Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed new software that promises a better way to estimate the remaining range of an EV. The system requires drivers to plug in their destination and automatically pulls in data on several variables to predict energy use. The team described their work in a paper, Big-Data Framework for… Read more »
Public charging network ChargePoint has added PayPal as an option for EV drivers to pay for charging. It’s a natural partnership, according to ChargePoint, as both companies are “revolutionizing traditional industries.” PayPal is a supporter of electromobility, and has installed 34 ChargePoint stations at its San Jose campus. Drivers who choose the PayPal option will… Read more »
Researchers around the world are working on improving various aspects of battery performance – capacity, charging speed, usable life. Scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are focusing on the speed with which they can be manufactured, which has a direct effect on costs. The researchers have increased the manufacturing speed of electrode foils… Read more »
Any time an EV-maker announces something new, the mainstream press tends to report it as “an effort to boost disappointing sales,” or words to that effect. But when the company in question is Tesla, such assertions aren’t likely to go unchallenged. This week, Tesla announced a deal with US Bank that will allow it to… Read more »
GM has released some details of the second-generation Voltec electric-drive system that will power the 2016 Volt. According to Volt Lead Engineer Andrew Farah, the primary goals for the new powertrain were to improve performance, raise overall efficiency, and cut engine noise. The new Volt has a pair of electric motors, either or both of… Read more »
Lately it seems that almost every EV-related headline has to include a reference to Tesla, however tenuous. However, there may be some substance to this week’s news, as four major automakers have at least hinted at plans to directly challenge Tesla with new high-end EV models. In a recent conference call with Wall Street analysts,… Read more »
The Swedish Energy Agency has awarded Volvo Group spinout PowerCell 7 million kronor ($964,000) to develop a fuel cell system for use in a modular range extender system for EVs. PowerCell, together with its partners in the MoRE Zero consortium, will develop a scalable fuel cell system on the order of 20-25 kW, which will… Read more »
BMW has bet big on carbon fiber – it’s a key material in the groundbreaking i3 and i8 EVs, and the Bavarian automaker is steadily increasing production of the stuff. However, the miracle material is still too expensive for most automakers to take advantage of its strength and light weight – the average cost of… Read more »
Chinese EV maker BYD has sold 34 electric taxis in Brussels, capital of the EU, embarrassing the more established players Renault and Nissan. “I’d rather have chosen a European brand than a Chinese one of course,” said Luigi Marrocco, CEO of Taxis Bleus, one of the two biggest taxi companies in Brussels. “But when it… Read more »
Nissan has begun testing its LEAF to Home power supply system, which aims to use EV technology to help power grids cope with peaks in demand, provide power during natural disasters, and make electricity from renewable sources more viable. Energy management firm Eneres is conducting the tests, using LEAF EVs at several Nissan sales outlets…. Read more »
