These days, when the Chinese do something, they do it big. The northern Chinese city of Dalian has signed an agreement with EV-maker BYD to purchase 1,200 of the company’s electric buses – 600 in 2014 and another 600 in 2015. The agreement also mentions an initiative to make more than half of Dalian’s future… Read more »
Mitsubishi wasn’t looking quite as charged at this year’s Geneva Auto Salon. Last year, almost its entire display was devoted to plug-in technology, but this time around, the Outlander PHEV and i-MiEV had to share the stage with a wide assortment of legacy ICE models. However, the company did present two plug-in concepts (both of… Read more »
Among the many electrified vehicles on display at this week’s Geneva Auto Salon was one that demonstrates a new and possibly revolutionary energy storage system. Leichtenstein-based nanoFLOWCELL’s QUANT e-Sportlimousine, a sleek sports model with gull-wing doors, uses flow cell battery technology. Scientists at GE Global Research and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory announced that they were… Read more »
Long Beach Transit’s plan to buy 10 electric buses from Chinese-owned BYD has had a rocky road. Shortly after the transit board approved the deal last March, rival bus maker Proterra cried foul, and a couple of politicians asked why the contract didn’t go to a local firm. In October, questions were raised about the… Read more »
Luxury automakers are at the forefront of the electrification trend, and Jaguar Land Rover is no exception – it has unveiled a Range Rover Hybrid, and has an all-electric version of the famous Defender safari-mobile in real-world trials. At this week’s Geneva Auto Salon, Dr Wolfgang Epple, the company’s Director of Research and Technology, told… Read more »
Tesla is anticipating great things in Europe – by the end of 2014, it expects combined sales in Europe and Asia to be almost twice as high as in North America. The company announced at this week’s Geneva Auto Salon that it will open more than 30 new service centers and stores across the continent…. Read more »
Those who follow the market for lithium, which is evolving into a strategic commodity, have been predicting an oversupply in the years ahead. However, Tesla’s planned battery Gigafactory may consume as much as 17 percent of the world’s current output, benefiting producers like Rockwood Holdings (NYSE: ROC), according to Goldman Sachs Group. Tesla’s appetite for… Read more »
Miami Beach-based Car Charging Group (OTCQB: CCGI), which recently acquired the assets of bankrupt ECOtality, has resumed sales of the Blink HQ, a Level 2 residential EV charger. The 240-Volt, 30-Amp Blink HQ features a delay timer, an 18-foot cable and a hanger bracket, and comes with a 12-month warranty. It’s compatible with all EVs… Read more »
The Volkswagen Group plans to electrify more than 40 models over the next few years. Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, VW Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn said that Europe’s largest automaker has increased its R&D expenditure to the record value of €10.2 billion, with the lion’s share going to “green” technologies. VW’s modular Baukästen (assembly… Read more »
Auto sales are still in their yearly winter hibernation, but February did see a respectable monthly increase, with 7,055 plug-ins sold, compared to 5,450 in January. The LEAF held its strong lead with 1,425 units, over double February 2013 sales. Next month will mark one full year that Nissan has been building LEAFs in the… Read more »
