Almost every major carmaker now has at least one plug-in vehicle for sale. However, several of these vehicles were produced mainly to appease the California Air Resources Board, and their makers have shown little interest in actively marketing them. Savvy car buyers are aware of this, and make their choices accordingly – no one wants… Read more »
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Fraunhofer Institute presents November workshop on lithium-sulfur batteries
The Fraunhofer Institute will hold its third annual workshop on lithium-sulfur batteries in Dresden, Germany, on November 12 and 13. Lithium-sulfur is a leading contender for the battery chemistry of the future, and Fraunhofer believes that novel materials such as nanostructured carbon/sulfur composite cathodes, solid electrolytes and alloy-based anodes will significantly enhance performance. Dr Oliver… Read more »
Can Tesla crack open Japan’s auto market?
Japan has long been at the forefront of the electromobility revolution. It’s the home of the historic Toyota Prius and the world’s best-selling EV, the Nissan LEAF. As an island nation that imports almost all of its oil, Japan has compelling reasons to electrify, and its government has worked hard to do so, providing significant… Read more »
Bitrode’s new High Density IGBT formation charger
Bitrode, a global supplier of battery production charging and test systems, has launched its new High Density IGBT formation charger in North America. The HD-CR/CD, introduced last year in Europe, complements Bitrode’s existing line of cell formation equipment. Formation is the first charge carried out at a cell manufacturer’s plant, which creates the desired microstructure… Read more »
September plug-in sales: Revenge of the pure EV
September plug-in sales showed a slight decrease compared to August, but 2014 is still on track to decisively beat 2013’s figure. Pure electricity ruled this month, as the leading EVs made strong showings, and all the major PHEV models showed steep declines. The Nissan LEAF still leads the pack. Sales shrank slightly to 2,881 in… Read more »
EVs are the fastest growing market segment in Europe
The European auto market is picking up – it grew by 6 percent in the first half of 2014 – and also changing rapidly. Out of the 24 segments tracked by Automotive News Europe, nine had leadership changes since last year. Can you guess which segment is the fastest-growing overall? That’s right, electric vehicle sales… Read more »
New design combines traction motor with AC compressor, saving space and energy
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have invented a 2-in-1 electric motor that integrates the vehicle’s traction motor with the air conditioning compressor, saving both space and energy. “The biggest challenge with electric cars in tropical megacities is the range that they can travel on a charge, because their… Read more »
Magna produces BMW i3 liftgate assembly
Magna International recently announced that it produces the liftgate assembly for BMW’s popular i3. The collaboratively-designed liftgate maintains the BMW i brand appearance and achieves the vehicle’s mass requirements through the use of a lightweight composite structure which integrates the liftgate’s functional systems. Locking and latching systems, rear windshield wiper system, interior trim, exterior painted trim… Read more »
Tesla ready to unveil new wonders October 9 (Updated)
Mark your calendars! On October 9, Tesla is going to announce…something. Elon Musk has issued one of his famously cryptic tweets, to wit: About time to unveil the D and something else pic.twitter.com/qp23yi59i6 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 2, 2014 The mysterious missive is accompanied by a picture of what is undoubtedly a Model S… Read more »
Solar energy expert predicts battery prices will reach $100/kWh by 2030
When will lithium-ion battery prices reach the price point of $100 per kWh that so many in the media are calling the “magic number?” According to Winfried Hoffmann, an analyst at the consulting firm ASE, the glad day will dawn sometime around 2030. Hoffmann, the former CTO of Applied Materials, is a well-known figure in… Read more »