Federal Trade Commission officials have weighed in for a second time on the war between Tesla and the auto dealers. In an 11-page letter that is summarized in the Competition Matters blog, a trio of senior FTC staffers wrote that a recently-passed Michigan law, which strengthens the requirement that automakers sell only through third-party dealers,… Read more »
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Report: EV makers slowly increasing power capacity of onboard chargers
In quest of faster charging times, some EV-makers are gradually raising the power capacity of their vehicles’ onboard chargers. However, a new analysis from Frost & Sullivan predicts that onboard chargers with power ratings between 3 and 3.7 kW will remain the norm, especially in lower-end models, and will account for 62 percent of sales in… Read more »
Tesla acquires Michigan tool-and-die manufacturer
Tesla reached another corporate milestone this week, making its first acquisition, Michigan tool and die manufacturer Riviera Tool. The company will be renamed the Tesla Tool and Die Factory, and most of the 100 employees are expected to stay on, the Detroit News reported. “This acquisition enables Tesla to bring additional capabilities in-house, streamlining production… Read more »
Eguana and LG Chem partner on residential energy storage system
Tesla may have some competition in the residential storage market. Battery giant LG Chem has partnered with Eguana Technologies to develop a modular energy storage system called AC Battery. AC Battery is targeted at homeowners who want to store electricity from solar panels for later use. However it could also be aggregated for small commercial… Read more »
Tesla batteries already powering Wal-Marts
Tesla’s new residential and utility-scale batteries, which have the potential to revolutionize the energy market, are expected to be publicly unveiled this week. Invitations to the April 30th event teased the new product line as “the missing piece.” The company has been quietly installing systems for a while now – in a California pilot with… Read more »
Maxwell Technologies introduces 24-volt versions of ultracapacitor-based Engine Start Module
As every truck driver or heavy equipment operator knows, diesel engines can be difficult to start in low temperatures, or after not being started for long periods. Maxwell Technologies’ Engine Start Module (ESM) is an ultracapacitor-based system that takes over the engine cranking function and remains fully charged, even if battery voltage drops. Now Maxwell… Read more »
Los Angeles mayor’s environmental plan calls for 1,000 new public chargers
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has set out his vision for the city’s environmental goals in an upbeat report entitled “the pLAn.” It covers a wide range of topics, from water conservation to energy-efficient buildings to renewable energy to recycling to public transit. Many of the goals are very modest, such as the call for… Read more »
Hawaiian Electric Companies launch online EV Bill Savings Estimator
Islands make perfect EV habitats, and the state of Hawaii is rapidly getting charged. To encourage off-peak charging, the Hawaiian Electric Companies offer special time-of-use (TOU) electric rates. The new EV Bill Savings Estimators give residential customers an online tool to estimate how much money they can save by driving electric. With a recent electric… Read more »
EV Connect and GE Sign Joint Marketing and Product Agreement
Charging station software developer EV Connect has signed a joint marketing and product agreement with GE’s Industrial Solutions business. GE will be a preferred charging station supplier of EV Connect, and EV Connect will be a preferred management provider for GE charging stations. EV Connect gains a perpetual license to access the GE WattStation Connect… Read more »
GM Exec: Low oil prices won’t stop our plans for electrification, MPG targets make it inevitable
How will low oil prices affect the growth in vehicle electrification? It’s a question we’ve heard a lot since the price of crude began to plummet about six months ago. A few studies have come out recently that find cheap oil has little or no effect on PEV sales. It seems that either buyers don’t… Read more »