Panasonic’s lithium-ion battery division is seeing a dramatic turnaround, mostly thanks to healthy sales of Tesla’s Model S, according to Lux Research. In the second quarter of 2013, the Li-ion division made about $40 million in profits, compared to a loss of $20 million in Q2 2012. Panasonic plans to invest $200 million over the… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Plug & Charge"
Resonating with the OEMs: WiTricity’s wireless energy transfer technology
WiTricity hopes to leverage a wireless energy transfer breakthrough out of MIT into a commercial solution with far-reaching potential Inside a standard electrical transformer are two coils that transfer power wirelessly. They utilize the principle of magnetic induction, sending energy from a primary coil to a secondary coil without a direct electrical connection. Inductive chargers,… Read more »
Bosch touts its compact and flexible electric motor
Bosch is singing the praises of its SMG 180/120 electric motor, a petite powerhouse that weighs only 32 kilos and “fits inside a typical school backpack” (a handy feature). The permanent magnet synchronous motor is already used in several production vehicles, including the smart fortwo electric drive and Fiat 500e EVs, and the Peugeot 3008… Read more »
New report: DC fast charging poised for exponential growth
DC fast charging is about to take off like a rocket-powered drag racer, according to IHS Automotive (NYSE: IHS). The market analysis firm’s new report predicts that the worldwide number of public fast chargers will grow to 5,900 by the end of 2013, nearly triple to 15,200 in 2014, and explode to almost 200,000 stations… Read more »
Envision Solar launches off-grid solar-powered EV charging station
[Updated 8/19/13 9:00 am EDT to include more product and price details] It sounds too good to be true: an easy-to-install, standalone solar charging station that requires no foundation, no trenching, no building permit and no grid connection. But that’s just what San Diego-based Envision Solar (OTCQB: EVSI) is offering. The company has announced that… Read more »
BMW tells us more about the ultramodern i8 sports coupe
BMW has released a wealth of details on the second vehicle in its electrified i line, the radical i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. Like the i3 city car that Charged examined at its coming-out party in New York, the i8 is scheduled to go on sale in early 2014. However, it will be produced in… Read more »
2014 Volt MSRP to drop five grand
The eagerly awaited 2014 Volt will have no changes from the 2013 model, except for a couple of new colors – and a $5,000 price cut. The new sticker price will be $34,995, including an $810 destination charge. The 2014s have already begun shipping from GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, and will arrive in showrooms within… Read more »
New Panamera PHEV provides progress over its predecessor
Porsche’s new Panamera S E-Hybrid PHEV incorporates dramatic improvements over the hybrid model that it’s replacing, and the company expects that to drive dramatically better sales. Porsche is forecasting about 10,000 sales over the E-Hybrid’s life cycle, which represents double the figure for the company’s first-generation hybrid, and about 10 percent of all Panamera sales…. Read more »
GM offers a range of electrified vehicles – but don’t call them hybrids!
When is a hybrid not a hybrid? When it’s made by GM. In a recent blog post, Pam Fletcher, one of GM’s chief engineers, claims to be trying to clear up the confusion about the terms used to describe the various categories of electrified vehicles (and of course, to explain why you want to buy… Read more »
Rumors of a new Chinese suitor for Fisker
Fisker seems to be in limbo – it hasn’t declared bankruptcy, but so far its few prospective suitors have left it standing at the altar. Karma fans haven’t lost their faith, however. Lately, online discussion groups have been abuzz with hopeful rumors, and one frequent participant claims to have heard from insiders that a pleasant… Read more »