Toyota and Subaru have agreed to jointly develop an EV platform for midsize and large passenger vehicles as well as a C-segment-class electric SUV for sale under each company’s own brand. The companies hope to combine their respective strengths, like Subaru’s much-lauded AWD system and Toyota’s electrification technology. This isn’t the first time the automakers… Read more »
North Dakota’s West Fargo Public Schools has taken delivery of the state’s first electric school bus, a Blue Bird Vision with the Cummins PowerDrive system. The electric bus has a range of 120 miles and can operate in temperatures as low as negative 20 degrees. Funding for the bus was provided by the North Dakota… Read more »
EV Connect is now a qualified EV charging infrastructure provider under the Charging Forward program from Michigan-based utility DTE Energy. As part of the program, EV Connect will offer chargers to DTE customers and help integrate EV charging loads with DTE’s distribution system. DTE’s Charging Forward program sets aside $10 million to build out approximately… Read more »
Lighting technology and electronics company HELLA has developed two new battery systems for mild hybrids. The two systems, the Dual Voltage Battery Management System and PowerPack 48 Volt, allow for savings of five to six grams of CO2 per kilometer, according to the company. Designed for compact and mid-range vehicles, the Dual Voltage Battery Management System… Read more »
Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS have developed a new battery cell production process that coats electrodes with a dry film instead of liquid chemicals. This simplified process saves energy and eliminates toxic solvents. The Fraunhofer researchers, with colleagues from Samsung, describe their findings in a new paper, “Overcoming binder… Read more »
ACEINNA, a Massachusetts sensor manufacturer, has announced that its MCx1101 family of current sensors now supports 3.3 volt applications commonly found in EV charging stations, inverters, and motor controls. The MCx1101 sensors are fully integrated, bi-directional current sensors. ACEINNA says they offer much higher DC accuracy and dynamic range compared with other solutions. For example,… Read more »
Charging network operator Electrify America has installed more than 120 ultra-fast charging stations at Walmart stores across 34 states. The company plans to continue installing charging stations at Walmart locations in urban areas in 46 states across the US. The charging stations feature 150 kW and 350 kW DC fast chargers. Most of the stations… Read more »
GBatteries has launched an AI-powered charging protocol designed to charge conventional Li-ion batteries as quickly as a car can be filled with gasoline. The company says its system can charge a 60 kWh EV pack to 119 miles of range in 5 minutes. Operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, electrochemistry, signal processing, and high-power… Read more »
The economic case for electric transit buses has become a no-brainer, Proterra CEO Ryan Popple told Bloomberg in a recent interview. The energy cost of a typical e-bus is about 20 cents per mile, compared to about 75 cents per mile for diesel. The up-front costs for e-buses are substantially higher, but Proterra recently introduced… Read more »
Jaguar Land Rover and BMW will partner to develop next generation electric motors. The partnership will include joint investment in R&D, engineering, and procurement. Engineers from both companies will work to develop the fifth generation of BMW’s eDrive technology, which contains the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics in a single housing, and does not… Read more »