Tesla is famous for doing things differently. That’s not just because the company likes to be contrary, but because it often believes it’s found a better way, and that’s certainly the case with the company’s proprietary fast charging standard. Tesla is steadily building its own network of Supercharger DC fast charging stations across the US… Read more »
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Plug-in sales settle back in September
After setting a new monthly record (11,073) in August, plug-in sales retrenched in September. The month’s total of 8,027 was still the third best of the year, and the fourth best of all time. Plug-ins’ lower September sales reflected the larger market – overall US auto sales were down 4% compared to September 2012, partly… Read more »
Texas LEAF buyers get a year of free charging
The goodies just keep coming for drivers who go electric. Nissan and NRG eVgo have teamed up to offer LEAF buyers and lessees in the Dallas-Fort Worth and greater Houston areas free access to eVgo public charging stations for a year. Under the “No Charge to Charge” program, customers who lease or purchase a new… Read more »
Tesla plans to produce an autonomous car within three years
Vehicle autonomy is a trend that’s proceeding in parallel with electrification, so it’s no surprise to learn that Tesla is working on the technology. This week, Elon Musk outlined an ambitious plan, saying that the company hopes to produce a car that can run on “auto-pilot” within the next three years. Tesla’s autonomous car will… Read more »
Battery makers expect to cut prices in half by 2020
Executives at two leading battery makers said this week that the cost of lithium-ion batteries is steadily declining, and could well drop to half of today’s price by 2020. “We have an internal target to go down by at least a factor of two by 2020,” said LG Chem Power CEO Prabhakar Patil, at this… Read more »
ECOtality files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
ECOtality, operator of the Blink charging network and manager of the EV Project, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and intends to seek the approval of the court for an auction and sale of substantially all of its assets. In connection with the filing, ECOtality and its subsidiaries entered into a Credit and Security Agreement… 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 »
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 »
LEAFs to provide emergency power and grid stabilization at highway rest areas
Nissan plans to donate 47 LEAFs and LEAF-to-Home power supply systems to roadside rest area stations (called michi-no-eki) in all of Japan’s 47 prefectures. The idea is that each LEAF, paired with a LEAF-to-Home power supply system, can be used as a backup power source in emergency situations, and will also help stabilize the electrical… Read more »