The DOE intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0001097) entitled “Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Deployment Initiatives.” The estimated $4.5 million in funding will go to projects that increase the acceptance and deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles (including EVs). Areas of interest include: Vehicle demonstration and enhanced driver experience projects. The intent of this area… Read more »
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Tesla Gigafactory takes shape, stock soars, short-sellers weep
Let’s all shed a crocodile tear or two for the poor Tesla short-sellers. Their faces (and their balance sheets) turned an even deeper shade of red this week, as TSLA shares powered through the $200 mark without tapping the brakes, on the way to $260 and beyond. A series of positive news items has driven… Read more »
DOE offers $10 million in research funding for batteries, motors and power electronics
If you’ve got an idea for cheaper, lighter, safer or more durable batteries or electric powertrain components, you may be eligible for a piece of a new $10 million pot of research funding. The DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) has issued an Incubator Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for projects that address any of several “areas… Read more »
BMW i3: The launch of many firsts
When you’re writing about the dawn of a new industry, “firsts” and “milestones” come along so often that they may start to lose their novelty. However, the BMW i3, which was officially “launched” in July, and is scheduled to go on sale next year, boasts an impressive number of innovations that has the EV press… Read more »
Batteries2020 seeks to increase lifespan and energy density of Li-ion batteries
An 8.4-million-euro ($11-million) European research project called Batteries2020 aims to increase the lifespan and energy density of large-format automotive Li-ion batteries. The project is scheduled to run through September 2016, by which time the group’s goal is to have a commercialization-ready product that achieves a 4,000-cycle lifetime at 80% depth of discharge, and an energy… Read more »
ANSI releases version 2.0 of EV Standardization Roadmap
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has released version 2.0 of its Standardization Roadmap for Electric Vehicles. This lengthy tome seems to address every conceivable standard that has to do with EVs, and it makes a dense but interesting read. The Roadmap tracks progress to implement recommendations made in version 1.0, released in April 2012,… Read more »
New study: using aluminum instead of steel can reduce the cost of an EV
Automakers are devoting a lot of effort to making cars lighter these days, and the quest is especially critical for builders of electric vehicles, as less weight can translate into more range…or lower cost. A German research institute called FKA has done a new study, at the behest of a pair of aluminum trade groups,… Read more »
New LEAF, with 14% better range, goes on sale in Japan
More range! More range! That’s the mantra that EV gurus are constantly chanting. Nissan delivered the goods this week, as it announced that the updated Nissan LEAF, now available throughout Japan, offers a range of 228 km, or 141 miles (measured on the JC08 cycle), a 14% improvement over the original LEAF. The… Read more »
GM and ABB demonstrate grid storage system built from used Volt batteries
At the recent Electrification Experience symposium in California, GM and ABB demonstrated a “community energy storage system” made from five used Chevy Volt batteries. The unit is designed to provide 25 kW of power for two hours, enough to power 3 to 5 average American homes (a few dozen of these babies would come… Read more »
China’s plan: 2 million plug-ins on the road by 2020
China’s State Council has published a plan to develop the “new energy vehicle” industry, which includes EVs, PHEVs and fuel cell vehicles.