Earthling Automotive, an independent EV service and repair shop in San Francisco, has expanded its EV knowledge program in response to the urgent need to train automotive technicians in the aftermarket. As EV adoption accelerates, “aftermarket repair shops need to be prepared to service EVs safely and at competitive prices, as consumers look for service… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Toyota"
As 2023 wanes, legacy automakers fall farther behind Tesla and BYD
Ever since Tesla’s 2003 founding, industry observers (and even the company’s own execs) have been predicting that the giant global automakers would respond to the new company’s challenge, produce their own compelling EVs, and surpass (or perhaps even acquire) the upstart. Two decades later, that scenario seems more unlikely than ever. As Tom Randall writes… Read more »
Kentucky imposes monthly tax on free public EV charging
The IRA and BIL are spurring a massive wave of investment in EV plants and EV charging infrastructure, and so far, the lion’s share of this investment is flowing to red states. Many industry observers expect the influx of cash and jobs to blunt opposition to EVs in red-state legislatures. This equation doesn’t seem to… Read more »
MAHLE helps develop thermal management system for ProLogium’s solid-state EV batteries
Solid-state EV batteries may not represent the Holy Grail (despite the credulous gushings of mainstream media pundits), but they are expected to deliver improved safety, energy density and lifespan compared to current lithium-ion battery technology. Taiwan-based startup ProLogium Technology and automotive supplier MAHLE have signed an MoU for the development of a thermal management system… Read more »
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6: Korean Model 3 clone, or something else altogether?
Battery-electric sedans are a rare breed— that makes Hyundai’s striking Ioniq 6 a strong new entry. Quick, name all the battery-electric sedans for sale in the US—that aren’t Teslas. By our count, there’s only been one: the pricey, luxury Lucid Air. Now, there’s another: the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is on sale at your local… Read more »
CEO Jim Farley explains how Ford is learning from Tesla, marketing EVs as “digital products”
Ford CEO Jim Farley is no stranger to EVs—before he joined Ford, he worked at Toyota, and was deeply involved in bringing the Prius to the US market. In a wide-ranging recent interview with Fully Charged’s Robert Llewellyn, Farley talks about how he is shepherding his company through the process of electrification. Farley understands that… Read more »
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz: Electric microbus for North America appears, at last
Iconic design, two-tone paint, three rows, AWD—whatever you call it, the Buzz won’t be cheap. The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric minivan has been coming to North America for a long, long time. The concept for an all-EV reboot of the classic Type 2 Microbus appeared in 2016 and was confirmed for production in August 2017…. Read more »
DENSO creates its first SiC power semiconductor inverter
Japanese automotive component manufacturer DENSO has produced its first silicon carbide (SiC) inverter. This inverter, which is used in BluE Nexus’s eAxle electric drive module, will be utilized in the Lexus RZ, an EV released in March. SiC power semiconductors have lower power loss than silicon-based devices, the company said. SiC semiconductor inverters reduced power… Read more »
Developing standards for EV charging reliability
Q&A with Frank Menchaca, President of SAE International’s Sustainable Mobility Solutions The reliability—or rather, the unreliability—of public EV charging stations is nothing less than a scandal, and it’s holding back EV adoption. This tragedy involves a cast of many players—automakers, charger manufacturers, network operators, electric utilities, and often a lot more—and all need to start… Read more »
Alternatives to permanent magnet motors in EV traction applications
In my very first article for Charged over 10 years ago, I opined that the Switched Reluctance Motor, or SRM, would eventually come to dominate the EV traction market, if for no other reason than the fact that it is almost as cheap as dirt to manufacture. I won’t sprain my shoulder patting myself on… Read more »