Is Russia poised to be the next EV hotspot? If so, Mitsubishi is ready to reap the rewards. Its iMiEV is currently the only foreign plug-in sold in the country, and its Outlander PHEV will go on sale in Russia in September. Mitsubishi presented the plug-in SUV at last week’s Moscow International Automobile Salon, along… Read more »
Telefonix, known for its rugged cord reels and its PowerPost Level 1 commercial charging stations (feature in Charged Issue 12), has entered the Level 2 EVSE market with UL approval of its L2 PowerPost EV charger. A low-current Level 2 charging station specifically designed for commercial outdoor use, the L2 PowerPost continues Telefonix’s focus on efficient,… Read more »
Renesas Electronics has announced the new RH850/C1x series of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), designed for motor control in hybrid and electric vehicles. The new RH850/C1x devices can be used with the RAA270000KFT RH850 family power supply management IC (PMIC), which integrates into one device all the power supply systems required for MCU operation, two external sensor… Read more »
The Clovis Police Department in the San Joaquin Valley has purchased five Zero Electric Police motorcycles, which will immediately join the force’s existing BMW R1200s, patrolling the city’s streets, trails and events. The five were purchased for just under $95,000, thanks to a grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air District. Thirty more e-cycles are… Read more »
Silicon Valley startup Renovo Motors made quite a splash at the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with its prototype supercar. A new video includes an interesting interview with Renovo’s CEO Chris Heiser, delivered during a tantalizing test drive. Yahoo! Autos’ Justin Hyde points out that over 20 would-be EV-makers have failed in the past decade… Read more »
Tesla has announced a partnership with China Unicom, China’s second-largest wireless carrier, to build public charging stations across the country. The two companies will install charging posts at 400 Unicom stores in 120 cities, with Tesla supplying equipment and Unicom providing the land, said Tesla spokeswoman Peggy Yang. Tesla will also deploy Superchargers in 20… Read more »
The City of Shasta Lake, California has installed an Envision Solar EV ARC standalone Solar Charging Station. This Level 2 charger will be located at the Grand River municipal parking lot, and will be available free of charge to the public. The US-made EV ARC is a standalone solar-powered charging station that requires no foundation,… Read more »
Sweden’s Östfold County has partnered with local startup Unimi Solutions to expand its network of public EV charging infrastructure. The county’s goal is to have 20% of public parking sites equipped or enabled for EV charging. Unimi’s 1Base product family, which has been in development since 2010, provides a foundation that’s interoperable with all ground-mounted… Read more »
Yet another sign of how electrification technology is steadily creeping into legacy ICE vehicles: Audi plans to upgrade part of its vehicle electrical system from 12 to 48 volts. Current technology has taken 12‑volt electrical systems to their limits. Especially at low temperatures, the various static‑load consumers can account for the entire power generated by… Read more »
Volkswagen has announced that the 2015 e-Golf will have a starting price of $35,445 (plus $820 destination charge) when it goes on sale in selected US states in November. The new EV will also lease for $299 per month. Prices for the competing Nissan LEAF range from $29,010 to $35,120; the Ford Focus Electric starts at… Read more »
