Lightning Systems, a developer of zero-emission powertrains for commercial fleets, has announced a new all-electric Low Cab Forward model in the Class 6 segment. The Lightning Electric heavy-duty powertrain will be available in the 19,501-26,000 pound gross vehicle weight rating. Orders are being accepted now, and delivery is to begin in the fourth quarter of… Read more »
This fall, AKASOL is set to begin mass producing batteries for Mercedes-Benz’s eCitaro. AKASOL’s first-generation battery systems will contain ten battery modules for up to 243 kWh per vehicle and a charging rate of up to 300 kW. In order to make this possible, AKASOL uses a water-cooling system to keep its batteries at 25° C in various… Read more »
eMotorWerks will provide charging stations for multistate electric utility Xcel Energy, which is conducting a two-year pilot program that aims to prepare the utility’s regional grids for the expected increased electric demand created by EV charging. Unlike most utilities, Xcel Energy will own the charging units, which will be installed at residential customers’ homes. This… Read more »
Things are happening at Vancouver-based EV manufacturer Electra Meccanica. The company, a descendant of Italian boutique automaker Intermeccanica, recently completed a $10-million public offering and began trading on NASDAQ. It is producing its unique SOLO EV in limited numbers, and is preparing to launch it in the US this fall. The SOLO is an electric… Read more »
Suburban dwellers can easily install EV chargers in their garages or driveways, but for millions of apartment-dwellers who rely on street parking, the problem of charging is a major obstacle to buying an EV. In London, 78% of households have no private parking spaces. A startup called char.gy has a possible solution: installing chargers in… Read more »
Over 35 California mayors, including the mayors of Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, have signed an open letter to the California Air Resources Board urging the agency to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission buses. In September, CARB is due to vote on a proposal called the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) measure,… Read more »
As per the goals of the European Competitiveness in Commercial Hybrid and AutoMotive PowertrainS (ECOCHAMPS) project, Ricardo Innovations has developed a new 48 V e-motor and inverter combination that it says delivers a 50% power density increase compared to alternatives. ECOCHAMPS brought 25 European commercial and academic partners together to design powertrains with at least… Read more »
Sometimes you need to charge on the go, and while public chargers are steadily becoming more common, the sad truth is that they are often occupied or out of order, or just won’t work for unknown reasons. Most plug-in vehicles come with a Level 1 charging cable, but wouldn’t it convenient to have a portable… Read more »
Solid-state batteries are theoretically safer, more stable, and have higher energy densities than conventional Li-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. Unfortunately, they also tend to have relatively high resistance at the interfaces between their electrodes and solid electrolytes, which can limit the rate of charging and discharging. In order to solve this, researchers from the Tokyo… Read more »
Looking for an objective review of the Toyota Prius Prime Advanced? Sorry, you’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m one of “the pious” – annoying Prius drivers who sing the praises of our favorite hybrid vehicle to anyone who will listen. I’ve owned three Prii (and yes, replaced batteries on two), and this is a completely… Read more »
