“Any product that uses less power and has high torque in a small package could be of interest to the EV space,” LORD’s Edward Conner told Charged. We were discussing the company’s electromagnetically actuated rotary band brake technology, and we naturally asked a lot of questions about its potential applications for EVs. The core of… Read more »
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Why is Tesla limiting the charging rate at Superchargers?
What’s this? Tesla is limiting my Supercharging rate, saying I’ve been fast-charging too often? It’s an outrage! I signed up for unlimited Supercharging forever! Splutter…argh..ack! ack! [falls backward, clutching at chest] Not so fast. Calm down and let Tesla explain. Yes, the vehicle software will limit the Supercharging rate for vehicles that have racked up… Read more »
Tesla founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning talk EVs
Here’s a treat for any EV fan: a long and meaty talk with Tesla founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, delivered at Stanford last October. While there are several substantial talks with Tarpenning available on YouTube (he also graciously granted me a lengthy interview for my book about Tesla), Martin Eberhard has seldom sat down… Read more »
Five London fleets to test new Ford plug-in hybrid van
Five fleet operators in London will participate in a pilot program to evaluate Ford’s new Transit Custom plug-in hybrid van, starting this fall. The project, supported by Transport for London, features a 12-month test of 20 new Ford Transit Custom plug-in hybrid vans. London’s Metropolitan Police will deploy 5 of the vans: one marked for… Read more »
Oregon legislators consider sales incentive for EVs
Oregon legislators are considering a bill that would establish a $1-million fund to provide a $250 incentive to automobile sales staff who sell electric vehicles to Oregon residents (it exempts sales at exclusively electric dealerships). The bill (HB 2514) addresses two interrelated issues, according to its sponsor, Representative Phil Barnhart. First, $250 would be a… Read more »
Volt launched in China as Buick Velite
Like musicians, car brands of middling stature in their home markets sometimes become big stars in other regions, and such is the case with Buick in China. The Middle Kingdom is by far the largest market for Buicks in the world, apparently due to the fact that it was the favored brand of Pu Yi,… Read more »
Peppy young filly meets old workhorse: Prius Prime vs 2006 Prius
The Toyota Prius is one of those cars that you see everywhere – it isn’t exactly an “old classic,” like an aging Corvette or Cadillac, but rather an “old faithful,” like a Honda Civic or a Volvo. Their owners don’t take them to classic car shows, but many of these workhorses have been on the… Read more »
Nissan offering $10,000 discount on LEAFs
With the next-generation LEAF expected to go on sale this fall, Nissan is ready to make deals to clear out the old models. The company has announced discounts of $10,000 on 2016 and 2017 LEAFs for certain buyers. The deal is available to customers and employees of certain electric utilities in several states, including Indiana,… Read more »
Dukosi’s BMS stores data at the cell level
Battery management specialist Dukosi and electronics provider Swindon Silicon Systems have partnered to bring Dukosi’s semiconductor chip-based battery management solution to market. The companies expect the new product to be available in the second half of 2018. Dukosi has developed a unique approach to battery management that acquires and stores discrete data directly at the… Read more »
London Taxi opens plant to build plug-in taxis
The London Taxi Company (LTC) has opened a new plant to produce what it says is the world’s first purpose-built, mass-market plug-in taxi. LTC, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely, has invested £300 million ($374 million) in the next-generation London taxi, which will be produced at the plant in Ansty, Coventry, and exported around the… Read more »