Tesla started low-volume production of the new Model Y in January, months ahead of schedule, and is now beginning to confirm Model Y deliveries to customers. Buyers from around the country have reported receiving emails from Tesla offering delivery on or after March 15: “Congratulations! Your Model Y is ready for delivery in March 2020.”… Read more »
The latest electrification news from what some are calling Northeast Ohio’s Voltage Valley: Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy, an electric utility that serves over 6 million customers, has agreed to buy 250 Endurance electric pickup trucks from Lordstown Motors. Lordstown is aiming its Endurance pickup truck squarely at the fleet market. The onboard power export feature enables… Read more »
There’s little dispute that Tesla has a substantial head start in terms of battery tech vis a vis the legacy automakers. Now Electrek has reported that Tesla has a secret project called “Roadrunner” that could soon enable the company to produce much cheaper battery cells on a massive scale. For some time, it’s been apparent… Read more »
One of the Trump administration’s top priorities has been rolling back environmental regulations, and this is one area in which it has been ruthlessly efficient. The New York Times estimates that, to date, this administration has killed or watered down some 100 environmental protections. However, one big prize continues to elude the administration’s wrecking crew:… Read more »
New research from MIT could lead to batteries that pack more power per pound and last longer. A new paper co-authored by Yuming Chen and Ziqiang Wang at MIT explores the idea of using pure lithium as the battery’s anode. The design is part of a concept for developing safe solid-state batteries by dispensing with… Read more »
AKASOL has adopted Tesla’s nomenclature, and christened its new battery plant in Darmstadt, Germany “Gigafactory 1.” The German battery maker has commissioned Manz to supply fully automated production lines for high-energy battery modules at the new plant and the company’s US site in Hazel Park, Michigan. The total order volume for production equipment could reach… Read more »
As the EV market expands, there’s a pressing need for more standardization of DC power distribution, especially for buses and heavy-duty vehicles. SAE International’s new standard SAE J-3105: Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System Using Conductive Automated Connection Devices Recommended Practice promotes the safe testing and performance of mechanized conductive power transfer systems, primarily for vehicles… Read more »
Lordstown Motors, the startup headed by Workhorse CEO Steve Burns, is building an electric pickup called the Endurance at a former GM factory in Lordstown, Ohio. The Endurance is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2020 at a base price of $52,500. The new e-pickup will feature in-wheel hub electric motors, according… Read more »
TDK Ventures has dipped into its $50-million corporate venture capital fund to invest in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company AutoFlightX. With their ability to navigate dangerous or hard-to-reach environments, eVTOL vehicles can help eliminate human risk in mining inspections, or deliver payloads of supplies and medicine in emergency response scenarios. AutoFlightX says it… Read more »
Nickel deployment in passenger EV batteries totaled 59,271 tonnes in 2019, according to Adamas Intelligence, representing an increase of 39% from 2018. BEVs were responsible for 76% of passenger battery nickel use globally in 2019, up from 71% in 2018. The sales-weighted average amount of nickel deployed per EV globally in 2019 was 12.9 kilograms,… Read more »