Newswire

Geneva electric buses use ABB flash charging technology

The Swiss city of Geneva plans to deploy 12 electric buses that use a high-power flash charging system provided by ABB. The city began a pilot of the system in 2013. The new e-buses will be built by Swiss manufacturer HESS, using several components from ABB, including integrated traction and auxiliary converters, roof-mounted battery units… Read more »

Evatran forms joint venture to bring Plugless wireless charging to Chinese EV market

Evatran Group has formed a joint venture with Chinese auto parts manufacturer Zhejiang VIE to market the Plugless wireless EV charging system in China. Plugless is expected to be in series production and commercially available with a China-based OEM by 2017. The Plugless system went on sale in the US and Canada in 2014. It… Read more »

Infineon acquires Wolfspeed to strengthen its position in SiC-based power solutions

Semiconductor maker Infineon Technologies has agreed to acquire the Wolfspeed Power and RF division of LED manufacturer Cree, for $850 million. The deal also includes the related silicon carbide wafer substrate business. Wolfspeed specializes in silicon carbide-based power and gallium nitride-on-silicon carbide-based RF power solutions. The deal also includes related core competencies in wafer substrate… Read more »

Tesla reveals Master Plan, Part Deux

Is it madness, or genius? Will it save civilization, or summon the Terminators? Either way, Tesla is determined to make the next ten years mighty interesting. With Model S in a vigorous prime and Model 3 gestating, Elon Musk’s first master plan is nearing completion. That plan, unveiled 10 years ago, is familiar to Charged… Read more »

Port of LA demonstrates net-zero marine terminal with electrified cargo handling equipment

Ports are major sources of air pollution, but fortunately they are also excellent candidates for electrification. The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been testing various types of electrified vehicles for several years. Now the Port of Los Angeles has launched the Green Omni Terminal Demonstration Project, a full-scale, real-time demonstration of… Read more »

Ontario to build 500 public charging stations

The province of Ontario is working with 24 public- and private-sector partners to create a network of public EV charging stations. The plan calls for over 200 Level 3 and about 300 Level 2 charging stations. They will be located in cities, along highways, at workplaces and at various public places across the province. The… Read more »

Changes to California ZEV rules could threaten Tesla income

As is the case with most government regulations, the California Air Resources Board’s Zero-Emission Vehicle rules are complex, and changing them tends to create winners and losers (and acronyms). CARB regulators are now considering changes to the rules that would make it harder for automakers to comply with ZEV targets by buying credits, rather than… Read more »

CARB approves XL Hybrids conversions to receive incentive vouchers

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved Boston-based XL Hybrids as a vendor under the state’s Heavy Duty Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). Fleet buyers of XL Hybrids’ aftermarket van conversions will now be eligible for vouchers from the state:  $2,500 each for the first 100 vehicles, and $2,000 each for the second 100 vehicles… Read more »