Regenerative braking is a familiar way to recover kinetic energy that would otherwise be wasted. A vehicle’s suspension offers a similar opportunity. Audi is working on a system called eROT, which replaces the typical hydraulic dampers with electromechanical rotary dampers to save energy and give a more comfortable ride. “Every pothole, every bump, every curve… Read more »
Auto dealerships have emerged as a major roadblock on the way to widespread EV adoption. Most (but not all) dealers have little knowledge of or interest in EVs, and some actively discourage customers from buying. Tesla’s direct-sales model seems to work well enough, but even the Prophets of Palo Alto can’t save the world alone…. Read more »
Anyone needing data on how electric drivers use their vehicles would be well-advised to look to Norway, the world’s undisputed EV capital. As of May, there were over 105,000 plug-in vehicles registered in the country. A recent survey of 8,000 vehicle owners by the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics found a number of insights that… Read more »
Johnson Matthey and 3M have entered into a patent license agreement that aims to expand the use of nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries. 3M has granted Johnson Matthey a license to several of its NMC-related technologies. Cathodes composed of nickel, manganese and cobalt offer a balance of power, energy, thermal stability and cost,… Read more »
If there’s one thing everyone can agree on about EVs, it’s that ranges need to become longer. That means battery capacities need to grow, and therefore charging levels will have to increase as well, if charging times are to stay the same (or, preferably, become shorter). One company that’s been working on higher charging levels… Read more »
In an interview with the German business mag Wirtschafts Woche (via Green Car Congress), Volkswagen Brand Manager Herbert Diess said that the company would present a near-production prototype of a new EV at the Paris Motor Show in September. The new model will have the external dimensions of a Golf and the internal space of… Read more »
European conglomerate thyssenkrupp, BMW and several other firms and research institutions are collaborating on a project called EffiForm, which aims to make a detailed study of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer formation process in Li-ion batteries. While the ins and outs of forming an SEI layer may seem arcane, in fact there’s a highly practical… Read more »
In pursuit of their quest for more capable batteries, scientists are searching for better ways to observe battery particles as they charge and discharge in real time. A new technique developed at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source is providing researchers with nanoscale images of the electrochemical reactions that make lithium-ion batteries do their thing. In… Read more »
As part of its punishment for hoodwinking the whole world in its dirty diesel debacle, Volkswagen has agreed to invest $2 billion in EV charging infrastructure in the US, $800 million of it in California. The exact plan, which is yet to be released, will be overseen by the California Air Resources Board and the… Read more »
Mercedes-Benz is planning a new line of electric vehicles, including two SUVs and two sedans, Bloomberg reported, citing two unnamed sources. The company will create a new sub-brand, and the new electric line-up will reach dealers before the end of the decade. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in June that the company planned to unveil… Read more »
