Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technologies are attracting a lot of attention, and research funding. In January, the Obama administration selected a consortium of businesses and universities to lead an innovation institute focused on WBG materials. Japan and the UK are also funding R&D in the field. A new report from Lux Research, Silicon vs. WBG:… Read more »
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Waive green regulations to speed construction of green cars? California woos Tesla Gigafactory
The irony is as heavy as an 85 kWh battery pack: California is considering exempting Tesla from some of its famously tough environmental regulations in order to entice the automaker to build its Gigafactory in the Golden State. An incentive package currently being negotiated in the office of Governor Jerry Brown could include waivers of… Read more »
CD-adapco’s new set of battery simulation tools
CD-adapco has developed a set of Li-ion battery simulation tools designed to enable faster design and development of EV power systems. The new technology is available within CD-adapco’s flagship software package STAR-CCM+ and the application-specific Battery Design Studio. The new software tools were developed as part of the DOE’s Computer Aided Engineering of Electric Drive Batteries… Read more »
Brookhaven scientists gain new insight into why fast charging reduces battery capacity
Using a new method to track the electrochemical reactions in a battery, scientists at the DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have gained new insight into why fast charging inhibits performance. The results, published in Nature Communications, could help battery makers to optimize materials for faster-charging batteries. “Our work was focused on developing a method to track… Read more »
July plug-in sales: LEAF sets 17th straight monthly record
July plug-in sales were lower than in May or June, but 2014 is still on track to handily beat 2013’s figure. Sales of the industry-leading LEAF surged to 3,019 in July, the 17th consecutive monthly record, and just a little shy of May’s all-time monthly best. The 2015 LEAFs are now available for adoption –… Read more »
Audi powers ahead with PHEVs, poo-poos pure EVs
Audi plans to have a plug-in hybrid version of each of its “key models” by 2020, reiterated Board Member for Technical Development Ulrich Hackenberg. Speaking at the launch of the A3 Sportback e-tron, Hackenberg said Audi had decided to prioritize plug-in hybrids because “they meet all of our customers’ expectations.” He said that Audi is developing… Read more »
Build an inverter the size of an iPad and win a million bucks
Google and the IEEE have launched the Littlebox Challenge – an open competition to design and build an inverter with the highest power density (at least 3.05 kW/L to enter) in a package of less than 0.66 L in volume. For comparison: The Bosch INVCON 2.3 inverter used in the Fiat 500e has a volume… Read more »
BMW’s new DC fast charger: smaller, lighter, cheaper
BMW of North America has launched its own DC fast charger. A joint development between BMW and Bosch, the BMW i DC Fast Charger can charge an i3 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. It’s about half the size of most DC chargers (31x19x12 inches), weighs around 100 pounds, and can be mounted on a… Read more »
Envia wins $7.7 million contract to develop advanced cathode and anode materials
The US Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a collaboration among the Big Three US automakers, has awarded a $7.7-million battery technology development contract to Envia Systems of Newark, California. The competitively bid contract, which is co-funded by the DOE and includes a 50 percent Envia Systems cost-share, is for a 36-month program that will focus on… Read more »
Proterra announces first sale of its second-generation electric bus
Proterra has announced the first sale of its second-generation battery-electric bus to Foothill Transit of West Covina, California. Foothill Transit, which became Proterra’s first customer in 2010, has agreed to purchase two more buses from the company, to be delivered in December. The new model has a 220 kW peak permanent magnet motor, a Proterra… Read more »