Toshiba’s latest addition to its SCiB line of lithium-ion batteries, the SIP series of modules for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), will be available in April. AGVs are mobile robots used to transport materials around factory floors, warehouses, hospitals and offices. Most current AGVs use lead batteries, which suffer from long charge times and short lifecycles…. Read more »
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Is the new Aptis an electric bus or a tram?
Alstom and NTL have presented a new electric public transport vehicle with a unique design. The layout of the new Aptis is based on that of a tram, incorporating low-floor accessibility and 360° views. Two or three large double doors enable easy on-and-off passenger flows and smooth access for wheelchairs and strollers. Aptis has four… Read more »
Tesla raises $1.2 billion in new capital: good news or bad?
As expected, Tesla recently raised about $1.2 billion in fresh capital by selling stock and issuing new debt. The company sold stock at $262 per share, bringing in about $350 million, and issued convertible notes worth another $850 million, according to a document filed with the SEC. CEO Elon Musk personally bought $25 million in… Read more »
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV: The era of long-range, mid-priced EVs is here
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will surely be remembered as a milestone model in automotive history – and hopefully for more than just the hype that heralded it. For several years, the punditocracy has been saying that the “killer app” that would bring electromobility to a “tipping point” and build that all-important “critical mass” would… Read more »
New protocol reduces Li-ion battery formation time by a factor of six
A new process developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory could alleviate a bottleneck in battery manufacturing and deliver higher capacity batteries. It also conserves lithium, which improves battery capacity. In “Fast formation cycling for lithium ion batteries,” published in the Journal of Power Sources, Seong Jin An and colleagues explain that the formation process,… Read more »
Navigant says $3.8 billion worth of advanced batteries shipped in the first 3 quarters of 2016
A new report from Navigant Research examines the current market for advanced batteries (defined as mass-produced products aimed at the automotive or stationary energy storage sectors). In the first three quarters of 2016, Navigant says, over 323 million individual battery cells were shipped, representing 16.1 GWh of energy capacity and $3.8 billion in sales. The… Read more »
MIT researchers investigate mechanics of sulfide-based solid electrolyte material
IMAGE: Using specialized equipment, a team from MIT did tests in which they used a pyramidal-tipped probe to indent the surface of a piece of the sulfide-based material. Surrounding the resulting indentation (seen at center), cracks were seen forming in the material (indicated by arrows), revealing details of its mechanical properties. Battery scientists are the world are exploring… Read more »
Online energy management for PHEVs claims 30% improvement in fuel efficiency
Engineers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have developed a new online energy management system (EMS) that they say can improve PHEV fuel efficiency by more than 30%. In “Development and Evaluation of an Evolutionary Algorithm-Based Online Energy Management System for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles,” published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Xuewei… Read more »
Romania’s new government to increase EV purchase incentive to 10,000 euros
Romania’s Social Democratic Party plans to extend the existing Rabla program of EV incentives to 2020, and increase the value of the purchase incentive to 10,000 euros for each EV. The Rabla program, which was launched last year, currently provides vouchers worth 1,100 euros for the purchase of a hybrid and up to 6,000… Read more »
Yet another EV startup: Rivian buys Illinois Mitsubishi plant
Another secretive startup, another web site with pix of smiling multicultural techies and vaguely-worded flights of eloquence about redefining the automobile. But now Rivian Automotive has taken a concrete step towards realizing its dreams, buying a 2.4-million-square-foot former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois. According to county records, the company paid $2 million for the 500-acre… Read more »
