Search Results Found For: "transit buses"

BYD electric bus deals questioned after testing finds problems

Chinese EV-maker BYD has been in the news lately, selling its electric buses to transit authorities in cities around the world. Alas, the ride in a city bus, regardless of its powertrain, is seldom as smooth as one would wish. In March, the Long Beach Transit Board approved a $12.1 million contract to purchase 10… Read more »

Around the EV world in 1,000 blog posts

This is my 1,000th blog post for Charged and, since I don’t care for Champagne, I’ll celebrate the occasion by writing myself a little pat on the back and a fond recap. Since I began in October 2011, I’ve written a couple of these every day, and I’ve covered a huge variety of topics, including:… Read more »

BYD electric bus successfully completes on-road testing in Colombia

BYD’s Andino-12 electric bus has concluded two weeks of intensive testing in Bogotá, Colombia, and passed with green flags flying. The operational testing was carried out by Sistemas Sustentables and the International Sustainable Systems Research Center (ISSRC) on behalf of the Colombian capital’s public transport authority, which is considering deploying some of the battery-powered buses. The… Read more »

Aruba plans to be emissions-free by 2020

Cities, regions and countries around the world are moving ahead with the transition to electric mobility. As we discuss in this month’s issue of Charged, island communities are especially keen to get plugged in, because of their high energy prices and environmental challenges. However, as far as we know, the Caribbean island of Aruba is the… Read more »

Erik Spek on battery abuse testing, improving safety, and developing standards

(This article originally appeared in Charged Issue 7 – MAR/APR 2013) Q&A with Erik Spek: The Chief Engineer at TÜV SÜD Canada on battery abuse testing, improving safety, and developing standards. When analyzing the current state of lithium-ion technology, it helps to look back at the development of the nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH). Some argued that hybrid automotive… Read more »

What’s up with wireless EV charging

Wireless charging is one of the hottest topics in the EV world these days. Several companies have systems on the path to commercial availability. Evatran has plans to sell aftermarket systems that will work with popular plug-in models such as the LEAF and the Volt. Qualcomm is using its London trial as a test bed… Read more »

Find your niche: Balqon Corporation targets short haul drayage tractors

Electric vehicles (EVs) have their partisans and detractors. Supporters see the be-all and end-all transportation solution, while opponents argue the technology is too young. Somewhere between the two extremes lies the truth: today’s commercially available EVs have strengths and weaknesses compared to internal combustion engine (ICEs). The strong points include lower operating costs and lack… Read more »

VIDEO: Jay Leno’s latest toy – Proterra’s electric bus

Jay gets to play with all the coolest toys – he’s tested lots of EVs, from SUVs to roadsters to motorcycles. The latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage features a hot rod for public transport buffs – the Proterra Ecoliner electric bus. Designed from the ground up as an EV, the new bus has been… Read more »