Tesla Roadster owners got a nice present last Christmas – a package of range-enhancing improvements dubbed Roadster 3.0. A new battery cell, enhanced aerodynamics and improved wheels and tires combine to increase the Roadster’s range by an estimated 40-50 percent. This week, a Tesla team set out in a prototype vehicle to test the Roadster… Read more »
There are many innovative battery designs in development around the world, but a Liechtenstein-based company has developed something truly unique – a flow battery, which uses two ionic fluids stored in tanks. nanoFLOWCELL will present its new QUANT F electric vehicle at the upcoming Geneva Autosalon. The latest iteration of the QUANT features four electric… Read more »
Tesla and Samsung are talking about expanding their battery partnership, industry officials have told the Korea Times. “With Tesla seeking to diversify its battery sourcing channels beyond its key partner Panasonic, Samsung SDI will have greater room to supply more EV batteries to Tesla,” said an unnamed source. Samsung is expected to supply about 8… Read more »
Tesla’s earnings report for the 4th quarter of 2014 followed the usual pattern: there’s plenty of good news, but the company is still operating at a loss; Elon Musk dropped his customary vague hint of more wondrous goodies to come in the future; and the stock market reacted in its usual way – TSLA shares… Read more »
The Federal Transit Administration FTA recently distributed $55 million in grants to 10 transit agencies as part of a program to deploy US-made electric transit buses. More than half of that money will be going to South Carolina-based Proterra, the Greenville News reported. Six transit agencies in five states will buy a total of 28… Read more »
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has asked state regulators for permission to build an estimated 25,000 EV chargers, using $654 million in ratepayer dollars, at sites across its service area in Northern and Central California. The project would represent the largest deployment of EV charging stations in the country. The chargers are to be located at the usual… Read more »
Tesla is very much a product of the 21st century, so perhaps it’s fitting that, while there are loads of videos and online articles about the company, its cars and its colorful leader, so far there is not a lot in print. There are two good new books about Model S, and both make good… Read more »
A group of eleven German partners, including the Fraunhofer Institute, is developing an integrated axle module for commercial vehicles that promises high performance and reduced production costs. ESKAM, which stands for Electric Scalable Axle Module, includes a motor, gearbox and power electronics in a single compact housing. Advantages of the axle module include high power… Read more »
Once in a while a book comes along that makes you see a familiar issue in a whole new light (call it a “paradigm shift” if you must). Such a book is Tony Seba’s Clean Disruption. Not only is it a well-researched and well-thought-out work, but it makes a gripping read, and is the most… Read more »
The city of London has ambitions to be an EV capital. Under the leadership of Mayor Boris Johnson, a proponent of electromobility, the capital of Cool Britannia is sponsoring trials of electric buses and cabs, and began building a public charging network in 2011. Public charging is especially important in London, as three quarters of… Read more »
