You’ll never guess which of the Big Three just announced plans for 10 new EVs. Yes, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) plans to introduce the new models under its Jeep, Maserati, and Fiat brands within the next 4 years. Currently, Fiat’s only plug-ins are the e500, a compliance car that CEO Sergio Marchionne has asked customers not… Read more »
It’s not really news that auto dealerships are a significant roadblock to wider EV adoption. A 2017 study found that most traditional dealers have few EVs in their inventory, and are unprepared to answer customers’ questions about EVs. In some cases, dealers actively discourage buyers from going electric. A new study from Aarhus University in… Read more »
EV startup BYTON has concluded a Series B fundraising round, attracting a total of $500 million, which it will invest in mass production, R&D and product development. “The success of this funding round highlights how diversified strategic investors will further expand BYTON’s circle of friends and broaden our development opportunities,” said BYTON President and co-founder… Read more »
Sponsored by Littelfuse By Carlos Castro, Global Director Marketing Automotive Electronics, Littelfuse, Inc. As hybrid and electric vehicles roll closer to battery power drive systems with 48V or higher, the lithium-ion battery in a closed system is the clear leader for power. Lithium-ion gets high marks in cost, energy efficiency, temperature performance, power-to-weight ratio and lifecycle…. Read more »
The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued a new report that ranks the environmental performance of global automakers. It’s no surprise that Tesla topped the rankings by a wide margin. (Yes, the report considers the full lifecycle of vehicles, including emissions associated with manufacturing and the production of fuel.) However, EV fans may be surprised… Read more »
Northvolt plans to build a new Li-ion battery factory with an annual capacity of 32 GWh, aided by a €10-million investment from Siemens. This partnership will make Northvolt the main Li-ion battery supplier for Siemens and promote the use of new technologies and production methods. The new plant is meant to be an analog to… Read more »
Tesla seems to be back into the pattern its investors love to see: Elon tweets out a slow drip of good news items, and the stock ratchets higher (as the media makes an about-face and the short sellers gnash their teeth). The latest tidbit is that the eagerly awaited Autopilot version 9 software upgrade, scheduled… Read more »
New Jersey’s Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), the state’s largest utility, has revealed plans to invest $300 million in smart EV infrastructure, along with $100 million in utility-scale energy storage projects and $2.5 billion in energy efficiency measures. The company will file the plan with the state Board of Public Utilities later this year. The… Read more »
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment has approved a subsidized pilot project to research the electrification of long-haul trucks using a roof-mounted pantograph to charge from an overhead power line. Siemens will be responsible for developing the pantograph, and Volkswagen will provide hybrid trucks via subsidiary Scania, and will carry out the research. Trial… Read more »
A team of researchers at the DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory has conducted a review of 40 automotive market studies from 16 countries, including the US, Germany, China, South Korea, the UK and Ireland. These studies modeled the decision factors that drive consumers to buy plug-in vehicles (PEVs). The study addressed such issues as: projected market… Read more »
