Elkem has opened a new production workshop in Shanghai, dedicated to the development and manufacturing of specialized silicones for EVs. Elkem tells us that an EV contains an average of four times more silicone than a legacy car. Silicone is a key component in airbags, cables, hoses and tires, and Elkem is a supplier to… Read more »
Mercedes-Benz Bank, together with insurance partner R+V/KRAVAG, is now offering insurance policies specially adapted to the requirements of commercial EV owners. The full coverage insurance includes cover for inductive charging plates, charging cables and wallboxes, disposal costs for the battery, and replacement value cover for the vehicle and the battery. The eVan insurance is currently… Read more »
Motiv has announced a new generation of its EPIC chassis for medium-duty fleet EVs. The company says its fifth-generation EPIC F-59 and E-450 chassis reduce the total number of components in the electric powertrain by 30 percent, while also improving range, acceleration and top speed. The fifth-generation EPIC chassis incorporates BMW’s high-performance batteries in a… Read more »
Ebusco is a supplier of electric buses and depot chargers, while ROCSYS supplies plug-in robots. The two Dutch companies are working together on a system to automate charging at bus depots, using a robotically-controlled CCS charging system. “The advantages of automating bus depots are many and varied,” says Peter Bijvelds, CEO of Ebusco. “Automating this… Read more »
Volkswagen has begun construction of a Battery Engineering Lab at its Chattanooga Engineering and Planning Center. The $22-million facility will test and validate EV cells and battery packs for the North American region. The new lab will join VW’s under-construction EV production expansion and battery pack assembly facility to form the company’s hub for EV… Read more »
Broader collaboration among key stakeholders and a new generation of finance solutions will be needed to electrify trucks and buses at scale by 2050, according to a new report released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), MJ Bradley and Vivid Economics. The authors of “Financing the Transition” interviewed more than 30 fleet operators, as well… Read more »
Daimler Trucks North America and Portland General Electric have announced the co-development of a large public charging site for medium- and heavy-duty commercial EVs. The facility, to be called Electric Island, is now under construction near Daimler Trucks headquarters in Portland. It’s designed to support up to 9 charging stations with charging levels of up… Read more »
Sometimes it seems automakers will try any powertrain technology in order to avoid selling battery-electric vehicles. First diesels, then hydrogen, were touted as ways to reduce CO2 emissions while still maintaining the fill-er-up-with-fossil-fuel business model (and continuing to crank out the colossal SUVs that carmakers claim consumers crave). Many electric purists have long suspected that… Read more »
Mustang Advanced Engineering (MAE) designs and manufactures made-to-order test stands for various EV projects, including drivetrains (electric motor, power supply and inverter) and electric axle testing projects. MAE recently delivered a test stand to heavy-duty EV manufacturer Proterra. The system includes a 350 hp regenerative AC dynamometer, 350-700 VDC programmable battery simulator, a cooling circuit… Read more »
Fiat Chrysler Italy and ENGIE EPS, an Italian energy storage and e-mobility specialist, plan to create a joint venture that will offer a suite of products and solutions for EV owners. The companies’ announcement to the press, while voluminous, includes few details about the proposed products and services. The new JV plans to “focus on… Read more »
