Tesla Motors is the epitome of a “moving target,” so when I released my history of the company in mid-2014, I knew it would be out of date before long. Like the company’s vehicles, the book continues to be regularly updated, and each new version will be smoothly delivered through the magic of the internet…. Read more »
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is on its way. MSRP for the base LT model will be $33,995 including delivery – $1,175 lower than the 2015 Volt, and close to the $33,560 average price of a new vehicle, as estimated by KBB (via Green Car Reports). There’s also a snazzier trim level that has a host of high-tech… Read more »
Fisker’s new owner, Chinese parts giant Wanxiang, hopes to bring the American automaker back from the dead. It made a promising start on its resurrection plan this week as it launched a Customer Support Program for existing Karma owners. A letter to current owners reiterated that the company plans to “re-launch the Karma and introduce future… Read more »
The monthly sales race has presented a predictable pattern for many months: LEAF, Model S and Volt in the lead, Ford and Toyota plug-ins in the second rank, low-volume and compliance cars way in the back of the pack. So it was quite an upset when a couple of models that everyone had long ago… Read more »
Wrightspeed, the startup led by Tesla co-founder Ian Wright, has identified a promising target for electrification – it retrofits plug-in powertrains to urban service trucks, the most inefficient and polluting of commercial vehicles. Customers include FedEx, which recently ordered an additional 25 of the company’s powertrains. Now Wrightspeed has unveiled the Fulcrum, a new turbine… Read more »
The proliferation of public EV charging infrastructure in the US continues, with no sign of slowing down. The total number of public stations of all connector types and charging levels has skyrocketed from less than 1,000 in 2010 to more than 25,000, according to PlugShare Data. Ambitious new infrastructure projects continue to be announced, including:… Read more »
VIA Motors has announced a voucher program for Chicago-area fleet and business owners that reduces the purchase price of its extended range electric pickups and vans. The Drive Clean Chicago program offers a voucher worth $41,200 for the VIA Motors Extended Range Electric Pickup, $42,892 for the Cargo Van, and $39,460 for the Passenger Van. Combining… Read more »
Massachusetts-based MIT spinout WiTricity has announced a licensing agreement with BRUSA Elektronik AG, a global supplier of EV power electronics. BRUSA will license WiTricity’s IP to commercialize wireless charging systems. BRUSA’s ICS wireless charging system, using WiTricity’s technology, uses a charging pad on the ground to transfer power to a vehicle using magnetic resonance. The… Read more »
EV heating and cooling presents a dilemma: how to keep a vehicle’s occupants comfortable without draining the battery? Engineers are working on various solutions, from heat pumps and adsorption chillers to passenger-focused AC and heat. A group of researchers from the University of Utah, HRL Laboratories and GM Global R&D has developed a novel approach… Read more »
In his usual highly entertaining style, Elon Musk announced the new Tesla Energy line of energy storage products. “We have this handy fusion reactor in the sky called the sun…that shows up every day and produces ridiculous amounts of power.” Batteries are the “missing piece” that will allow us to capture this energy and build… Read more »
