Newswire

European EV sales – a very different selection from the US

The US and European auto markets differ in several significant ways, so it’s not surprising that the sales figures for the various plug-in models available look quite different across the water. One of the biggest differences is size. We Americans love our pickups and SUVs, while Europeans love cute little cars that would be laughed… Read more »

Livingston Products develops battery self-cooling system

Illinois-based Livingston Products has developed a new liquid cooling pump system that uses the heat from a battery to propel a proprietary cooling fluid through a system of tubes. The Transthermal Heat Bridge, the subject of more than ten individual patents pending, can be scaled to fit almost any battery configuration, according to the company,… Read more »

ClipperCreek upgrades power rating of its HCS-40 and CS-40 series charging stations

ClipperCreek has upgraded the power rating for its popular HCS-40 and CS-40 series EV charging stations from 30 amps to 32 amps continuous. “We are constantly developing new products to bring the next level of customer value to the market,” said ClipperCreek President and founder Jason France. “After an in-depth analysis, the ClipperCreek team determined… Read more »

A better way to battery-swap?

The idea of battery swapping for EVs has been around for some time, but the reality has not been auspicious. Better Place bet on the concept and went bankrupt. Tesla successfully demonstrated a battery swap in 2013, but so far has not gotten around to opening any swap stations to the public. A team of… Read more »

New report: Used EV batteries and California’s energy storage needs

As California searches for cheap energy storage options, a new report by the Climate Change and Business Research Initiative at the UCLA and UC Berkeley law schools suggests that used EV batteries may be the ideal solution. “Most batteries will retain much of their capacity and value after the use of the car,” said report… Read more »

Could Wanxiang relaunch the Fisker as early as next year?

An unnamed source has told Reuters that the company is rushing to finish a new version of the Fisker Karma, and hopes to reintroduce it “by next year.” “It will have to be nearly identical to the 2012 model, or it would need to go through [safety] testing and certification again,” a supplier source said…. Read more »

Daimler/BYD’s DENZA EV enters production

DENZA, the “made in China, for China” EV from Daimler’s joint venture with Chinese automaker BYD, has started rolling off the production line in Shenzhen. The joint-venture company, BYD Daimler New Technology (BDNT), was established in 2010 with a 600-million-yuan ($98 million) initial investment. The DENZA is a four-door, five-passenger sedan with an 86 kW… Read more »

Boston-Power introduces a modular system for assembling large-format battery packs

Boston-Power has announced its new Ensemble Module System, a kit of standard components designed to provide a simple, cost-effective way to assemble large-format battery pack solutions for EV and stationary storage applications. Available in 155 Wh and 116 Wh increments, module designs can be created to meet a wide variety of voltage and capacity requirements…. Read more »

Audi Sport driver Lucas di Grassi wins first Formula E race in Beijing

The first Formula E championship race provided electrifying thrills aplenty on the streets of Beijing. Winding around the Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium, the course formed a stimulating city-center circuit, with a succession of straights, chicanes and 90° bends. The weather was perfect and the stands were packed. Starting from pole position, Nicolas Prost (e.dams Renault)… Read more »

Opbrid Trukbaar brings overhead DC fast charging to electric trucks

Furrer+Frey and Opbrid have developed the Opbrid Bůsbaar, an overhead high-power charging system for heavy-duty vehicles, which is now being used to charge the Volvo Electric Hybrid bus in a couple of pilot projects in Sweden. Their new product, the Opbrid Trůkbaar V3, brings automatic fast charging to electric trucks. City buses are natural candidates… Read more »