The California state legislature has passed a pair of bills (AB 134 and AB 109) that provide $1.5 billion for programs to cut emissions, including $895 million to reduce air pollution from mobile sources, which are responsible for 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. The bills, which have been dubbed the “California Clean Air… Read more »
Swiss battery-maker Leclanché will develop a battery storage solution for Fastned’s charging stations, starting with a pilot at two locations. Fastned operates a network of 63 fast charging stations in the Netherlands, and is in the process of expanding to London and Germany. Fastned’s highway charging stations have up to eight fast chargers, and its… Read more »
The Alliance of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi has announced a new six-year plan under which the three automakers will accelerate their collaboration on common platforms, powertrains and electric, autonomous and connected technologies. The three automakers plan to launch 12 new EV models by 2022, using new common platforms and components for multiple segments. The alliance… Read more »
When the German postal service Deutsche Post DHL decided in 2013 that it wanted to upgrade its fleet to electric powertrains, it couldn’t find a suitable vehicle or an OEM willing to develop one. So, in cooperation with a university spin-out called StreetScooter, it developed its own EV. By the end of 2017, over 4,000… Read more »
Circuit protection specialist Littelfuse has introduced its first series of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs. In March, Littelfuse made a majority investment in the SiC technology development company Monolith Semiconductor. The LSIC1MO120E0080 Series, with a voltage rating of 1,200 V and ultra-low (80 mΩ) on-resistance, is the first SiC MOSFET to be released by the new… Read more »
The advantages of adding stationary energy storage to fast charging stations are well known. But chemical batteries may not be the only solution. The Israeli firm Chakratec, established in 2013, manufactures a kinetic energy storage solution based on a flywheel. Chakratec says its “kinetic battery” can provide a virtually limitless number of deep charge cycles… Read more »
Charging an EV consumes less energy than several common household appliances, according to data compiled by the DOE. For the typical US household, home heating is by far the biggest consumer of energy (11,300 kWh per year) followed by water heating (4,700 kWh per year). Based on average driving habits, charging a Nissan LEAF requires… Read more »
A123 Systems has invested in Solid Power, a developer of solid-state battery technology. Solid Power’s tech combines a high-capacity cathode with a high-capacity lithium metal anode in combination with a high-ionic-conductivity solid separator. The battery materials are 100 percent inorganic, and possess no flammable or volatile components. Solid Power says its batteries provide two to… Read more »
Commercial vehicle upfitter XL Hybrids has announced that it will begin production of its XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System for Ford F-250 pickups in the first quarter of 2018. The XL3 system will be offered as a ship-through upfit on 2018 F-250 pickups, and is compatible with a range of wheelbases, cab and bed configurations… Read more »
Austrian battery startup Kreisel Electric grabbed some attention in the EV media by facing off with a Model S in a converted Porsche Panamera. Now it’s in the spotlight again after announcing the backing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his nephew, Patrick Knapp-Schwarzenegger. The Governator, a longtime EV fan, became familiar with Kreisel when he hired… Read more »