A consortium led by the British motorsport and technology firm Prodrive has successfully run a silicon carbide-based multiport DC-DC converter in an EV. Silicon carbide devices operate at a higher frequency than equivalent silicon components – at 75 kHz in the test vehicles – with a significant reduction in switching losses. This allows the magnetic… Read more »
Daimler and BMW have agreed to jointly develop and implement a common technology for wireless charging. The system consists of two components: a secondary coil integrated into the under tray of the car and a primary coil integrated into a floor plate that can be placed on a garage floor. Electrical energy is transmitted at… Read more »
Tesla’s mission is to bring about a revolution in zero-emission transportation, and it is also a pioneer in the use of renewable energy and other eco-friendly business practices. Now the Silicon Valley trendsetter seeks to earn even more good karma, by becoming a leading employer of America’s military veterans. “We want to be known throughout… Read more »
Nissan has launched its No Charge to Charge program, which offers new LEAF buyers (and lessees) two years of free public charging, in 10 metro areas around the country. These 10 markets have around 2,600 public charging stations, including over 200 quick chargers. Nissan plans to expand the deal to at least 15 more US… Read more »
The BMW Group is having a banner year – it sold more than a million vehicles in the first half of 2014 for the first time (that includes MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorcycles). The new i division, which comprises BMW’s plug-in models, shared the wealth. In June, 1,241 BMW i3s were delivered to customers worldwide,… Read more »
Who knew? The miracle material that could enable a game-changing battery breakthrough is (drumroll, please)…beach sand. Researchers at the University of California Riverside have created a lithium-ion battery that outperforms the current industry standard by three times, using a nanoscale silicon dioxide anode. “This is the holy grail – a low cost, non-toxic, environmentally friendly… Read more »
Nissan is aiming to bring the LEAF to India and is considering a collaboration with local manufacturers to provide charging infrastructure. “We are actively looking at the Leaf for India….I think there is a lot of potential for that car here,” said Nissan Chief Planning Officer Andy Palmer. “There is no doubt electric cars are… Read more »
Volkswagen’s eighth-generation Passat, unveiled this week at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam, offers 10 different powertrain options, including a PHEV version. All versions are equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode. The brand-new plug-in Passat features a 115 kW (154 hp) TSI gasoline engine and an 80 kW electric motor. Total… Read more »
One of the top reasons people cite for not buying an EV is a lack of charging stations. But as the number of public chargers explodes, that’s looking more and more like a lack of information. In fact, there are a lot of public charging stations out there, especially in the more EV-savvy regions of… Read more »
The DOE has issued a Request for Information to solicit feedback about the feasibility of fuel cell range extenders for battery-electric vehicles. The DOE’s office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) is specifically interested in the idea of an after-market modification to extend vehicle range using a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system…. Read more »
