Medium-duty trucks make perfect candidates for electrification, and the market would seem to be full of opportunities for small companies that build powertrains and components. It’s treacherous territory, however – several startups targeting this space have foundered. ZeroTruck founder Tedd Abramson told Charged about his company’s strategy to hang on for the long haul. Abramson… Read more »
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Volkswagen demonstrates e-Golf that can park (and charge) itself
This week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas features a fleet of vehicles from Volkswagen that showcase the triple trends of electrification, autonomy and connectivity. VW notes that its plug-in models, the e-Golf and Golf GTE, would be inconceivable without computers that control such functions as battery charging and switching between gas and electric drive… Read more »
BMW i3: “The most advanced vehicle on the planet” taken apart and reverse-engineered
The BMW i3 incorporates several extremely innovative features (as we noted in our August 2013 cover story), from its carbon fiber “life module” to its bottom-mounted battery pack to its unique optional range extender. In a recent Forbes article and accompanying video, Sandy Munro calls it “the most advanced vehicle on the planet…as revolutionary as… Read more »
EVs, renewables & energy storage: The unstoppable trio of energy’s future
The ripples of disruption: Q&A with Mike Calise The concept of disruption is often discussed in the fields of semiconductors, the internet, data, computers and software. But what about the energy industry? The world has been largely generating and consuming energy the same way for over a century. Charged talked to Mike Calise, Head of Electric… Read more »
China extends EV incentives to 2020
China continues to take aggressive measures to boost adoption of “new energy” vehicles. Officials announced this week that the current incentive scheme, which expires in 2015, will be replaced by a new program that lasts through 2020. Buyers of EVs, PHEVs and fuel-cell vehicles will be eligible for subsidies of up to 55,000 yuan ($8,834)… Read more »
ChargePoint unveils home charging station
ChargePoint, which operates a vast public charging network, is now targeting the residential market with the launch of its new home EV charging station. ChargePoint Home is a small and sleek unit – with a footprint about the size of the average tablet – that plugs into a standard 240 V outlet and can be… Read more »
Germany plans push for more charging stations
Germany seems to be coming around to the wisdom of getting charged. Europe’s largest economy hopes to spur EV demand by expanding its network of EV charging stations, Reuters reported this week (via Green Car Reports). The news organization cited a paper published by the German Transport Ministry, which said that motorway services operator Tank & Rast… Read more »
DOE and electric utilities produce report on EV charging impact
A new report from the DOE describes the findings from six Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) projects, in which electric utilities around the country evaluated operations and customer charging behaviors for home and public EV charging stations. The report, Evaluating Electric Vehicle Charging Impacts and Customer Charging Behaviors, is intended to help utilities determine how… Read more »
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV adds vehicle-to-home power export capability
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 »
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 »

