox, a subsidiary of German automotive supplier paragon AG, which chose Austin for its US… Read more »
London’s world-famous red buses are steadily going electric. Two single-deck e-buses built by the Spanish firm Irizar went into passenger service last week on routes 507 and 521, which link Waterloo station with Victoria and London Bridge stations. By autumn of 2016, all 51 buses serving these two routes will be electric. E-buses from several… Read more »
Tesla co-founder and CTO JB Straubel had some interesting things to say at the recent Intersolar North America conference. Savvy observers of the energy transition understand that the synergy between solar power and EVs is a critical part of the transition to electromobility, and Tesla, with its alliance with SolarCity and its new energy storage… Read more »
Faced with the fact that improved fuel efficiency is translating into lower gas tax receipts, several states have instituted, or are considering, special fees on electrified vehicles. A fee proposal currently making its way through the Michigan legislature has drawn opposition from an automakers’ trade group. In a recent letter to Michigan Senate Majority Leader… Read more »
