GM and LG have a real bromance going. The Korean electronics giant has been supplying key components of the Detroit automaker’s OnStar telematics system since 2007. Battery subsidiary LG Chem was the sole supplier of battery cells for the first-generation Volt. The two buddies will collaborate even more deeply on the upcoming Bolt 200-mile EV…. Read more »
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BMW CEO: New EV planned, but diesel still rules in Europe
Instant replay department: An auto exec makes a passing comment about future electrification plans; the pro-EV press hears what it wants to hear, and reports that the company is making a major new push to get charged. A couple of weeks ago, VW announced that it would continue several EV development programs – most of… Read more »
Vacuum maker Dyson acquires solid-state battery pioneer Sakti3
Dyson, the manufacturer of high-tech vacuum cleaners and restroom hand dryers, has acquired Michigan startup Sakti3 for $90 million in cash, as reported by Quartz. Founder and CEO Ann Marie Sastry will oversee development of her company’s solid-state battery technology as an executive for Dyson. UK-based Dyson, which invested $15 million in Sakti3 last March, also… Read more »
AKASOL supplies battery systems for Cologne e-buses
The German city of Cologne plans to deploy eight electric bendy buses on an all-electric bus route, one of the first in Germany. The 18-meter e-buses will be manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach, with battery systems produced by AKASOL GmbH in Darmstadt. The electric buses will go into service on Cologne’s route 133, a… Read more »
Public chargers going online in Moscow, nationwide network planned
The Russian electricity company Rosseti has installed a public EV charging station in a Moscow parking lot, the first of 150 that will be deployed in the city’s public parking lots by the end of next year. Rosseti already operates a network of about 30 charging stations on Moscow streets and highways and at shopping… Read more »
Why is Ford suddenly advertising its Focus Electric after 3 years?
Many EVangelists believe that the plodding progress of plug-in sales has a lot to do with the automakers’ minimal marketing efforts. So it’s welcome news that Ford has launched a new ad campaign for its Focus Electric. It seems to be a substantial buy (although Ford declined to talk about budgets), with TV ads running… Read more »
How much of a change is VW’s promised pivot to plug-ins?
Demoralized by its diesel deception, will Volkswagen now get serious about EVs? “Arguably, no major OEM is better positioned than VW to decisively accelerate the push towards plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles,” Lux Research recently noted, “[However], they will most likely carry on as usual after some apologies.” This week, VW’s board of directors released… Read more »
BMW i3 snatches second place in September plug-in sales
US plug-in sales are still in the slow lane – once again, the monthly figure of 10,134 fell short of last year’s 10,921. The Tesla Model S grabbed the lead position, with 2,500 estimated US sales in September. The company reported delivering 11,580 total vehicles worldwide in the third quarter of 2015, a 49% increase over Q3… Read more »
Analyst: Tesla will reduce battery cost 50% by 2020
There’s a lot of future potential baked into Tesla’s stock price, but many stock pundits believe it’s headed even higher. Jefferies analyst Dan Dolev recently raised his price target for TSLA to $365.00, based on his belief that the company will be successful at lowering battery costs, and that this will improve its gross margins…. Read more »
New ads for next-gen Chevrolet Volt attack Nissan LEAF, Toyota Prius
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is a tour de force of engineering, a substantial step forward over its predecessor (see our cover story in the current issue of Charged). However, some EV industry observers fear that unless GM follows up on the technical improvements with some meaningful marketing, an area in which EV-makers have fallen short… Read more »