The world’s most famous city bus is going electric. Transport for London (TfL) has been experimenting with several kinds of battery-electric and fuel cell buses since 2013. Now it has introduced an electric version of the capital’s iconic double-decker bus into revenue service. TfL is putting five BYD electric double decker buses into service on… Read more »
Engineers from Germany’s Saarland University are developing intelligent motor systems that function without the need for additional sensors. The team’s aim is to transform the motor itself into a sensor, so that it can keep its human minders advised as to whether it’s running smoothly, and can communicate and interact with other motors. “We’re developing… Read more »
Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Toyota and two other research institutions, have designed and tested solid-state batteries using a novel type of solid electrolyte. In “High-power all-solid-state batteries using sulfide superionic conductors,” published in Nature Energy, Yuki Kato and team members explain the advantages of superionic materials as solid electrolytes…. Read more »
BMW is steadily introducing new electrified models. The latest is a plug-in version of its popular 3 Series sedan. The BMW 330e iPerformance uses various aspects of the company’s eDrive technology that were developed for the i3 and i8. The new e-Beemer sports a four-cylinder gas engine with 180 hp of power and 215 lb-ft… Read more »
As start/stop, mild hybrid and multi-voltage systems continue to creep into “conventional” gas vehicles, controls engineering firm Pi Innovo and semiconductor manufacturer GaN Systems foresee steadily growing demand for their products. The two companies recently announced that they are collaborating to offer automakers a pathway to the electrification of vehicle auxiliary systems. Hybrids and EVs… Read more »
The Indian government is working on a scheme that would offer EVs to consumers with no down payment, to be paid for out of the fuel savings. The aim is to electrify the country’s entire auto fleet by 2030. At a recent press event, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said that a working group including the… Read more »
GM has announced that pre-production units of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt are rolling off the assembly line. The company released photos and a video from its plant in Orion Township, Michigan, showing the white and grey newborns trundling down the line in their cradles. Chevrolet has not announced a firm target date for the first… Read more »
Infineon Technologies has joined forces with TDK to develop an integrated solution for inverters to be used in e-mobility powertrains. The idea is to enable developers to test and implement drive concepts quickly and easily. To create an inverter that’s optimized for automotive applications, Infineon and TDK redeveloped the key components and matched them perfectly… Read more »
The California Air Resources Board has done a tremendous amount to accelerate the adoption of electrified vehicles. One of its objectives is to ensure that low- and moderate-income consumers can also enjoy the benefits of plugging in. To that end, California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) is implementing new rules that will tie eligibility for… Read more »
The auto world is already abuzz over the new and improved Toyota Prius, and this week the plug-in posse got a charge as the new plug-in hybrid version was unveiled at the New York Auto Show. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, as the new PHEV is called, will have an 8.8 kWh battery pack and… Read more »
