Hydro-Québec subsidiary TM4 has joined with motor-maker Cummins to develop a plug-in hybrid powertrain for Class 7/8 transit buses. TM4 equipped 5,000 buses in China with its electric powertrain last year. The new system consists of a genset (Cummins’ Euro 2019 B4.5 engine coupled with TM4’s LSG130 electric generator), a TM4 SUMO electric motor, a… Read more »
The Volkswagen Group has invested some €3 billion ($3.3 billion) in “alternative” drive technologies over the past five years, and plans to triple this amount over the next five years, said CEO Matthias Müller at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Hanover. “The future is electric. We intend to be the number one in e-mobility… Read more »
Visedo, a Finnish manufacturer of electric drivetrains for heavy vehicles, has signed a production agreement with Asian motor producer TECO Electric & Machinery. Visedo hopes to benefit from TECO’s production capacity, particularly in Asia. Visedo recently opened a new office in Hong Kong, and signed a letter of intent with the VC firm Beijing Capital… Read more »
The California Energy Commission has awarded more than $36 million in grants for various clean energy transportation projects. The South Coast Air Quality Management District and Long Beach Harbor Department received $10 million each and the Los Angeles Harbor Department received $4.5 million to conduct field demonstrations of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and cargo handling… Read more »
Energica, maker of the Eva and Ego electric superbikes, has unveiled its first branded fast charging station at Selva di Val Gardena, in the Dolomites region of Italy. The 50 kW Combo CCS fast charger is the first in a network that will cover roads loved by motorcyclists. Automakers and governments are installing chargers around… Read more »
Researchers at French battery-maker Saft and Université Paris Est have, for the first time, used a nanocomposite metal hydride as the anode in a complete solid-state battery with a sulfur cathode and LiBH4 electrolyte. In “An all-solid-state metal hydride-Sulfur lithium-ion battery,” published in the Journal of Power Sources, Pedro López-Aranguren and colleagues explain that their… Read more »
We all know Elon Musk and company are used to thinking big. Even so, the recent announcement that a Tesla Semi truck would be unveiled in September caused jaws to drop and heads to shake. In the trucking industry, there was plenty of skepticism, but also a healthy concern for the future. “Commercial vehicle makers… Read more »
The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Forge Nano to commercialize NREL’s patented battery materials and systems. A feature of the technology is the encapsulation of materials with solid electrolyte coatings that can be designed to meet the needs of any battery application. These batteries feature a… Read more »
Motiv Power Systems, in partnership with school bus manufacturer Trans Tech, will build 13 zero-emission school buses for two school districts in the Sacramento region. The project is supported by a $7.5-million grant from the California Air Resources Board. The Trans Tech eSeries buses will be built on the Ford E450 chassis, and powered by… Read more »
Network operator ChargePoint is expanding into the European market by partnering with InstaVolt to deploy over 200 ChargePoint rapid charge systems in the UK. ChargePoint’s Express Plus solutions will be installed by InstaVolt close to popular routes across the UK, enabling drivers to charge their vehicles during long journeys. “InstaVolt has raised millions to install… Read more »
