Volvo Cars has announced that, beginning in 2019, every one of its models will have an electric motor, making it the first legacy automaker to phase out ICE-only vehicles. In the future, Volvo will offer only three powertrains: pure electric, plug-in hybrid, and mild hybrid, which uses a battery to store energy from regen, or… Read more »
After a slow start, Tesla’s sales are starting to take off in the world’s largest auto market. The company sold 10,400 vehicles in China in 2016 – triple the previous year’s figure – and sales for the first three months of 2017 have put it on track to double that this year. China represented around… Read more »
Elaphe Propulsion Technologies has built a demonstrator vehicle that it claims is the highest-performing in-wheel-powered car ever. The modified BMW X6 uses 4 Elaphe L1500 gearless electric motors mounted inside the wheels. It delivers over 440 kW (590 hp) of power, and over 6,000 Nm (4,425 lb·ft) of direct-drive torque. The 5,300-pound vehicle can reach… Read more »
In addition to its Superchargers, Tesla has been installing Level 2 Destination Chargers at locations such as hotels and restaurants – over 5,000 so far. Tesla installs the chargers for free, and the host covers the electric bill. In the US, Tesla chargers use a proprietary connector, so theoretically only Tesla vehicles can use them…. Read more »
Adding EV charging stations to streetlights is an interesting idea – it can save money, because the electrical lines are already in place, and it can enable smart features that deliver increased efficiency. The City of Lancaster, California has launched a demonstration project that will integrate chargers into five streetlights in the trendy downtown district…. Read more »
Australia-based Tritium has won a tender to provide 52 Veefil-UT fast chargers for German power distribution company Stromnetz Hamburg. The chargers, which support both CHAdeMO and CCS fast charging standards, have been adapted in partnership with Stromnetz to comply with German regulations and retain their signature small footprint. Each will feature an 11 kW AC… Read more »
Here at Charged, we usually write about technical matters and industry trends, and leave the car reviews to others. However, after spending a week with the Chevy Bolt EV, I am moved to write not just a review, but a rave. I’ve driven pretty much every EV that’s widely available in the US, and there’s… Read more »
BYD Coach and Bus, which is steadily expanding deliveries of electric buses in the US, has announced the hiring of a new General Manager. Milo Victoria, an industry veteran with 41 years of transit industry experience, will oversee operations of the company’s electric bus manufacturing facility in Lancaster, California. BYD employs nearly 700 individuals in… Read more »
Just as dinosaur drivers need to choose among regular, premium and diesel, EV drivers have several charging options, and novices (including some of our colleagues in the mainstream media) still find the different choices confusing. Here in the US, we have Level 1 (120 volts), Level 2 (240 volts), and three different DC fast charging… Read more »
AEM Components’ new line of AEC-Q200 qualified surface-mount fuses is designed specifically for reliable operation in high-stress automotive applications. The new wire-in-air AirMatrix (QA Series) fuses feature current ratings up to 20 A / 250 V. The proprietary, hermetically-sealed wire-in-air structure is designed to assure consistent electrical performance. The fusible element in the QA Series… Read more »
