It’s a common theme across the EV industry: Today many OEMs are designing their second- and third-generation EV platforms, and there is a strong push to increase packaging efficiency across the board, driving out every possible bit of cost. In the past few months, we’ve written about GM’s decision to attach the power electronics directly… Read more »
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EV Fleet CEO on building a highway-capable light-duty all-electric truck
There are a lot of great opportunities for companies building EVs for niche markets, but getting an independent automotive startup off the ground is anything but easy. EVs can be very practical from a financial point of view. So it’s a bit of a shame that for the world’s most practical vehicle buyer – the… Read more »
Volkswagen CEO: Europe needs to take the lead in electric mobility
Since the public humiliation of the diesel debacle, Volkswagen’s execs have had much to say about producing more electrified vehicles. Speaking at the company’s New Year’s party in Brussels, CEO Matthias Müller promised that the Volkswagen Group would concentrate on sustainability “more than ever before,” and confirmed plans to introduce about 20 new plug-in models… Read more »
New BMW Brilliance engine plant in China will eventually produce high-voltage batteries
BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA), the joint venture that produces BMW vehicles in China, has opened a new engine plant with a light metal foundry in Shenyang. The new BBA plant, which has a capacity of 300,000 engines per year, will supply the company’s Dadong and Tiexi automotive plants in Northeastern China. BMW said that, in… Read more »
DOE announces $58 million in funding for advanced vehicle technologies
The DOE has announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement that makes $58 million available for the development of various types of automotive technology advancements. The DOE will fund cost-shared projects with private industry, national laboratories, and university teams. “Our work refining cars that are efficient, affordable and can plug into the grid will help propel us… Read more »
Tesla sales challenging in China, but healthy in Hong Kong
Along with every other automaker, Tesla spends a lot of time thinking about China, where a rising middle class is buying more cars and the government is strongly promoting EVs. However, doing business in the Middle Kingdom is not always easy for Western firms. Although Tesla’s Q3 2015 Chinese sales figure of 3,025 vehicles was… Read more »
Renault tops European EV sales in 2015
The EV markets on the two sides of the Atlantic look very different. Tesla tops the bestseller list in the US, followed by Nissan. In Europe, Nissan’s partner Renault rules the roost. Some 97,687 pure electric vehicles were sold in Europe in 2015 – that represents 0.61% of the overall European car market, and an… Read more »
Carlos Ghosn talks EVs: Governments may be leading now, but consumers will follow
There’s been a lot of talk lately about whether automakers that aren’t named Tesla are truly committed to zero-emission vehicles. Yes, they’re building EVs, but many observers believe that this has more to do with government regulations than customer demand – a controversial article in The Detroit News recently made this point. At the North… Read more »
New Mercedes E-Class to be offered in PHEV version
Mercedes-Benz introduced the 10th generation of its E-Class sedan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. The E-Class will be available only in gasoline and diesel versions at market launch, but the E 350 e plug-in hybrid model will be added to the lineup at a later date. Mercedes has released… Read more »
Autofacts: European sales of electrified vehicles will grow 433% by 2021
Europe arrived at the electric party a couple of years later than the US, but is now quickly making up for lost time. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Autofacts group estimates that European sales of electrified vehicles (including EVs, PHEVs, mild and full hybrids) will grow 433% to 2.2 million units by 2021. The consultancy found that plug-in vehicle… Read more »