Image: Rheinmetall Automotive’s electrical coolant pump Germany’s Rheinmetall Automotive is known as a supplier of hard parts (pistons, blocks, cylinder heads, etc.) and mechatronics. However, CEO Horst Binnig says that “products with a cable” already constitute 40% of total sales. “We really see pure e-mobility more as an opportunity than a risk. The percentage of purely… Read more »
At a recent standards meeting, carmakers, Tier 1 suppliers, and technology providers have reached agreement on key technical and procedural elements of the upcoming SAE Recommended Practice (RP) for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) and automated parking alignment and charging. The goal of this standardization is to ensure interoperability among different brands of EVs and wireless… Read more »
Nissan and BMW have joined forces with network operator EVgo to deploy an additional 174 fast charging locations in 33 states. This expansion builds on the 120 fast chargers that Nissan and BMW announced in December 2015. Each location offers a dual 50 kW DC fast charging station with both CHAdeMO and SAE Combo (CCS)… Read more »
Audi and its Chinese partner the FAW Group have crafted a new strategic growth plan that calls for expanding the line-up of models produced in China, including electrified vehicles. In the next five years, Audi and FAW plan to produce five additional e-tron models for the Chinese market, including pure EVs with ranges of more… Read more »
New Flyer is one of North America’s largest bus builders, and zero-emission buses (ZEBs) are a growing part of its business. In 2016, the company delivered 213 “equivalent units” as zero-emission buses (one standard transit bus or motor coach equals one equivalent unit, one articulated bus equals two). This represents 8.3% of New Flyer’s total… Read more »
Engineers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have developed a new online energy management system (EMS) that they say can improve PHEV fuel efficiency by more than 30%. In “Development and Evaluation of an Evolutionary Algorithm-Based Online Energy Management System for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles,” published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Xuewei… Read more »
As the EV scene heats up, we’re starting to see a steady stream of studies and surveys analyzing the growing market. Assessments of consumers’ EV awareness vary considerably, and predictions for the future are all over the map. A recent report by investment analyst Goldman Sachs sees big changes ahead for the auto industry, but… Read more »
3M has agreed to transfer all of its intellectual property related to Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) cathodes, including global patents and license agreements, to technology and recycling firm Umicore. The divestment will allow 3M to increase its focus on next-generation silicon anode materials, electrolyte additives and advanced thermal management solutions for EVs. “The agreement enables 3M to… Read more »
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid plug-in hybrid has a life-cycle global warming impact that’s 31% less than that of the previous-generation minivan, and 24% less than its 2017 gas-powered stablemate, according to an analysis by Fiat Chrysler (FCA). FCA’s engineers used an industry-standard software tool that determines Global Warming Potential (GWP), considering not only fuel… Read more »
Tesla has redefined many aspects of automobiles, and the user interface is one obvious example. The large touchscreen in current Teslas is the most advanced UI on the roads, and many are wondering if the company will take things a step further with Model 3. We already know that Model 3 has no traditional instrument… Read more »
