German firm AKASOL will introduce a new modular lithium-ion battery system at the upcoming IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany. The AKASystem OEM is designed for use in commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks, construction equipment and specialty vehicles. The base unit has a storage capacity of 24.4 kWh at a voltage level of… Read more »
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What’s the point of BMW’s trivial Tesla-taunting ad spots?
If the major automakers really want to begin selling their EVs in volume (and not everyone is convinced that they do), sooner or later they will have to start advertising them. BMW has been ahead of the curve in this regard – it has run several TV ads for the i3 featuring cool people discovering… Read more »
NREL evaluates replacing propane shuttle buses at Zion National Park with EVs
NREL is evaluating the drive-cycle characteristics of a fleet of propane-powered shuttle buses operating at Zion National Park, with a view to converting 14 of the aging propane buses to run on electricity. To support the transition, NREL researchers are gathering operational data using onboard logging devices, in order to understand dispatching patterns, evaluate the… Read more »
Oilprice.com says lithium is poised for more price spikes
Some call lithium “white gold,” but in fact, lately the light metal has been beating gold in appreciation, becoming the hottest metal of 2016 for commodities traders. Although lithium’s price rise has slowed in recent months, the fundamentals suggest strong potential for long-term growth, according to James Stafford of Oilprice.com. “There is no doubt as… Read more »
Port of LA demonstrates net-zero marine terminal with electrified cargo handling equipment
Ports are major sources of air pollution, but fortunately they are also excellent candidates for electrification. The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been testing various types of electrified vehicles for several years. Now the Port of Los Angeles has launched the Green Omni Terminal Demonstration Project, a full-scale, real-time demonstration of… Read more »
Next frontier for Tesla: redefining the gas station?
At this very early stage of vehicle electrification, no one can be certain of what an optimal public charging network will look like. Conventional wisdom at this point calls for DC fast chargers along highways, and Level 2 chargers at destination locations such as tourist attractions, shopping malls, etc. There is also a school of… Read more »
Columbus, Ohio wins $50 million in grants under the DOT Smart City Challenge
The city of Columbus, Ohio has won the Smart City Challenge, a competition organized by the DOT to encourage cities to develop plans for a 21st-century intelligent transportation system. 78 cities submitted applications for the award, which will provide up to $40 million from the DOT and an additional $10 million from Paul Allen’s Vulcan… Read more »
Former Tesla nemesis Top Gear raves about Model X
The tiff between Tesla and British car show Top Gear was the EV world’s equivalent of the OJ Simpson circus. After prickly presenter Jeremy Clarkson, a famous hater of all things electric (and most things American) gave the Roadster a snarkily negative review in 2008, Tesla sued for libel. The ensuing drama dragged on for… Read more »
Elon Musk debunks scare stories about a shortage of lithium
Elon Musk and JB Straubel covered a lot of ground in a nearly-three-hour performance at Tesla’s 2016 annual shareholder meeting. They recapped the history of the company, explained why Supercharging will not be free for Model 3 buyers, and discussed their plans to remake the auto production process. They also made some very interesting remarks… Read more »
Musk’s manufacturing math: Cars should be able to exit the factory at walking speed
As it faces a huge pile of orders for Model 3, Tesla’s new challenge is not to build great cars (it’s already proven it can do that), but to build great cars quickly, in large volume. Along the way, it just might add manufacturing to the list of realms it has reshaped. As Elon Musk… Read more »