Nissan was an early EV pioneer, but although the LEAF is still a common sight on the streets, sales have been flat in the US. In Japan, however, things look different. According to Nikkei, the LEAF and Nissan’s hybrid models accounted for 25% of sales in fiscal 2018, and the company aims to expand this… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Model Y"
Colorado to allow direct sales model—good news for Tesla and Rivian
The tedious and complicated war between Tesla and the auto dealers continues to drag on. At present, the country is a patchwork—some states explicitly allow Tesla’s direct sales model, some explicitly prohibit it, and in others some sort of compromise has been reached. Tesla recently won an important battle in Michigan, and now it appears… Read more »
Latest NVH Simulator expands EV sound and vibration modeling ability
Brüel & Kjær Sound & Vibration Measurement has released version 2019.1 of its NVH Simulator. The release expands the ability to model electric and hybrid vehicles, along with over 200 other improvements and enhancements. Dave Bogema, Product Manager with Brüel & Kjær, explains: “One of the challenges associated with electric vehicle sound is the phenomena… Read more »
Here’s why Tesla transitioned to a semi-custom power module design in Model 3 inverter
A closer look at semiconductor packaging considerations in EVs One of the most critical decisions to be made at the earliest stage of designing a new power converter concerns the packages used for the semiconductors, as pretty much every other aspect of the design hinges on their physical form. This is especially true for the main… Read more »
Tesla to use prismatic cells for Chinese Model 3, says new report
From the beginning, Tesla’s use of readily available cylindrical battery cells gave it an advantage over other EV-makers, which used proprietary prismatic or pouch cells. In 2015, JB Straubel explained why Tesla was sticking with cylindrical cells, even though others found it a controversial decision. Over the years, many writers have noted Tesla’s battery tech… Read more »
Owner video: Tesla mobile team retrofits Model X with new Full Self-Driving computer
Earlier this year, Tesla revealed the Full Self-Driving (FSD) computer, with a proprietary Tesla chip. The company says the new board outperforms the older Nvidia-based hardware by a factor of 21. Since April, the new computer has been installed in every new Tesla. Owners of older vehicles who have paid for the Full Self-Driving package… Read more »
Toyota extends battery warranty of 2020 models
Toyota will extend its battery warranty from 8 years or 100,000 miles to 10 years or 150,000 miles for hybrids, PEV, and EVs, beginning with model year 2020. The warranty will cover first owners and subsequent owners. Heather Updegraff, General Manager of Vehicle Marketing & Communications, said, “Toyota introduced the first hybrid vehicle in the… Read more »
Zwickau VW plant to produce six electric models
The Volkswagen Group’s plant in Zwickau, Germany is undergoing a massive modernization process. When it’s done, the facility will be one of the biggest all-electric car factories in the world. The German automaker is investing some €1.2 billion to shift the plant’s production from three legacy models to six pure EVs from VW, Seat and… Read more »
Tesla (finally) releases CHAdeMO adapter for Model 3
Tesla owners are fortunate to have their own network of DC fast chargers – the Superchargers – which are sufficient for many drivers’ long-distance travel needs. However, more charging choices are always better, so several years ago, Tesla introduced an adapter to allow Model S and X drivers to use CHAdeMO fast charging stations. Apparently,… Read more »
Free Webinar: Modeling capacity fade of Li-ion cells
If you want to learn about creating a mathematical model of a lithium-ion cell, then tune into this webinar featuring guest speaker Ralph White of the University of South Carolina. This presentation will focus on the development of the equations used to produce a physics-based model of a lithium-ion cell that includes capacity fade due… Read more »