VIA Motors, the maker of VTRUX plug-in hybrid commercial vehicles, has acquired Prodigy Engineering, an EV design, engineering and prototyping company that has been under contract with VIA to prototype new vehicle models. Prodigy founders Mark and Mike Patey will stay on under a four-year retainer and non-compete agreement with VIA. “This acquisition expands VIA’s… Read more »
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Volvo may test dynamic wireless charging on Swedish city bus line
The Volvo Group is studying the possibility of developing a dynamic charging solution for city buses. Dynamic charging, in which vehicles are charged by an inductive charging coil in the roadbed, is generally considered to be several years from commercialization, although a group of Korean researchers has tested a prototype system. Volvo plans to develop… Read more »
Toyota makes it official: Battery EVs stink, fuel cells rule
A top Toyota executive has confirmed what was already apparent to EV industry insiders: the Japanese automaker is placing all its chips on hydrogen fuel cell technology, and abandoning efforts to develop battery-electric vehicles. In an interview with Automotive News at Fortune magazine’s Brainstorm Green conference, Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America, said that Toyota believes battery-electric vehicles are viable only… Read more »
Odyne’s export power system provides clean stationary electric power
One of the many benefits of a plug-in hybrid work truck is the ability to run power tools without the noise and stink of an idling diesel engine. Wisconsin-based Odyne Systems LLC sells a modular plug-in hybrid drive system for medium- and heavy-duty trucks that can be installed in a new vehicle or as a… Read more »
Next-generation LEAF, with substantially improved range, planned for 2017
If we had an electric crystal ball, the question we’d most like to ask is: When will a next-generation battery, with substantially improved range, show up in a production EV? According to Nissan, that Earth-shaking event may happen around 2017. At last month’s Beijing auto show, Executive VP Andy Palmer told Automotive News that a… Read more »
Juice Bar’s customizable charging station is a real eye-catcher
As you might guess from the name, Juice Bar’s EV charging stations are meant to be more than just utilitarian pieces of equipment. The Connecticut-based company aims to offer “not just a plug, but a philosophy.” Juice Bar’s high-visibility commercial chargers were designed in collaboration with BMW Designworks, and incorporate an eye-catching LED-illuminated Juice Bar… Read more »
New study: government EV incentives effective…in most cases
How effective are government incentives at encouraging EV adoption? Very, according to a white paper from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), but they don’t tell the whole story. The new report, written by Peter Mock and Zifei Yang, details the differences in pro-plug-in fiscal policies across eleven major auto markets. It quantifies taxation… Read more »
Audi plans to offer full range of e-trons – with wireless charging?
Audi’s TT Offroad concept PHEV, presented at the recent Beijing auto show, showcased several interesting features, including the Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix system, and a powertrain with two electric motors and 408 total horsepower. However, as Business Insider reports, most of the media buzz has been about Audi’s Wireless Charging technology, which the business… Read more »
BMW delivers first US i3 as California makes REx version eligible for full rebate
There’s a new kid in the EV pool, and there’s every reason to believe it’s going to make a big splash. BMW proudly announced the first delivery of an i3 to a US customer this week. A Boston university professor and ActiveE “electronaut” drove his new i3 off the lot on May 2. Demand for… Read more »
DOE to award up to $10 million for Zero Emission Cargo Transport projects
The DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has issued a funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0001106) to award up to $10 million for projects to accelerate electrification of the cargo transport sector, a worthy mission that has been dubbed Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT). ZECT technologies are defined as those that produce zero emissions from a cargo-carrying… Read more »