Some are surprised, others saw it coming. Tesla has a lot of doubters at the moment, and the only way to silence them was to show that the company can be profitable, at least temporarily. Back in September, Elon Musk said that this goal was within reach, and urged employees to maximize deliveries and minimize… Read more »
Startup automaker NextEV has Chinese financial backing, Tesla alumni on staff, a few years of experience on the Formula E racing circuit, and a 1 MW electric supercar in development. Electrek recently got a glimpse of the next EV going through its paces on the famous Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. The million-dollar supercar is expected… Read more »
Ultracapacitor specialist Maxwell Technologies has introduced a 51-volt module that’s specially designed for use in hybrid buses and other high-duty cycle applications. The latest addition to Maxwell’s lineup features a 2.85 V, 3,400-farad ultracapacitor cell that delivers the company’s highest available energy and power density. Maxwell’s 51 V module includes an active cooling system, which… Read more »
Power conversion specialist Ideal Power (NASDAQ: IPWR) has produced prototypes of a new product called a Bi-Directional Bi-Polar Junction TRANsistor (B-TRAN). Due to its anticipated low conduction and switching losses, Ideal Power believes the B-TRAN can improve the efficiency of a range of power control and conversion equipment, including EV drivetrains. The company expects the… Read more »
Automotive supplier Continental has been working with Renault since 2013 on a mild hybrid system that operates at 48 volts, instead of the 300-400 volts usually used in hybrid vehicles. The new Hybrid Assist system is slated to go into production in Renault’s new Scénic and Grand Scénic models. Instead of a conventional starter generator,… Read more »
Considering the high prices of most EVs, policymakers are keen to find ways to help lower-income consumers afford them. To this end, California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), which has issued over $335 million in rebates for more than 157,300 vehicles since 2010, has revised its eligibility rules. For lower-income consumers, CVRP rebates are increasing… Read more »
The Saitama Industrial Technology Center (Saitec), in partnership with Honda, has developed a practical magnesium-ion rechargeable battery, according to Nikkei Asian Review. The two will officially announce their battery next month, and hope to commercialize it by 2018, at first in smartphones and other portable devices. Masashi Inamoto and colleagues describe the new battery in… Read more »
Australian charger manufacturer Tritium has added three new DC fast chargers to its Veefil line, which now includes four models. The new offerings were on display at the recent eCarTec show in Munich. All Veefil fast chargers support both CHAdeMO and SAE Combo standards. All are liquid-cooled, and are designed to function in temperatures from… Read more »
Atieva, the stealthy EV startup with Chinese financing and a number of Tesla alumni on staff, has changed its name to Lucid Motors, and released some teaser images of its upcoming electric luxury sedan. The vehicle, code-named Atvus, reportedly features an 87 kWh battery pack and output of over 900 hp. In September, a spokesman… Read more »
English startup Union Motion specializes in manufacturing custom electric motorcycles and other vehicles to customers’ specifications. The company’s latest creation is the Phaser Type 1, an electric sport bike with a spare, post-modern look. The Phaser Type 1 is based on a Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer. Union Motion started with the bare chassis – frame,… Read more »
