Tesla, the classic auto industry outsider, may soon be dealing with an issue that has defined Detroit for decades. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the United Auto Workers has set up an organizing committee at Tesla’s Fremont factory. UAW President Bob King also said in August that union representatives had met with CEO Elon… Read more »
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New paper: US policies to support plug-ins are ineffective
Governments around the world are taking many different measures to encourage the adoption of plug-in vehicles, but it’s far from clear which of these policies will prove to make sense in the long run. A new paper published in Energy Policy argues that current US policies are inefficient and ineffective. One of the main culprits… Read more »
15 million for Massachusetts alt fuel programs, including electric school bus pilot
Massachusetts has announced $15.5 million of new funding to support alternative fuel vehicles and related infrastructure. The investment, which includes $11.7 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds from the US DOT, will be split among several programs, including an electric school bus pilot. The first phase of the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program… Read more »
December plugin sales: LEAF has best month ever, but Volt wins top spot for 2013
It was a banner year for plug-in vehicles, as 2013 sales (94,019) almost doubled 2012’s figure (52,581), and several new models made strong debuts – US buyers now have a choice of 16 mainstream plug-in models, compared to 9 at the end of last year. Overall US auto sales are up 8% in 2013, according… Read more »
Wanxiang bids for Fisker again in last-minute offer
The assets of bankrupt automaker Fisker Automotive are scheduled to be transferred to Hybrid Technology LLC, which bought the automaker’s outstanding $168 million DOE loan for $25 million in October. However, just days before a hearing in which a judge will decide whether to give final approval to the deal, Chinese auto parts giant Wanxiang… Read more »
The most interesting part of the 2014 Cadillac ELR is the software
We often hear automotive engineers talk about the need for a better understanding of the components of an EV. Some have said that there is an inherent inefficiency in many systems because the parts – like the battery cells, motors and inverters – have historically been developed independently of each other and then integrated together…. Read more »
Bolloré subsidiary to manage London’s charging network
Transport for London (TfL) has selected IER, a subsidiary of the France-based Bolloré Group, take over the management of Source London, the capital’s EV charging network. IER will be responsible for all back office functions, working from its UK offices, and plans to work with new and existing Source London partners to expand the network… Read more »
Senate proposal would eliminate plug-in vehicle tax credit
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) has unveiled a draft package of proposals to streamline energy-related tax incentives. The package would repeal a number of current tax incentives, including those for plug-in vehicles. “It is time to bring our energy tax policy into the 21st century,” Senator Baucus said. “Our current set of energy… Read more »
Danish charging network orders 50 CCS fast chargers from ABB
Danish charging network operator CLEVER has ordered 50 CCS-compatible Terra 53 DC fast chargers from ABB. This follows an earlier order of 50 ABB DC fast chargers, and brings CLEVER’s nationwide network of DC fast chargers to 100 locations. Existing Japanese EVs, such as the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, use the CHAdeMO fast charging… Read more »
Maxwell and SK to jointly develop ultracap/battery combo
Ultracapacitors (aka ultracaps or supercapacitors) are the toast of the town, thanks to their rapid charge and discharge capabilities, tolerance of extreme temperature conditions and long operational life. However, their killer application may be as partners with lithium-ion batteries, which offer higher energy density. Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL), a manufacturer of ultracapacitor-based energy storage products,… Read more »