Battery provider Octillion Power Systems will collaborate with Colorado-based Lightning Systems to produce Class 6 electric trucks (up to 12.5 tons) aimed at “middle-mile” delivery routes between warehouses and distribution centers. Lightning’s fuel cell-powered Class 6 truck offered by Plug Power will be available in the third quarter of 2020. Lightning’s all-electric version of the… Read more »
Tesla is reworking plans for its Berlin-area Gigafactory to answer criticism from environmental groups, a local government official told Bloomberg. The EV trendsetter has faced concerns from locals about deforestation and water usage. In February, the company was forced to temporarily halt construction. New blueprints to be presented in the next couple of weeks will… Read more »
Magnix, a maker of electric powertrains for aircraft, collaborated with engineering and flight test specialist AeroTEC to test an electric Cessna 208B Grand Caravan that they claim is the largest all-electric aircraft yet flown. The 30-minute maiden flight, which took place at an airfield near Moses Lake, Washington, was “flawless,” according to the test pilot…. Read more »
A new report from Guidehouse Insights provides forecasts for blockchain-enabled charging hardware deployment, electricity demand from blockchain-based platforms, and revenue from EV charging and integration applications through 2029. According to the report, the combined market for blockchain-based EV charging and grid integration is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2029 at a 77.9% compound annual… Read more »
Nobina, a large public transit operator in Sweden and the Nordic region, has ordered an additional 13 BYD eBuses. The new 12-meter models will serve the town of Piteå in the northeast of Sweden, just south of the Arctic Circle—the most northerly location in Europe where BYD’s buses have operated to date. The new buses… Read more »
Lightyear and Royal DSM have signed an agreement to jointly scale the commercialization of Lightyear’s solar-powered roof for the EV market. The partnership aims to integrate solar-powered roofs in a variety of EVs, including cars, vans, and buses, enabling users to charge their vehicles directly with clean energy. The companies are teaming up to assess… Read more »
Toyota has announced pricing for its upcoming RAV4 Prime. The PHEV version of the company’s popular small SUV is slated to go on sale this summer. The base SE version will start at $38,100, and the XSE variant will start at $41,425. The RAV4 Prime boasts an electric range of 42 miles, which compares favorably… Read more »
Tritium, an Australia-based manufacturer of DC fast charging stations, has incorporated Plug & Charge technology into its products. Tritium says Plug & Charge capability is available immediately for charge point operators to deploy on its PK350kW DC High Power Chargers. Plug & Charge, based on the ISO 15118 standard, enables direct communication between an EV… Read more »
It’s no secret that auto dealerships are a major bottleneck for EV sales. Legacy automakers may cast an envious eye on Tesla’s direct-to-customer sales model, but they cannot practically (or legally) cut the dealers out of the equation. Now Volkswagen may have found a way to solve this dilemma, at least in Germany. VW has… Read more »
Swindon Powertrain’s compact HPD 80 kW “crate” motor for EV conversions is now available to order from the company’s web site. The motor is suitable for OEMs, niche vehicle manufacturers, electric car conversion companies and home mechanics. Prices start at £6,400+VAT for the 80 kW motor, transmission and differential. Options for cooling, inverters and limited-slip… Read more »
