German engineering firm AZL is joining with an international consortium of automotive suppliers to develop a multi-material battery casing. The 8-month product development will start with an international market analysis and a concept study in which different multi-material component concepts and production scenarios will be developed and evaluated with regard to their costs. Finally, a… Read more »
Many believe the tipping point for EVs in the US will occur when a selection of electric pickup trucks hits the market. Now Ford, the prime purveyor of pickups, has announced that it is moving ahead with its plans to produce an electric version of the F-150, the nation’s bestselling vehicle. The Detroit Free Press… Read more »
The historic city of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, is located on the River Rhine, which provides not only a picturesque setting, but a reliable source of hydroelectric power—an ideal source of green energy for the city’s new electric buses. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport (the equivalent of our Federal Transit Administration) has tested and certified the electric… Read more »
A new EPIC project coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is aimed at accelerating the drying of electrodes for lithium-ion batteries, increasing the energy efficiency of this process and reducing production cost. KIT says innovative electrode drying management can reduce the cost of battery production and improve environmental performance. The quality of Li-ion battery… Read more »
Electric buses are proliferating beyond the usual EV hotspots. Caribbean islands, many of which have short travel distances and high fuel prices, could be great candidates for transit electrification. The Barbados Transport Board recently received 33 BYD battery-electric buses, and two more of the 30-foot buses are to be delivered by December. The buses were… Read more »
NEXT eMobility Solutions, a business unit of Navistar International (NYSE: NAV), has signed a master services agreement with Los Angeles-based In-Charge Energy to provide charging infrastructure and consulting services to Navistar and its EV customers. As fleet operators electrify, they are learning that purchasing EVs is just the beginning of the process—they slso need to… Read more »
Cargo capacity has always been a sore point with legacy-brand (non-Tesla) EVs. The already limited cargo space in hatchbacks such as the LEAF and Bolt has been cannibalized for the battery, and the rear seats are not designed to fold flat. Well, if you’re willing to sacrifice the rear seats entirely, you may be able… Read more »
Electrify America is on a 10-year, $2-billion mission to build a comprehensive public DC fast charging network across the US. Last year it expanded into home charging with the launch of its Level 2 Home Charger. Now EA has formed a new business unit called Electrify Home, which aims to leverage the company’s considerable charging… Read more »
Porsche Digital has spun off an e-mobility company called &Charge. The Frankfurt-based startup is offering what it calls the first loyalty program for e-mobility in Europe. It provides a digital platform through which users can obtain credit for their online purchases, which can be redeemed for electric mobility services. For purchases, bookings and other transactions… Read more »
General Motors has unveiled a family of five interchangeable drive units and three motors, which will power its next generation of EVs. “Ultium Drive will help the company transition its current portfolio to a fully electric lineup, providing significant advantages over GM’s previous EVs in performance, scale, speed to market and manufacturing efficiencies,” says GM…. Read more »
