Black Diamond Structures, a manufacturer of nanomaterial products for the lead-acid and Li-on battery markets, has opened a new Battery Testing Laboratory in Austin, Texas. The new lab will provide comprehensive performance data on the company’s proprietary technology, Molecular Rebar. Black Diamond Structures is in various phases of testing and product commercialization with over 100… Read more »
Groupe Renault has acquired the French company Power Vehicle Innovation (PVI), which specializes in the conversion of commercial vehicles to electricity or natural gas. PVI worked with Renault on the development of the upcoming Renault Master Z.E. This large electric van, which was unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show in January and is due to… Read more »
WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification) has demonstrated a 250 kW Wireless Power Transfer System prototype. The company will deliver the new charging system to the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) in California later this year. WAVE’s technology transfers power from a charging pad embedded in the pavement to a receiving pad mounted on the vehicle’s… Read more »
A couple of Tesla alumni, with backing from Swedish investors, have announced a plan to build a massive Li-ion battery factory, perhaps in Sweden or Finland. Their ambitious goal is to bring the cost of batteries down to $100/kWh. Tesla’s former Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Peter Carlsson, and another former Tesla supply chain… Read more »
GM has confirmed that it will sell its European Opel division to PSA Peugeot Citroën, for 2.2 billion euros ($2.33 billion). GM has controlled Opel for more than 90 years, but it has lost almost $20 billion over the past two decades. Currency fluctuations due to Brexit contributed to a $257 million loss in 2016,… Read more »
Korea-based steel-maker POSCO has begun commercial production of lithium in South Korea for the first time. In February, POSCO completed a lithium extraction plant with an annual capacity of 2,500 tons. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jong-joo Kim, the Director of the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, noted that Korea, a major battery… Read more »
Denmark-based network operator CLEVER and electric utility E.ON have partnered with gas station chain YX to install ultra-fast charging stations at 20 service stations across Norway. The chargers’ 150 kW power level enables recharging of a 400 km-range battery in 20-30 minutes. They feature a modular design, and can be upgraded to 350 kW in… Read more »
With new 200-mile EVs from GM and Tesla making headlines, the EV world has been anxiously awaiting word of how Nissan, maker of the world’s all-time best-selling pure EV, would respond. Now at least we have a date. “Nissan USA’s all-new Nissan LEAF will be globally revealed in Sept. & go on sale before the… Read more »
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 »
