Q&A with emissions standards expert Michael Steel of the law firm Morrison & Foerster For better or for worse, the proliferation of plug-in vehicles that has occurred over the past few years is largely the result of government regulation. Automakers are producing some excellent EVs, but (except for a certain California carmaker) to put it… Read more »
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New study: There’s no “free ride” for ZEV area neighbors; regions need their own policies
A new study by researchers at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia has concluded that, even if a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate drives significant ZEV adoption, there is no “free-riding” ZEV adoption in neighboring areas. Regions wanting to boost EV adoption will need to implement their own stringent policies. In “No free ride to zero-emissions:… Read more »
VW chief: Diesel engines have “a great future”
Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller rejected predictions of diesel’s demise, saying that the diesel engine has “a great future” ahead of it. “The diesels we are offering today are clean,” Mueller told CNBC at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show. “They comply with the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure requirements, and they meet the requirements and… Read more »
Flying electric: Both startups and industry giants push ahead with electric airplanes
In the popular imagination, aviation represents the last frontier for electrification. Considering the weight and limited range of batteries, an electric airplane might seem practically impossible. However, while electric long-haul airliners probably lie pretty far in the future, the fact is that, in some applications, the technical obstacles to electrified aircraft are not as formidable… Read more »
A closer look at rare earth permanent magnets
Rare earth magnets have gotten a lot of coverage in the EV press over the years for being expensive – especially back in 2011 when a supply disruption in China sent the prices up anywhere from fivefold for neodymium to 20-fold for dysprosium over the course of a few months – yet they are still… Read more »
Dynamic wireless charging: What’s feasible? Q&A with Qualcomm’s Graeme Davison
Charged has been writing about Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology for several years. As far back as 2012, automakers have said they plan to include the technology on future EVs. While those plans have been delayed for a few different reasons – interoperability standards, uncertainty in the EV market, etc. – it now appears… Read more »
eMotorWerks increases revenue from utility grid services, reduces prices on EV charging stations
eMotorWerks doesn’t just sell charging stations – the company’s JuiceNet platform offers a range of smart charging features that benefit not only EV drivers but also grid operators and utilities, which can use EVs as a resource to improve load distribution and grid stability. The company has succeeded in monetizing the services it offers to… Read more »
Critical Materials Institute manufactures an all-American rare-earth magnet
As rare-earth magnets are used in an increasing number of modern technologies, the ability to produce them domestically could be important for national security. Now the Critical Materials Institute, a DOE Innovation Hub, has fabricated a batch of magnets entirely from domestically sourced and refined rare-earth metals. The Idaho National Laboratory sourced the raw materials… Read more »
New study: V2G may not degrade EV battery life – it might actually extend it
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could turn the challenge of EVs’ power consumption into an opportunity, allowing vehicle batteries to help balance electrical grids and facilitate the use of renewable energy. Alas, a recent study from the University of Hawaii suggested that the additional cycling could harm battery performance. Now a study from the University of Warwick… Read more »
Automakers want to keep existing CAFE standards (but extend the deadline)
Automakers have expended much time and treasure lobbying for government fuel efficiency standards to be watered down. Now it appears that they aren’t interested in scrapping the current standards altogether, but only in extending the deadlines for them to be applied. The US administration has announced that the EPA will reopen the midterm evaluation of… Read more »
