After a stellar 2013, overall auto sales took a big dip in January, and plug-ins were no exception to the trend. Auto sales slid 3% as snow and ice kept people away from dealerships. Total plug-in sales were little more than half of December’s (but still more than in January 2013). The LEAF was firmly… Read more »
The separator segment is sizzling – these critical battery components that keep anode and cathode from a disastrous meeting have been much in the news lately. Polypore International (NYSE:PPO) announced this week that its Celgard subsidiary has entered into a long-term agreement to supply separators to Samsung SDI for its EV and energy storage system… Read more »
Sequoia Equities, a major manager of multifamily properties on the West Coast, has partnered with NRG eVgo to provide EV charging to 28 apartment communities across California. Knowing that EV charging can influence a consumer’s choice of a place to live, Sequoia has selected eVgo’s Ready for Electric Vehicle (REV) program, a solution intended to… Read more »
Motorcycles represent one of the most exciting, and potentially profitable, niches for EVs. Many motorsports enthusiasts predict that it’s only a matter of time before electrics two-wheelers totally dominate the racetrack. However, the potential for huge sales is found on the streets of the developing world, where a motorcycle is more likely to be an… Read more »
Celgard, a subsidiary of Polypore International (NYSE:PPO), has filed a complaint against LG Chem, alleging that the Korean chemical giant has infringed one of Celgard’s US patents for a battery separator. The patent in question covers ceramic composite layer lithium-ion battery separators. Celgard filed the lawsuit following a lengthy period of discussions with LG regarding… Read more »
Samsung Ventures Investment Corporation has invested an undisclosed amount in graphene manufacturer XG Sciences, which the company will use to fund additional R&D. Lansing, Michigan-based XG Sciences manufactures energy storage materials based on the company’s xGnP graphene nanoplatelets and XG Leaf graphene sheet products. Last April, the company launched graphene-stabilized silicon anode materials for Li-ion… Read more »
Is there still time to avoid a war in Europe? Even as EVSE manufacturers like ABB are trying to defuse the brewing battle of the fast-charging standards by offering dual-standard chargers, Nissan, the backer of the CHAdeMO standard, seems determined to create facts on the ground. The Japanese EV maker recently installed Europe’s 1,000th CHAdeMO… Read more »
EVs may still draw stares in many American cities, but in Norway these days, they don’t merit a second glance. For the last three months, the Model S and the LEAF have been the best-selling cars in the country. Total EV sales are around 1,200 a month, or over 10% of all auto sales. According… Read more »
Are US consumers ready for a plug-in SUV? Mitsubishi apparently thinks not, but Volvo is at least preparing the ground. Company executives told Green Car Reports that when the new XC90 goes on sale in the spring of 2015, it will be followed by a gasoline plug-in hybrid version, perhaps as little as four months… Read more »
AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) has written the latest chapter in the story of the ever-shrinking home EV charger, with the release of TurboCord, a portable 16-amp charging cordset. The dual mode (240 and 120 volts) TurboCord sells for $649, weighs less than five pounds and plugs directly into an electrical outlet. The single mode 240 volt model sells… Read more »
