It’s still a bit of a mystery why we Americans fell behind in EV sales in 2015. While US plug-in sales fell short compared to 2014 (a trend that has happily now reversed), sales in Europe almost doubled. Up north in Canada, sales also grew, by 32% compared to 2014 (actually a slower rate of… Read more »
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Musk: Model 3’s veil will be lifted only a modicum in March
As every auto journalist knows, an automaker’s official “unveiling” of a new model seldom offers much in the way of technical information. A photo op with an auto body, some flashy videos and some hors d’oeuvres are what one usually expects. Tesla, so iconoclastic in other matters, tends to follow this norm. At a recent… Read more »
While US EV sales shrank, Europe’s almost doubled
What a difference a year or two makes. Not so long ago, we EV pundits were trying to figure out why EV sales were so slow in Europe compared to the US, despite the continent’s green reputation and high gas prices. Now they must be wondering the same about us. Annual US plug-in sales actually… Read more »
Graphene cages could be the key to silicon anodes
Battery boffins are buzzing about silicon anodes, which could store up to 10 times more energy than today’s anodes. The catch is that silicon particles tend to swell and crack during cycling, and to react with the electrolyte in unwanted ways. Now a team from Stanford University and the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator… Read more »
Hyundai joins the plug-in club with the 2016 Sonata PHEV
Around the world, automakers are facing ever-tightening emissions regulations, and they understand very well that improving the efficiency of their internal-combustion engines isn’t going to be enough to bring them into compliance. Each OEM has crafted its own strategy to reduce the average emissions of its fleet. Hyundai has opted for an “all-in strategy,” developing… Read more »
FTC panel considers direct-to-consumer auto sales
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently assembled a panel of experts in auto manufacturing and marketing to consider the question of whether automakers should be allowed to sell cars directly to customers. For several years, Tesla has been waging a war with auto dealers’ associations over this issue – the company’s direct sales model is… Read more »
DOT announces major push to advance autonomous vehicles
DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx introduced a new federal strategy to help develop autonomous driving technology at the Detroit auto show, joined by execs from Tesla, Google, Ford, GM, Delphi and other automotive firms. “If the government doesn’t change its ways, drivers in the future will not be moving on the highways – they will be… 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 »
The Bolt EV is on the way, but GM has no plans to invest in fast charging infrastructure
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is the hero of the hour – reviewers who checked out the production version at the recent Consumer Electronics Show were impressed, and pundits have been hailing it as the EV that could finally break into the mainstream. But one part of the picture seems to be missing. Many believe… Read more »