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 »
Search Results Found For: "The Mobility House"
2015 VW e-Golf ushers in an era of interchangeable drivetrains for every Volkswagen model
Rising above the waters of the Mittelland Canal in Wolfsburg, Germany, four iconic smokestacks cut through an otherwise sparse skyline. These are the most recognizable – and among the last – vestiges of the original Volkswagen factory from 1938. Symbolically, however, the smokestacks represent much more than the symbols of a power plant that –… Read more »
Voltabox begins building Li-ion battery packs in Texas
Three Li-ion battery chemistries, the speed of its software and hardware systems configuration and the automotive legacy of Voltabox make this newly-landed American spin-off company a player in the realm of rechargeable batteries for public transit and heavy industrial vehicles. Austin, Texas is known for many things: music festivals, barbequed ribs, the Texas Longhorns, filmmaker… Read more »
Can Tesla crack open Japan’s auto market?
Japan has long been at the forefront of the electromobility revolution. It’s the home of the historic Toyota Prius and the world’s best-selling EV, the Nissan LEAF. As an island nation that imports almost all of its oil, Japan has compelling reasons to electrify, and its government has worked hard to do so, providing significant… Read more »
Tom Gage on ZEV mandates, Tesla’s early days, BMW’s EV commitment and V2G tech
Q&A with the EV trailblazer Tom Gage Tom Gage is one of America’s true EV pioneers. He’s perhaps best known as one of the designers of the tzero electric sports car that provided the inspiration for the Tesla Roadster. However, that is far from his only contribution to the electric mobility field. Charged recently caught up… Read more »
Connecting Europe’s charging networks
Many have posed the question of why the EV market in Europe has lagged behind the market in the US, considering the Continent’s higher fuel prices and strong green tradition. While there are several plausible answers, on closer examination the question itself makes little sense, because in fact there is no European EV market, but… Read more »
Bosch touts its compact and flexible electric motor
Bosch is singing the praises of its SMG 180/120 electric motor, a petite powerhouse that weighs only 32 kilos and “fits inside a typical school backpack” (a handy feature). The permanent magnet synchronous motor is already used in several production vehicles, including the smart fortwo electric drive and Fiat 500e EVs, and the Peugeot 3008… Read more »
VW presents two new electric models at Frankfurt auto show
A “paradigm shift” toward sustainable mobility has begun, according to Volkswagen, and its new e-up! and e-Golf “have the potential to irreversibly charge up the electric car segment.” VW will present two new four-door EVs at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, which takes place September 10-22. The five-seat front-wheel drive e-Golf features an 85… Read more »
EVs in paradise: plug-ins and island markets
Islands make perfect EV habitats. Driving distances are generally short, and the need to ship supplies from the mainland keeps gas prices high. Also, islands around the world face a lot of environmental challenges, and many island economies depend on tourism, so the level of green consciousness tends to be high. Island governments around the… Read more »
President Obama proposes innovation institutes to target high-tech manufacturing
As it becomes clearer that the economy of the future is not so much a post-industrial economy as a high-tech manufacturing economy, US manufacturers have added about 500,000 jobs over the past three years. In order to “build on this momentum with a comprehensive agenda to invest in American manufacturing,” the Obama Administration has announced… Read more »