Startup battery maker A123 Systems scored a potentially massive new contract Thursday, with a deal to supply lithium-ion battery packs to Tata Motors, India’s largest automaker, for hybrid commercial vehicles. A123’s lithium iron phosphate battery packs, featuring the company’s prismatic cell technology, are expected to be deployed on city buses during the second half of… Read more »
Another milestone in the slow and deliberate rollout of EVs was reached today, as Nissan announced that the LEAF is now available for order in all US markets.
Indiana-based EV start-up Bright Automotive will cease operations this week after failing to secure a federal loan to finance the production costs of its Idea plug-in hybrid delivery van. The Idea, which Bright unveiled back in 2009, is a purpose-built PHEV aimed at commercial and government fleets. GM had invested $5 million in Bright. Bright’s… Read more »
Photo: 2012 Karma with Henrik Fisker, left, and Bernhard Koehler, right. Fisker Automotive announced Tuesday that automotive wise man Tom LaSorda has been appointed CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board, with full responsibility for day-to-day operations. Thomas W. LaSorda (no relation to the erstwhile Dodgers manager) is a seasoned auto industry exec, with 30… Read more »
On Monday, the opening day of TED2012, Audi presented the battery-electric Audi A3 e-tron pilot program, which will be implemented in select cities of the U.S. as a part of the company’s e-mobility driver experience for premium car buyers. Why the slow roll out? We asked Brad Stertz, Audi’s corporate communications manager. “Our program is… Read more »
In electric mode, the Prius Plug-in has a top speed of 62 mph, a range of 11 miles, and an efficiency rating of 95MPGe.
The Chinese city of Shenzhen announced this week that it will deploy an additional 1000 electric buses and 500 electric taxis, all manufactured by Chinese automaker BYD.
Johnson Controls has made a couple of potentially major advances in EV battery technology, which it will be displaying at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. A Ford Transit Connect Electric van powered by a Johnson Controls lithium-ion battery will be available for test drives. Johnson’s new prismatic storage cells are designed to require less installation… Read more »
EVs are not only rolling on the roads, they are puttering over waterways as well. Who knew? Well, in fact the world’s navies have relied on electric propulsion for a century – submarines (non-nuclear) are powered by diesel/electric hybrid systems, and have been since World War One. Some nuclear ships are also EVs in a sense,… Read more »
The Transport Department pointed out that commercial vans are ideally suited to the switch to electric, as they often have a predictable route and distance to travel each day.