The Switched Reluctance Motor, or SRM, is often discussed as a prime choice for the next-generation EV traction motor. It is simple, robust, and arguably the least expensive of all motor types to manufacture. However, SRMs are notoriously difficult to control, and prone to emitting significant amounts of vibration and acoustic noise. The good news… Read more »
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Siemens introduces VersiCharge SG, a WiFi-enabled, cloud-based charging station
There’s a new macro trend occurring with electricity rate structures. In an effort by utilities to match their real-time costs with pricing models, new variable rates are being tested and implemented. The problem is that the cost to generate and distribute power is extremely variable, and has a lot to do with what’s happening on… Read more »
Chargemaster’s new UltraCharger features Automatic Number Plate Recognition
British charging station manufacturer Chargemaster has revealed its new UltraCharger DC fast charger. EV owners can access the UltraCharger using an RFID card or a contactless debit or credit card. Another nifty feature is Automatic Number Plate Recognition – the unit can recognize a vehicle’s license plate number and automatically start charging. The 50 kW… Read more »
Proterra electric bus delivers 258 miles of range in testing
A Proterra Catalyst XR (extended range) electric bus drove 258 miles on a single charge in a recent test. The bus used in the test has 8 NMC Li-ion battery packs, with a total energy capacity of 257 kWh. The Catalyst XR can also be configured with 10 packs, which Proterra predicts will achieve 300… Read more »
Saft wins $6-million grant for stop-start battery development
Saft America has received a $6.13-million award from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), in collaboration with the DOE, to develop stop-start battery technology. The 30-month contract, which includes a 50% cost-share by Saft, will focus on the development and delivery of lithium-ion 12-volt modules for stop-start battery applications. Saft has previously worked with… Read more »
Another Chinese-backed startup announces plans for an electric supercar
New EV companies are cropping up like dendrites on a lithium metal anode. The latest startup to emerge from stealth mode is called NextEV. Like many of the current crop (see Faraday Future, Atieva, Fisker, Leshi), NextEV is backed by Chinese investors, and is not affiliated with a traditional automaker, although it has recruited execs… Read more »
Russian Prime Minister orders all gas stations to install EV charging stations
Well, that’s one way to get a charging network rolled out in a hurry. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has decreed that all gas stations must be equipped with public EV chargers by November 2016, the Moscow Times reported. Critics immediately pointed out the incongruity of such a sweeping measure in a country that is… Read more »
StoreDot says its battery tech charges 10 times faster
Put this one in the “If it can do what they claim, it really will be revolutionary” category. Israeli battery developer StoreDot says its EV FlashBattery can charge a 300-mile battery in 5 minutes – almost 10 times faster than today’s state of the art. In 2014, StoreDot demonstrated the FlashBattery, which it says can… Read more »
Tesla: cost of providing Supercharging “immaterial”
Stock-market pundits are all over the map when it comes to Tesla. One recently predicted that the EV-builder’s stock price is poised to double, thanks mostly to a new Uber-like business that, so far, exists only in said pundit’s writings. Another insists TSLA is heading for a crash, claiming that the company loses money on… Read more »
New process recycles rare earth element from scrap magnets
Rare earth elements, prized for their magnetic properties, are used in a wide range of modern technology, including advanced electric motors. Unfortunately, they are expensive, and some are available only from problematic parts of the world. To make it easier to recover and recycle rare earth minerals, the DOE’s Critical Materials Institute (CMI) has developed… Read more »