Why motors generate and generators motor In a previous article I took a closer look at regenerative braking, and mentioned an old engineering saying that every motor is a generator and every generator is a motor (along with the caveat that some are more suited to the opposite purpose than others). This time around I’ll… Read more »
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Plug In America research: Tesla Roadster battery longevity exceeds projections
By Tom Saxton, Chief Science Officer, Plug In America Many current and prospective electric vehicle owners are curious to better understand battery pack longevity. There’s plenty of technical data on how batteries lose capacity with use, but a lot of that testing subjects the batteries to extreme and rapid charge/discharge cycles, very unlike the much gentler use… Read more »
August plug-in sales best in history – Volt, LEAF, Prius smash records
Break out the Champagne! August was the best month ever for US plug-in vehicle sales, as 11,073 new owners got charged. Year-to-date sales (58,662) have already surpassed sales for all of 2012 (52,581). The surge was broad and deep – the three leading models had huge increases, the top two set new records, and even… Read more »
Advanced battery testing and development hub opens in Indiana
The Battery Innovation Center (BIC), a hub for advanced battery testing and development, opened this week in Newberry, Indiana. The 32,000-square-foot facility will serve as a center for research and development, prototyping and contract manufacturing for industrial, academic and military customers. BIC members include corporate, academic and government entities such as AeroVironment, Eaton, Purdue University… Read more »
US Army microgrid features bidirectional EV chargers
It’s not just trees and money that are green – it’s also the color of military uniforms. The US Army is a pioneer in electric mobility and renewable energy, especially in the field of microgrids – small independent smart grids that can power an entire military base. Last December, the Army Corps of Engineers commissioned… Read more »
Next-generation Prius Plug-in to have more electric range, wireless charging
With the entire collection of 23 Toyota and Lexus hybrid models as a backdrop, Toyota Managing Officer Satoshi Ogiso delivered an inspiring overview of the past, present and future of the Prius family at the “2013 Toyota Hybrid World Tour event in Michigan. Ogiso was one of the engineers who began developing hybrid technology at… 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 »
Continental supplies first air suspension system for an EV
Auto parts supplier Continental has developed its first air suspension system for an EV, the company announced this week. “The air suspension system we developed had to meet strict electric driving requirements but without neglecting aspects like comfort, range and driving pleasure,” said Continental’s Christian Hilgers. In order to deliver low weight and low energy… Read more »
DOE to resume making loans for advanced vehicles
The $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program, which funded both winners (Tesla, Ford, Nissan) and losers (Fisker) before election-year criticism from the back seat caused it to slam on the brakes, will get back on the road soon, said DOE spokeswoman Aoife McCarthy. The program, which was created in 2008 by President… Read more »
MetLife installs workplace chargers at 14 US campuses
Good grief! Insurance giant MetLife (NYSE: MET) has installed 32 Level 2 charging stations for employee use at 14 of its facilities across 10 states. According to the company, this is the largest number of stations of any non-EV industry company currently participating in the DOE’s Workplace Charging Challenge. “MetLife has a broad and deep… Read more »