Chevy, Nissan and Tesla are swapping paint at the head of the pack, as a couple of feisty little contenders get ready to enter the race. Plug-in automobiles posted their second best month of US sales so far this year, with almost 8,000 vehicles changing hands. The 2013 Chevrolet Volt retook the lead and then… Read more »
In a recent editorial in IEEE Spectrum, author and former GM employee Ozzie Zehner asserts that electric vehicles are not as environmentally friendly as boosters claim, and may even be browner than ICEs. “Dozens of think tanks and scientific organizations have ventured conclusions about the environmental friendliness of electric vehicles. Most are supportive, but a few… Read more »
Cadillac’s new ELR electrified luxury coupe is built around the same basic powertrain as the popular Chevy Volt, but is designed to deliver a much more exciting driving experience. This week, Cadillac released some details of ELR’s advanced suspension and steering systems. “ELR’s methodical use of advanced suspension and steering technologies front and rear has… Read more »
Carlin Dunne and Lightning Motorcycles made history at this year’s Pike’s Peak Hill Climb, as their electric motorcycle was the fastest two-wheeled vehicle to make it to the top, the first time an EV has beaten its gas-powered competitors on the 12.42-mile “Race to the Clouds.” The 500 lb, 200 hp “Flying Banana” finished in… Read more »
There’s no stopping Tesla now. The company’s stock (Nasdaq: TSLA) rose over 7% to close at a new high on Monday after a bullish analyst’s report highlighted the strong sales of Model S, and the trickle of good news continued. Jefferies analyst Elaine Kwei noted that most of this year’s gains in the large luxury sedan segment are… Read more »
Most experts agree that the eventual dominance of electric vehicles depends on a big breakthrough in battery technology. With researchers around the globe feverishly working on such an advance, there’s no question (except among the most rabid EV-haters) that it will happen. If you ask when the big break will occur, however, you’ll find a… Read more »
Cities, regions and countries around the world are moving ahead with the transition to electric mobility. As we discuss in this month’s issue of Charged, island communities are especially keen to get plugged in, because of their high energy prices and environmental challenges. However, as far as we know, the Caribbean island of Aruba is the… Read more »
Drayson Racing has announced that it has set a new World Electric Land Speed Record. With former UK Science Minister Lord Drayson behind the wheel, the Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le Mans Prototype made two blistering runs on a runway at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, England, reaching an average top speed of 204.185 mph. … Read more »
Rhode Island will install a network of up to 50 EV charging stations over the next three months, and will begin converting the state fleet to alternative fuel vehicles, thanks to a joint effort of the state and federal governments, charging station installer ChargePoint and electric utility National Grid. “Supporting electric vehicle transportation in Rhode… Read more »
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved a contract with China-based BYD Motors to purchase up to 25 all-electric buses as part of a $30 million pilot project. Metro currently has a fleet of 2,238 natural gas buses operating on 183 routes. The new BYDs will be the agency’s first electric buses…. Read more »
