“Just one word, young man: lithium!” As EV production ramps up, companies at all points in the supply line for the lightest metal are getting ready for new levels of demand, from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who recently warned that a “truly gargantuan battery factory” will soon be needed, to Panasonic, which is investing $200… Read more »
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ChargePoint hints at new lease deal on charging stations
It’s a familiar dilemma in green tech: the long-term benefits are substantial, but high upfront costs keep buyers from taking the plunge. This spells opportunity for companies that can find ways to remove this objection. Tesla’s cousin SolarCity is one example – it has achieved huge success by offering leases that let property owners enjoy savings… Read more »
Palo Alto may require new houses to be charging-station-ready
Palo Alto, California, home of Tesla Motors, is already one of the most charged cities in the US, and this week, three city council members unveiled plans to make it even more so. Mayor Greg Scharff, Vice Mayor Nancy Shepherd and Council Member Gail Price are recommending a package of laws that would require all… Read more »
Battery makers expect to cut prices in half by 2020
Executives at two leading battery makers said this week that the cost of lithium-ion batteries is steadily declining, and could well drop to half of today’s price by 2020. “We have an internal target to go down by at least a factor of two by 2020,” said LG Chem Power CEO Prabhakar Patil, at this… Read more »
GM bulks up its Global Battery Systems Lab
General Motors has greatly increased the size of its Global Battery Systems Laboratory, North America’s largest OEM-owned battery lab. The 85,000-square-foot lab now has 112 pack-level test channels and 120 cell-level test channels. The added space will let the company test batteries and computer controls much faster than before. It took GM about four years… Read more »
BMW i3: The launch of many firsts
When you’re writing about the dawn of a new industry, “firsts” and “milestones” come along so often that they may start to lose their novelty. However, the BMW i3, which was officially “launched” in July, and is scheduled to go on sale next year, boasts an impressive number of innovations that has the EV press… Read more »
EV sales surge puts Panasonic battery division back in the black
Panasonic’s lithium-ion battery division is seeing a dramatic turnaround, mostly thanks to healthy sales of Tesla’s Model S, according to Lux Research. In the second quarter of 2013, the Li-ion division made about $40 million in profits, compared to a loss of $20 million in Q2 2012. Panasonic plans to invest $200 million over the… Read more »
Plug-in fleets: small challenges, huge savings
Four plug-in truck companies talk to fleet managers about electrification opportunities Plug-in vehicles are different. Aside from the obvious changes in technology, they present a different financial model for corporate number crunchers. This means some challenges for those pitching EVs and PHEVs to fleet operators. Fortunately for the EV industry and the fleets of the… Read more »
CHARGED Electric Vehicles Magazine Issue 9 – August 2013
Subscribe Now Trouble viewing? Read the features inside here. Featuring: The Tech A closer look at back electromotive force The challenges of battery state of charge measurements Multiphase cooling: CapTherm’s technology takes the heat off Plug In America research: Tesla Roadster battery longevity exceeds projections The Vehicles BMW i3: The launch of many firsts Plug-in… Read more »
EVs made (and powered) in America
Publisher’s Note – CHARGED Electric Vehicles Magazine Issue 9 – August 2013 The Wall Street Journal recently published an article on Kentucky’s Republican congressman Thomas Massie. The piece was about a few idealists in the GOP that are bucking the party leaders and blocking their agenda. The most interesting departure from Republican talking points is… Read more »