The BMW Group has delivered more than 100,000 EVs and PHEVs worldwide since the launch of the i sub-brand in November 2013. The i3 has sold over 60,000 units, and the i8 has sold 10,000, which makes it the top seller among electrified sports cars, BMW says (for comparison, Tesla sold about 2,400 units of… Read more »
Linear Technology, a maker of battery stack monitoring ICs for EVs and hybrids, demonstrated a concept car featuring a wireless battery management system (BMS) at the recent Electronica Show in Munich. The concept vehicle, developed by design partner LION Smart, combines Linear’s battery stack monitors with its SmartMesh wireless mesh networking products in a BMW… Read more »
Quebec has become the first Canadian province to adopt a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate similar to the one in effect in California. Quebec’s National Assembly passed the regulation by a unanimous vote of 112 to 0. Starting with the 2018 model year, automakers will be required to generate ZEV credits equivalent to 3.5 percent of… Read more »
California refuse collection company the Ratto Group will roll out 15 refuse trucks retrofitted with Wrightspeed’s Route range-extended electric powertrain over the next 12 months. The Wrightspeed Route powertrain is optimized for heavy-duty frequent-stop drive cycles, like those of refuse trucks. It replaces a vehicle’s engine, transmission and differential systems with a fuel-agnostic microturbine generator… Read more »
Barely two days after his election, US automakers contacted the new president-elect to urge him to “reform” federal regulation of the industry, including fuel economy, emissions, autonomy and safety standards. In a letter to the Trump transition team (via Automotive News), the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers proposed that the new administration pause the ongoing midterm evaluation… Read more »
Dana Incorporated (NYSE: DAN) has introduced a new portfolio of integrated motor, control, and e-drive technologies for electric propulsion systems. The new Spicer Electrified products are designed to address each of the company’s end markets – light, commercial, and off-highway vehicles – and to complement its Long line of battery-cooling solutions. Currently in production, the… Read more »
It was bound to happen. Four years ago, when Tesla introduced the Supercharger Network, EVs were unfamiliar to most consumers, and their limited range made them a tough sell. Offering unlimited free charging was a great way to nip that particular objection right in the bud, and it surely closed many a sale. However, today… Read more »
EVgo, the nation’s largest network of public DC fast charging stations, announced that it has officially opened its 800th fast charging station, at SaveMart in Madera, Calif. The location features two DC fast chargers manufactured by BTC Power of Santa Ana, Calif. Each dual-standard charger includes two connectors, CHAdeMo and Combo Charging Standard. EVgo’s network… Read more »
Nissan has announced that European LEAF sales have risen 10 percent in the first half of FY16 compared with the same period last year. The latest figures also reveal that there are more than 75,000 Nissan EV owners in Europe. This milestone follows the recent announcement that 260,000 Nissan EVs have been sold worldwide. Nissan’s… Read more »
Colorado-based motor manufacturer UQM Technologies (NYSE MKT: UQM) has received an updated Chinese certification for its PowerPhase HD250 electric propulsion system. The testing, conducted at the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, included system performance analysis for power and torque, vibration, salt spray, sealing performance and electrical testing. UQM’s PowerPhase HD250 system, designed for heavy-duty… Read more »
