Vehicle chargers that earn the ENERGY STAR label are independently certified to save energy, based on criteria set by the EPA. The agency started with Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, and is currently in the process of expanding eligibility to include DC fast chargers. Work on a test method has been completed, and draft… Read more »
Lucid Motors has announced independent verification of a 517-mile range for its upcoming Lucid Air luxury sedan. The tests were conducted by FEV North America in Auburn Hills, Michigan, using the EPA’s Multicycle Test procedure. This appears to be a new record for a passenger EV, handily besting the 402-mile range of the 2020 Tesla… Read more »
In a joint research project, the EDAG Group and Hexagon Purus (a specialist in composite high-pressure tanks) are investigating hybrid storage systems that combine the advantages of both hybrid and battery drive alternatives. The project, scheduled to run for 18 months, will develop a flexible storage system, designed to be installed in a vehicle floor,… Read more »
Seat, a Spanish brand owned by the Volkswagen Group, has unveiled the production version of a new electric “hot hatch,” and car guys are salivating. The Cupra el-Born, first shown as a concept last year, is built on VW’s MEB platform. It boasts an aggressive design, and a sporty and minimalist interior. “Besides the attention… Read more »
Sponsored by HBM Test and Measurement In-vehicle testing provides engineers with a method to benchmark competitors’ vehicles, calibrate drivetrains, and validate the performance of the product. In the emerging electric vehicle market, electrical power measurements on motors and inverters are becoming necessary to evaluate the powertrain of the vehicle. Previously, mobile power measurements were difficult due… Read more »
How does the weather affect the performance of electric buses in real-world operation? Telematics specialist ViriCiti looked into that question, analyzing over 100 e-buses in the Netherlands over the course of several seasons and months. ViriCiti gathered, anonymized and analyzed data from 79 12-meter buses and 27 18-meter buses active across 7 cities in the… Read more »
Zero-emission truck startup Nikola has secured an order for at least 2,500 electric refuse trucks (expandable up to 5,000) from Republic Services, the second-largest solid waste hauler in the US. Nikola says on-road testing is “likely to begin in early 2022,” and deliveries will begin in 2023. The new trucks will use Nikola’s Tre powertrain…. Read more »
Lightning Systems, a Colorado-based manufacturer of commercial EVs, has launched a new division that will offer charging technologies and services to commercial and government fleets. The new Lightning Energy division designs, installs, services and manages charging solutions, providing fleet operators with turnkey options to make electrification easier. Lightning Energy offers a range of purchased or… Read more »
One of the challenges of urban charging is a simple lack of space on streets and sidewalks. Some see wireless charging as the solution, but the Austrian firm Easelink has developed a cable-free physical charging system. “The competition between parking spaces and walkways as well as the lack of surfaces for installing cable-based charging systems… Read more »
Ampcera has introduced a low-cost flexible solid electrolyte (SE) membrane technology for solid-state batteries (SSBs). Ampcera’s SE membranes can be as thin as 25 microns, offer room temperature lithium ionic conductivity greater than 1 mS/cm, and are stable against a lithium metal anode. According to the company, they would enable solid-state lithium metal batteries with… Read more »
