Japanese EV startup GLM displayed two vehicles, the GLM-G4 and GLM-ZZ, at a recent charity party in Hong Kong. Kyoto-based GLM was established in 2010, and has established partnerships with over 100 tech companies to develop “new forms of vehicles and transportation.” GLM provides a packaged solution that includes chassis, power systems and vehicle control… Read more »
As the Aloha State registers its 5,000th EV, a new group has been formed to accelerate the adoption of EVs and coordinate integration with renewable energy. Charter members of Drive Electric Hawaii include the state’s DOT, several electric utilities and the Rocky Mountain Institute. “The primary focus of the Drive Electric Hawaii Initiative is to… Read more »
Transmission specialist Oerlikon Graziano introduced a new EV transmission and the concept of a new modular front-wheel-drive hybrid transmission at the recent CTI Symposium and Transmission Expo in Berlin. The new single-speed EV transmission is designed for maximum input torque of 270 N·m (199 lb-ft) and maximum input speed of 14,000 rpm. A new lubrication… Read more »
Hubject is a Berlin-based company that provides a solution for the exchange of data among charging networks. Hubject’s eRoaming platform is analogous to the networks that enable ATMs, mobile phones and other conveniences of modern life to work together smoothly. Hubject was founded in 2012 by a group of companies including BMW, Daimler, Bosch and… Read more »
As EV ranges increase, charging levels are on the way up too. Phoenix Contact, EVgo and Porsche are among the companies developing more powerful charging systems. Naturally, Tesla has plans to outdo them all. In a recent tweet, Elon Musk hinted at something called Supercharger V3, which presumably will offer charging levels higher than the… Read more »
Nissan has introduced a fully automated vehicle towing system at its Oppama Plant in Japan. The Intelligent Vehicle Towing (IVT) system uses a modified LEAF with autonomous capability to tow trollies carrying finished vehicles between loading and unloading points at the plant. The plant’s existing logistics system uses human drivers to transport finished vehicles from… Read more »
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have devised a new strategy for an all-solid-state sodium or lithium EV battery cell. In “Alternative Strategy for a Safe Rechargeable Battery,” published in Energy & Environmental Science, noted lithium-ion battery pioneer Professor John Goodenough and his colleagues explain that the cells use a solid glass electrolyte…. Read more »
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a new testing capability to explore new automotive technology, including hybrid vehicle architectures, in real-world drive cycles. The new facility is focused on low-temperature combustion engines, but builds upon the powertrain-in-the-loop expertise established by ORNL’s Vehicle Systems Integration Laboratory. The hardware-in-the-loop setup includes a transient dynamometer… Read more »
Recognizing that smart charging is the wave of the future, BMW i has introduced its new Digital Charging Service (DCS), which it calls an “intelligent service for predictive, convenient, cost-effective and green power-optimized charging.” DCS is designed to carry out the charging process independently and autonomously. Its two core functions are tariff-optimized and solar-optimized charging…. Read more »
It has long been apparent to EV journalists (or to anyone who watches TV or reads magazines) that automakers have little interest in advertising their plug-in models – we’re inundated with car ads every hour of every day, but the clever commercials seldom mention the 30 or so EVs and PHEVs that are theoretically available… Read more »
