Oil and barbecue ain’t the only sources of energy in Texas. Since a 1996 breakthrough at the University of Texas, Austin has been something of a center for rechargeable battery technology. One of the many companies in the area is Voltabox, a subsidiary of German automotive supplier paragon AG, which chose Austin for its US… Read more »
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Automakers push back against Michigan’s proposed EV fees
Faced with the fact that improved fuel efficiency is translating into lower gas tax receipts, several states have instituted, or are considering, special fees on electrified vehicles. A fee proposal currently making its way through the Michigan legislature has drawn opposition from an automakers’ trade group. In a recent letter to Michigan Senate Majority Leader… Read more »
The 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine PHEV enters the US market with great promise
These days when most Americans think of Swedish engineering, they probably remember a frustrating experience with an Allen wrench and one too few pieces of particle board. But we didn’t always buy our Swedish creations under the same roof as our Swedish meatballs. Any American old enough to drink remembers a friend whose parents drove… Read more »
Tesla boosts battery performance to ludicrous levels
The Model S is just about the greatest car ever made, but it’s always had one major defect: there are a couple of other production vehicles that can beat it in a drag race. For those of us who wish to go beyond Insane, Tesla has introduced Ludicrous mode (the name is a reference to… Read more »
UQM Technologies grows from pioneer to power player in vehicle electrification
With its integrated electric propulsion systems spreading across the globe in all conceivable vehicle types, UQM Technologies could be called the biggest little company in the EV industry. Over the past few years, the company seems to have entered its prime, as in one of those TV commercials where a deep, authoritative voice tell us… Read more »
EV sales may be in a holding pattern in the US, but they’re booming worldwide
Those of us who follow the month-by-month plug-in sales figures can’t help but be a little disappointed by the tale so far this year. In three of the last six months, US sales failed to equal the monthly figures of a year ago. We’re now halfway through the year, and total sales of 54,388 are… Read more »
California Energy Commission grants $10 million for electric buses and trucks
The California Energy Commission has approved more than $10 million in grants for four projects demonstrating medium- and heavy-duty vehicle technologies using battery-electric or fuel-cell powertrains. The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program projects include: $2.9 million to CALSTART, Inc. to buy four 33-foot BYD battery-electric buses, which will be built at BYD’s… Read more »
Bosch introduces Power DCPlus fast charger
Bosch Automotive Service Solutions has introduced the Power DCPlus DC fast charger to North America. The new commercial charger uses the SAE Combo standard, and is ChargePoint network-enabled. It can be installed indoors or outdoors, in wall- or pedestal-mount configurations, and weighs less than 150 pounds. Bosch sees the 24 kW Bosch Power DCPlus as… Read more »
France moves to unify charging networks
As more and more French drivers go electric, public charging stations are proliferating – the country currently has around 9,400 – but so are charging networks, each requiring its own subscription and payment method. Now the French government plans to make things easier for consumers by requiring network operators to unify some of their features… Read more »
Chinese and US agencies work together on EV-related standards
Some 75 experts from China and the US recently convened to discuss their work on standardization programs related to EVs. The focus of the workshop was cooperation on standards, conformance, and training programs among industry and government players. The workshop was organized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the China Automotive Technology and… Read more »