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 »
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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 »
Seattle announces new plan to promote EVs
Seattle is expanding its efforts to promote plug-in vehicles with a new plan called Drive Clean Seattle that the city calls “one of the most comprehensive plans in the country to electrify transportation.” The City of Seattle already has some 300 hybrids, 10 PHEVs and 79 LEAFs in its municipal fleet, and it will be… Read more »
LG Chem to supply battery upgrade for Tesla Roadster
Tesla has confirmed that it has a contract with South Korean firm LG Chem to provide batteries for Roadster 3.0, a package of range-enhancing improvements for Tesla’s famous first vehicle. The company began taking orders for the $29,000 upgrade in September. Until this announcement, Tesla’s only known battery supplier was Panasonic, which is a partner… Read more »
IATA publishes guidelines for safe transport of lithium batteries
Like any energy storage medium, lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous if mishandled, so it’s necessary to establish guidelines for their safe transport and storage. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published a guide for the safe handling of lithium batteries on aircraft. The IATA estimates that each year, over a billion lithium batteries are… Read more »
NTSB issues safety recommendations for aircraft lithium-ion batteries
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has directed several recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), derived from the agency’s ongoing investigation of the January fire that occurred in a Boeing 787 lithium-ion battery. Investigators found that the battery involved in the Boston fire event showed evidence not just of an internal thermal runaway but… Read more »
Seattle-Tacoma Airport electrifies ground support equipment
Airport ground support equipment (GSE) such as baggage tugs, bag ramps and pushback vehicles represents a category of vehicles that’s ripe for electrification. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has taken a major step towards converting its GSE, a project that’s projected to save $2.8 million in fuel costs and 10,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year…. Read more »
UK Government announces seven models eligible for new Plug-in Van Grant
The Transport Department pointed out that commercial vans are ideally suited to the switch to electric, as they often have a predictable route and distance to travel each day.