Newswire

Electric Cessna Grand Caravan makes historic maiden flight

Magnix, a maker of electric powertrains for aircraft, collaborated with engineering and flight test specialist AeroTEC to test an electric Cessna 208B Grand Caravan that they claim is the largest all-electric aircraft yet flown. The 30-minute maiden flight, which took place at an airfield near Moses Lake, Washington, was “flawless,” according to the test pilot…. Read more »

New report forecasts blockchain-based EV charging and grid integration market

A new report from Guidehouse Insights provides forecasts for blockchain-enabled charging hardware deployment, electricity demand from blockchain-based platforms, and revenue from EV charging and integration applications through 2029. According to the report, the combined market for blockchain-based EV charging and grid integration is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2029 at a 77.9% compound annual… Read more »

Transit operator in icy northern Sweden adds 13 BYD eBuses to its fleet

Nobina, a large public transit operator in Sweden and the Nordic region, has ordered an additional 13 BYD eBuses. The new 12-meter models will serve the town of Piteå in the northeast of Sweden, just south of the Arctic Circle—the most northerly location in Europe where BYD’s buses have operated to date. The new buses… Read more »

DSM and Lightyear join forces on integrated solar roofs for EVs

Lightyear and Royal DSM have signed an agreement to jointly scale the commercialization of Lightyear’s solar-powered roof for the EV market. The partnership aims to integrate solar-powered roofs in a variety of EVs, including cars, vans, and buses, enabling users to charge their vehicles directly with clean energy. The companies are teaming up to assess… Read more »

Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV boasts 42-mile electric range, $38k base price

Toyota has announced pricing for its upcoming RAV4 Prime. The PHEV version of the company’s popular small SUV is slated to go on sale this summer. The base SE version will start at $38,100, and the XSE variant will start at $41,425. The RAV4 Prime boasts an electric range of 42 miles, which compares favorably… Read more »

Tritium adds Plug & Charge capability to its charging stations

Tritium, an Australia-based manufacturer of DC fast charging stations, has incorporated Plug & Charge technology into its products. Tritium says Plug & Charge capability is available immediately for charge point operators to deploy on its PK350kW DC High Power Chargers. Plug & Charge, based on the ISO 15118 standard, enables direct communication between an EV… Read more »

VW to shift to dealer agency model for EV sales

It’s no secret that auto dealerships are a major bottleneck for EV sales. Legacy automakers may cast an envious eye on Tesla’s direct-to-customer sales model, but they cannot practically (or legally) cut the dealers out of the equation. Now Volkswagen may have found a way to solve this dilemma, at least in Germany. VW has… Read more »

Swindon is taking orders for its new “crate” EV powertrain

Swindon Powertrain’s compact HPD 80 kW “crate” motor for EV conversions is now available to order from the company’s web site. The motor is suitable for OEMs, niche vehicle manufacturers, electric car conversion companies and home mechanics. Prices start at £6,400+VAT for the 80 kW motor, transmission and differential. Options for cooling, inverters and limited-slip… Read more »

California Energy Commission funds two lithium recovery projects in Salton Sea region

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded $7.8 to two lithium recovery projects in the Salton Sea region, where high concentrations of the soft metal are found dissolved in the brine produced by geothermal hotspots. The Salton Sea Known Geothermal Area contains an estimated six million tons of recoverable lithium. However, there are significant barriers… Read more »

Momentum Fleet Management orders 900 Lordstown Endurance electric pickup trucks

Lordstown Motors aims to transform its Northeast Ohio home into Voltage Valley, a center of modern EV manufacturing. Now the company has secured an order for 900 Endurance electric pickup trucks from Ohio-based fleet management specialist Momentum Groups. Momentum specializes in corporate vehicles, from ordering to disposal, including purchase or lease financing options, fuel cards,… Read more »