The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has learned a new trick. The plug-in SUV is now able to supply electrical power to a home using Mitsubishi’s SMART V2H (vehicle-to-home) system. The feature, which can be used with current Outlander PHEVs (with the optional CHAdeMO quick charging socket) is so far available only in Japan. The V2H system… Read more »
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Fisker is hiring, rebuilding its supply chain
Things are stirring at Fisker Automotive. New owner Wanxiang plans to relaunch the Karma plug-in luxury sedan next year, and the company is hiring – its online job board lists some 45 open positions, including engineers, managers and interns. Fisker is renewing its relationship with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies, the supplier of the Karma’s powertrain… Read more »
German automakers (still) planning to challenge Tesla
Elon Musk hopes Tesla’s success will inspire other automakers to get serious about EVs. The latest buzz in the automotive press is that he may get his wish, as German luxury brands are rumored to be working on their own EVs to compete with the boys from Silicon Valley. Automobile magazine reported earlier this month… Read more »
Tesla releases details of coming Roadster upgrade
So, it turns out that the much-anticipated Roadster news is not just a better battery, but a package of range-enhancing improvements dubbed Roadster 3.0. Tesla announced the day after Christmas that it will apply several lessons learned from producing Model S to the Roadster. Noting that cell technology has improved substantially since the Roadster battery went… Read more »
Details of Tesla Roadster battery upgrade coming soon
Tesla has a couple of Christmas presents for those of little faith who have been getting impatient for a couple of goodies promised for this year. A prototype battery-swapping station should be up and running within days, and details of the Roadster battery upgrade are to be released soon. “Roadster update details coming next week,”… Read more »
Audi releases details of 2016 Q7 diesel PHEV
Audi has released some details of the 2016 Q7 crossover, which will be offered in a diesel plug-in hybrid version. The new Q7 is built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB-Evo platform for large cars with longitudinal engines. Audi says high-tech materials have allowed it to reduce the vehicle’s weight by over 700 pounds compared to… Read more »
EIA report: California leads in EV adoption
We’re a long way from having a million EVs on the road, but we’re getting there. According to a new report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), there were about 70,000 EVs and 104,000 PHEVs on US roads in 2013 (out of a total of 226 million registered vehicles). Total US plug-in sales represent… Read more »
Nissan launches major new ad campaigns for LEAF
When EV detractors point out that many of the 22 plug-in models now on sale in the US are selling in minuscule numbers, EVangelists retort that the makers of these unloved vehicles have done little or no advertising to promote them. It’s probably no coincidence that Nissan, the builder of the best-selling LEAF, is one… Read more »
Hitachi supplies inverters and DC/DC converters for Mercedes PHEVs
Hitachi Automotive Systems has begun to supply Daimler with compact, high-output inverters and DC/DC converters for use in the Mercedes S500 and S550 plug-in hybrids, which recently went on sale in Germany. Hitachi developed a third-generation inverter that is 40% smaller and offers higher output than the previous version, and a high-output DC/DC converter with… Read more »
Mitsubishi remains committed to the US, plans to introduce Outlander PHEV
Plug-in pundits have long been puzzled by the sorry sales of Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV. Starting at $22,995, it’s the cheapest EV in the US market, it’s available throughout the country, and it has sold well in Japan and Europe. Why hasn’t Mitsubishi managed to move more than a handful here? Some speculated that the Japanese automaker,… Read more »