An EU-funded study has found that electrified vehicles do not expose passengers to higher electromagnetic fields than those recommended in international standards (and neither do ICE vehicles). The study EM Safety, which involved the independent research organization SINTEF and nine other European companies and research institutes, is the most comprehensive ever carried out in this… Read more »
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced that it will introduce two PHEVs starting in 2016. A plug-in hybrid version of a new minivan will appear in 2016, and a full-sized crossover that has a plug-in hybrid option in 2017. The plug-in minivan, which would be a first for the industry, will get 75 MPGe, according… Read more »
There was a lot to like in Tesla’s first-quarter results, announced after the stock market close on Wednesday. Revenue and earnings both beat analysts’ projections, and the company reported steady progress on all fronts, from China to Model X to the Gigafactory. So, did TSLA stock soar in response to the good news? It did… Read more »
Texas could be ready to kick-off its $2,500 rebate program as soon as mid-May, according to sources at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The Commission is working to finalize its rebate applications, instructions and a list of eligible vehicles and hopes to have more information available on its website soon. Here are a few highlights of the… Read more »
The UK is becoming one of the most EV-friendly countries in Europe – its government announced this week that it will invest £500 million between 2015 and 2020 to boost what it calls the ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) industry. Noting that the automotive sector is worth £11.2 billion to the economy, and that ULEVs… Read more »
Proterra claims to have set a record for the most miles traveled by a battery-electric bus in a day. One of its buses completed a test run on which it traveled more than 700 miles in 24 hours. The test route was designed to simulate both commuter and central business district routes and drive cycles…. Read more »
Every automaker has its own electrification strategy. Tesla, Nissan and BMW are pushing pure EVs. GM and Ford have each put most of their chips on plug-in hybrids, while hedging their bets with a low-volume EV. Toyota, and its luxury division Lexus, firmly believe hybrids are the way to go. Lexus has five hybrid models… Read more »
Lithium-air batteries are widely expected to be the next big thing – more than 300 research papers have been published on the topic in the past 3 years. Li-air has the potential to deliver far more energy density than current lithium-ion technology. A new review in the ACS journal Chemical Reviews sums up the current… Read more »
Audi’s TT Offroad concept PHEV, presented at the recent Beijing auto show, showcased several interesting features, including the Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix system, and a powertrain with two electric motors and 408 total horsepower. However, as Business Insider reports, most of the media buzz has been about Audi’s Wireless Charging technology, which the business… Read more »
There’s a new kid in the EV pool, and there’s every reason to believe it’s going to make a big splash. BMW proudly announced the first delivery of an i3 to a US customer this week. A Boston university professor and ActiveE “electronaut” drove his new i3 off the lot on May 2. Demand for… Read more »
