France has announced an auto industry bailout package worth some 8 billion euros ($8.8 billion), and it includes substantial support for electrification. The new funds are in addition to a 5-billion-euro loan guarantee being considered for struggling Renault, and the many millions already spent on temporary unemployment payments to auto workers. According to Le Monde,… Read more »
IRP Systems, a provider of electric powertrain products, has raised $17 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Chinese venture capital firm Fosun RZ Capital. Other investors include JAL ventures, Entrée Capital, Tal Capital, Union Tech Ventures, Cendana Capital and Champion Motors. IRP Systems was originally founded as an aerospace powertrain company,… Read more »
Severn Trent, a provider of water for around 8 million people in the Midlands of England and part of Wales, is working toward electrifying its entire vehicle fleet by 2030. It has selected Amsterdam-based EVBox to provide 352 charging points at operational sites, offices and transport workshops throughout its service area. EVBox has installed over… Read more »
Los Angeles-based Nanotech Energy, a major supplier of graphene, has raised $27.5 million in a Series C funding round. The company’s US-made Nanotech Energy Graphene Super Battery is designed to be non-flammable, and Nanotech claims it will deliver better longevity and much faster charging than current batteries. “We are confident that we have a one-of-a-kind,… Read more »
ZF Friedrichshafen and VisIC Technologies have announced a partnership to create a new generation of EV drivelines. The focus of the joint effort will be on 400-volt driveline applications, covering the largest segment of the EV market. ZF specializes in wide-band-gap semiconductor technology, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Gallium nitride semiconductors are thought… Read more »
Lordstown Motors has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Elaphe Propulsion Technologies. Elaphe will develop the in-wheel motor that will be used in Lordstown’s upcoming Endurance pickup truck—the motors will be built by Lordstown employees at the company’s Ohio headquarters. Initial setup of the 20,000-square-foot production line has already begun. Lordstown will begin using the… Read more »
After years of development, China recently announced a new national standard for wireless EV charging. Wireless charging is expected to be an important enabler for autonomous vehicles, and standardization is critical to ensure that wireless charging is interoperable across different vehicles and charging equipment. The new GuoBiao (GB) standard relies on technology developed by WiTricity,… Read more »
Slovakian mobile navigation vendor Sygic has added an EV Mode to its flagship Sygic GPS Navigation product. The new mode, which is available for free, allows users to plan routes with compatible charging points, get real-time data from charging stations, and process payments without the need for additional applications. Sygic’s EV Mode allows EV drivers… Read more »
Lately we’ve been hearing a lot of news about bidirectional charging, which supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications and other nifty stuff. In January, Wallbox announced what appears to be the first bidirectional charger for the home market. Fermata Energy has several V2X projects in the works, including a partnership with Nissan. And ORNL recently demonstrated bidirectional… Read more »
In the first quarter of 2020, EV battery suppliers deployed 20.5 GWh of capacity globally, down from 26.5 GWh in the fourth quarter, and 20.9 GWh during the first quarter of 2019, according to data from Adamas Intelligence’s EV Battery Capacity and Battery Metals Tracker. After losing the top spot to LG Chem in January… Read more »
