New Flyer is one of North America’s largest bus builders, and zero-emission buses (ZEBs) are a growing part of its business. In 2016, the company delivered 213 “equivalent units” as zero-emission buses (one standard transit bus or motor coach equals one equivalent unit, one articulated bus equals two). This represents 8.3% of New Flyer’s total… Read more »
Engineers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have developed a new online energy management system (EMS) that they say can improve PHEV fuel efficiency by more than 30%. In “Development and Evaluation of an Evolutionary Algorithm-Based Online Energy Management System for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles,” published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Xuewei… Read more »
As the EV scene heats up, we’re starting to see a steady stream of studies and surveys analyzing the growing market. Assessments of consumers’ EV awareness vary considerably, and predictions for the future are all over the map. A recent report by investment analyst Goldman Sachs sees big changes ahead for the auto industry, but… Read more »
3M has agreed to transfer all of its intellectual property related to Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) cathodes, including global patents and license agreements, to technology and recycling firm Umicore. The divestment will allow 3M to increase its focus on next-generation silicon anode materials, electrolyte additives and advanced thermal management solutions for EVs. “The agreement enables 3M to… Read more »
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid plug-in hybrid has a life-cycle global warming impact that’s 31% less than that of the previous-generation minivan, and 24% less than its 2017 gas-powered stablemate, according to an analysis by Fiat Chrysler (FCA). FCA’s engineers used an industry-standard software tool that determines Global Warming Potential (GWP), considering not only fuel… Read more »
Tesla has redefined many aspects of automobiles, and the user interface is one obvious example. The large touchscreen in current Teslas is the most advanced UI on the roads, and many are wondering if the company will take things a step further with Model 3. We already know that Model 3 has no traditional instrument… Read more »
The acronym-loving officials of ARPA-E have established a new program called Creating Innovative and Reliable Circuits Using Inventive Topologies and Semiconductors (CIRCUITS), which will award up to $20 million to develop a new class of efficient, lightweight, and reliable power converters based on wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors (DE-FOA-0001727). There’s an additional $10 million to be… Read more »
Installing EV charging infrastructure can be a challenge for residents of apartments or condominiums, but it’s a challenge that urgently needs to be addressed, as millions of people live in multi-unit dwellings, not only in US cities, but also in hot EV markets such as Europe and China. Network operator ChargePoint is working with residential… Read more »
Heavy-duty electric truck builder Orange EV has announced that all of its on-road truck configurations are now eligible for the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which means that fleet buyers in California can purchase a new pure electric terminal truck for less than the cost of a new Tier 4… Read more »
Battery powerhouse Samsung SDI introduced several advances in battery tech at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The star of the show was a new cell that the company says could enable EV driving ranges of up to 373 miles, and can fast charge in 20 minutes. Mass production is slated for 2021…. Read more »
