Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) will deliver plug-in hybrid electric systems for three new ferries to be designed by Multi Maritime and built by Havyard Ship Technology. Each ferry has a capacity of 50 cars and 199 persons. Two will operate on the route between Brekstad and Valset, and one between Sandvikvåg and Husavik. The first… Read more »
German battery builder AKASOL subjected the latest generation of its battery modules, AKAMODULE 46Ah and 53Ah, to an eight-month endurance test featuring a range of brutally extreme conditions. The test showed service life to even longer than expected. At 50 to 55 degrees, the battery components worked for 1.5 years in full cycles at a… Read more »
The Nissan e-NV200 took the title of Europe’s best-selling electric van in 2016, ranking #1 in 17 countries. The UK is the e-NV200’s top market in Europe for Nissan, followed closely by Norway and France. Global sales are up 7 percent in 2016, and 4,319 units are now on the road. The e-NV200 is based… Read more »
Wolfspeed, a pioneer of silicon carbide (SiC) power products, has expanded its C3M platform to include a 1,200 V MOSFET. The new device is designed to enable an increase in frequency while maintaining efficiency, lowering system cost, reducing circuit EMI, and enabling 99% efficiency levels in three-phase power factor correction circuits. The device uses Wolfspeed’s… Read more »
Five European fast charging networks have agreed to form the Open Fast Charging Alliance, which will enable roaming throughout a network of fast chargers all over Europe. The founding members are Fastned (Netherlands), Sodetrel (France), Smatrics (Austria), Grønn Kontakt (Norway) and GOtthard FASTcharge (Switzerland). Together, the alliance members own and operate more than 500 fast… Read more »
Like Einstein, Picasso and Muhammad Ali, Elon Musk is a great aphorist. His pithy sayings are continually quoted in contexts ranging far beyond the techie press. In fact, whole web sites (shitelonsays.com) have been devoted to the utterances of the Californic oracle. Not all those who do great things are good at explaining how they… Read more »
EV startup Lucid Motors unveiled its Lucid Air electric luxury sedan in December. Bloomberg recently got to check out a couple of prototypes. Reporters took a ride in a vehicle that had almost no interior finish – just bare metal panels and a vinyl bench seat. The test vehicle was far lighter than the finished… Read more »
Automotive News China reports that battery maker A123 Systems won a contract worth approximately $1 billion to supply 2.6 million Li-ion batteries for 48 V systems to the SAIC-GM joint venture in China. A123 initially entered into a partnership with SAIC Motor in 2009 with the formation of a battery pack joint venture called Advanced… Read more »
Car and Driver reports that Nissan plans to show a Juke concept using the new e-Power drive system at the Tokyo auto show this fall. The e-Power system, which Nissan introduced in the Note in November, is a series hybrid that pairs a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with a power generator and inverter. It shares… Read more »
Hitachi Automotive Systems and Honda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture, with a capitalization of around 5 billion yen ($45 million), to develop and manufacture EV motors. Hitachi first started selling motors for electrified vehicles in 1999, and has since delivered “a high volume” of these motors to vehicle manufacturers… Read more »
