NI, formerly National Instruments, has announced the acquisition of test instruments and systems firm NH Research, as well as an agreement to purchase the EV Systems business of Heinzinger, a European supplier of high-current and high-voltage power systems. The deal is expected to close in 2022. These two transactions will represent 3 percent to 4… Read more »
TE Connectivity‘s all-new TENDUR surface plating technology is designed to provide advanced abrasion resistance that allows for consistent high-performance charging over the course of a battery’s lifetime. The technology reduces wear and tear on electrical terminals, which can lead to longer charging times. The newest high-powered charging stations can deliver DC power at currents of… Read more »
MAN Truck and Bus, a commercial subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, began electrifying in 2020. It currently offers a few electrified versions of its trucks, buses and vans. Now the company says it will make the transition to all-electric powertrains, beginning in 2024. In a recent interview with Handelsblatt, MAN CEO Dr. Andreas Tostmann said… Read more »
Chinese EV-maker NIO has begun deliveries of its ES8 electric SUV in Norway, and has opened a service and delivery center in Oslo. The ES8 comes in six- and seven-seat configurations. It boasts a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and a peak (CCS) charging rate of 120 kW. There are two battery pack options:… Read more »
Auto dealers are a well-known bottleneck for EV sales, but it’s not (entirely) because they’re a bunch of gas-loving Luddites. EVs are unfamiliar to most consumers, and it takes valuable time to explain them to shoppers. Most salespeople don’t have the needed product knowledge, and EV sales are such a small part of the market… Read more »
Choo need a charge with your chalupa? A Taco Bell in South San Francisco is installing six DC fast chargers, along with a carport-style solar array. The new chargers are built by Tritium, and will be managed by software from ChargeNet. The 75 kW Tritium RTM fast chargers will accept payment through ChargeNet’s mobile app… Read more »
Ford plans to transform its Halewood vehicle transmission facility in the UK, in order to build electric power units—complete all-electric powertrains—for future EVs for the European market. The company will invest up to £230 million at Halewood (including support from the UK government). Production of the e-powertrains is expected to begin in mid-2024, and initial… Read more »
A pair of related announcements from GM indicate that, as the company moves steadily forward with electrification, it understands the critical importance of charging infrastructure. Ultium Chargers GM will introduce its own line of residential and commercial chargers under the Ultium brand. The new family of Ultium Chargers, which GM developed in collaboration with charging… Read more »
Tesla showed off its new 4680 cell—a tabless battery cell with a new chemistry that promises to boost efficiency and reduce costs—at 2020’s Battery Day event. Since then, several of the automaker’s battery suppliers have reportedly been working on production versions of the 4680 cell. Now Panasonic has unveiled its version of the Tesla 4680… Read more »
Rock Tech Lithium, a company with offices in Canada and Germany, is planning to build a production plant for battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Guben, Brandenburg. The company has acquired a 12-hectare site in the Guben South industrial park—which happens to be just a few miles away from Tesla’s new Berlin Gigafactory. Rock Tech intends to… Read more »
