Honda sneaks into third place in the PHEV race It’s ironic that Honda, which has long been known for the fuel efficiency of its vehicles, has been a laggard on the long road to electrification. The Japanese automaker launched its Insight Hybrid in 1999, shortly after Toyota introduced the Prius, but sales have been modest… Read more »
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So much for Audi’s “Tesla killer” – no e-tron inventory for US dealers
Mea culpa. Fooled again. Audi must have dropped several million bucks at a recent extravaganza in San Francisco, all for the launch of the e-tron, the brand’s first pure electric model, and it convinced this correspondent that this time, the company was serious about selling an EV in volume. Then came the news that Audi… Read more »
New book tells the fascinating story of Shai Agassi and Better Place
Does anybody remember Better Place? It seems quite a few people do, especially in Israel. Shai Agassi is one of many brilliant businessmen to come from the country that many know as Silicon Wadi or the Start-Up Nation, but according to Brian Blum, the author of the new book Totaled, “Agassi was, and remains one… Read more »
German automakers struggle to find a profitable road to electrification
It has gradually become apparent that Big Auto’s reluctance to embrace EVs is not due to mere Luddism or fear of the future. There are several reasons to believe that electrification will take a major bite out of industry profits, as Daimler execs acknowledged in March. Now Volkswagen has warned that its stated plan to… Read more »
Honda Clarity PHEV drives like a dream
The Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is a quiet star. While the Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Volt have been hogging the headlines, the Clarity PHEV has sold 8,109 units in the US since its late 2017 launch. It’s the third best-selling PHEV on the market, after the Prius Prime and the Chevy Volt. In the… Read more »
The Kia Niro PHEV is a fine vehicle, but…
Kia plans to pursue a “pick your powertrain” policy with the Niro. The hybrid version is now available in the US, and the PHEV version is available in select markets (a Florida dealer told us that it could be special-ordered). The EV version recently went on sale in Korea, and is to arrive in Europe… Read more »
University of Michigan researchers develop non-combustible, non-degrading ceramic electrolyte
Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed a solid-state electrolyte which they claim is non-combustible (which is good, because it’s heated to over 1,800° F during manufacturing!) and not vulnerable to dendrite formation due to a stabilizing ceramic layer. The electrolyte has special properties that allow for increased capacities and faster charging rates as well. Current… Read more »
Orange EV and Firefly partner to deploy electric yard goats
Orange EV and Firefly Transportation Services have announced the deployment of Orange EV T-Series electric terminal trucks into yard management operations for a leading manufacturer of consumer goods. Providing yard management services at manufacturing and distribution facilities in Michigan and California, Firefly will reduce costs and add new reporting and tracking capabilities. “To cut operating… Read more »
New eoALM adds automatic load management to non-smart EV chargers
UK EVSE manufacturer EO Charging has launched a self-contained unit that adds automatic load management capabilities to the company’s “non-smart” chargers. The eoALM module is aimed at multiple-EV households, apartment complexes and businesses with small plug-in fleets. When combined with one of EO’s eoMini or eoBasic chargers, the unit constantly monitors the energy profile of… Read more »
Efficient Drivetrains introduces new electric drivetrain for Type A school buses
Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), which recently announced a plan to be acquired by Cummins, has introduced its EDI PowerDrive 4000ev, suited for Type-A school buses. The Class 4 offering rounds out the company’s electric school bus solution portfolio for the North American market, which now includes Types C, D, and A. With a captive ridership… Read more »