For the past several months, we EV newshounds have suspected that Ford had plans for a new generation of plug-ins up its sleeve. Now the #2 US automaker is beginning to reveal its answer to electric rivals GM, Nissan, VW et al. Ford announced plans to invest a record $4.5 billion in electric tech over… Read more »
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New chip offers precise picture of battery health
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University have developed a smart chip that they say provides a more precise picture of battery health than current warning systems, many of which only alert users when the battery is already overheating. Developed by Professor Rachid Yazami of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU, the new chip is small enough… Read more »
Over 550 Nissan electric taxis in service on European roads
EVs are slowly making inroads into taxi fleets, especially in Europe. Visitors to Amsterdam enjoy the Tesla taxis that serve the airport, but the continent’s leading manufacturer of e-cabs is Nissan, with more than 550 electric taxis on European roads (including both the LEAF and the e-NV200 commercial van). The company delivered over 100 EVs… Read more »
Formula E announces new race series for driverless electric cars
Formula E, the all-electric racing championship that is spreading awareness of electric drivetrain technology around the world, has announced another auto-racing first: a global race series for driverless electric cars, in partnership with investment company Kinetik. This mission of Roborace is to provide a competitive platform for the autonomous driving solutions that are now being… Read more »
Tesla’s motor guru says simulations are key to avoiding exotic materials and expensive manufacturing methods
It comes as no surprise that Tesla, the EV trailblazer, spends a considerable amount of resources on internal R&D to develop better parts for EVs, and that its testing facilities and engineering talent are at the forefront of the industry. Charged recently chatted with Tesla’s Principal Motor Designer, Konstantinos Laskaris, to learn more about the… Read more »
Bombardier battery-powered tram makes record test run
Bombardier Transportation has successfully completed a 26-mile catenary-free test run in the German city of Mannheim using a tram, powered by Bombardier’s PRIMOVE battery and MITRAC (Modular Integrated TRACtion) system. The PRIMOVE system features batteries provided by the German firm AKASOL, and use nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) Li-ion cells. A thermal conditioning unit maintains the… Read more »
Proterra electric buses to add Mobileye collision avoidance system
Mobileye Aftermarket has announced that electric bus maker Proterra will offer factory installation of Mobileye’s collision avoidance solution in its 2016 models. According to NHTSA, 93% of accidents are due to human error. The Mobileye Aftermarket system is designed to give a distracted driver the opportunity to avoid a collision or mitigate its severity. The… Read more »
Is Nissan teasing details of 2nd generation LEAF?
Nissan recently invited a small group of journalists to its Advanced Technology Center in Atsugi, near Tokyo, ostensibly to show them the IDS concept vehicle now on display at the Tokyo Motor Show. However, Bertel Schmitt, an old Japan hand, soon surmised that the reporters were looking at “the future Nissan LEAF in drag,” and… Read more »
New 48 V lithium battery monitoring system from ams is designed to keep things simple
Automakers are starting to produce vehicles with 48-volt power systems, and this technology is expected to catch on rapidly. Austria-based ams, which manufactures a wide range of sensors and analog ICs, has introduced a reference board for a small and simple 48 V battery monitoring system. The new board provides a complete monitoring and safety… Read more »
What will VW’s emissions scandal mean for the EV industry?
The world’s second-largest automaker has admitted that it systematically broke the law in order to evade environmental regulations. “Our company was dishonest with the EPA, and the California Air Resources Board and with all of you,” said Volkswagen’s US chief Michael Horn. “We have totally screwed up.” Tipped off by the International Council for Clean Transportation, the… Read more »