US automakers remain on track to meet the EPA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, which will mandate average fuel economy of 35.5 mpg by 2016, and 54.5 mpg by 2025. However, average fuel efficiency is in danger of slipping, as WardsAuto reports, not because carmakers aren’t building gas-sipping vehicles, but because US consumers aren’t… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "US Hybrid"
Sales of plug-ins plateau as Model S maintains a lean lead
It’s official: US plug-in sales are in the doldrums. July sales of 8,951 were substantially down from June (10,364), and from July 2014 (11,242). While we’re waiting for the 2016 LEAF and next generation Volt to get things moving again in the fall, we’ll console ourselves with the news that even as US sales have stalled, worldwide… Read more »
Fiat Chrysler CTO: Fuel cells are the distant future
Fiat Chrysler is the automaker that EVangelists love to hate. The brand has nary a hybrid in its lineup (although a plug-in powertrain for the Town & Country minivan is expected to appear in 2016), and, like some evil stepmother in a fairy tale, CEO Sergio Marchionne heaps derision on the feisty little Fiat 500e,… Read more »
MAHLE software combines GPS and topographic data to manage PHEV energy consumption
International automotive supplier MAHLE has been testing electrified powertrain technology using a range-extending combustion engine and a demonstrator vehicle that it developed in-house. The company’s Powertrain division has developed control software that can manage the consumption of battery energy for plug-in hybrids through a combination of GPS and topographical road data. MAHLE’s REEV demonstrator vehicle… Read more »
New device dynamically reduces offset error in DC current measurement
New York-based battery management specialist Sendyne has obtained a patent for an invention that dynamically reduces offset error in shunt-based DC current measurement systems. Offset error – an erroneous value read by the measurement system when the actual current is zero – has a significant impact when Coulomb counting information is utilized for State-of-Charge (SOC)… Read more »
Polestar acquired by Volvo, will apply PHEV tech to high-performance cars
Volvo has acquired Polestar, a Swedish company with which it has been working in motor sports since 1996. Polestar will now be used as the model name for special high-performance Volvos. In 2015, Volvo expects to sell 750 Polestar versions of the V60 wagon and S60 sedan, and hopes to increase that to between 1,000… Read more »
DOE offers funding for medium- and heavy-duty powertrain electrification projects
If you are working on a plug-in hybrid powertrain for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, you may be eligible for a grant from the DOE. The agency plans to issue a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0001349) entitled “Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Powertrain Electrification and Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration.” DOE anticipates releasing the FOA in August… Read more »
Volkswagen brings new plug-in Passat to Europe
Volkswagen is expanding its stable of plug-in vehicles with the new Passat GTE plug-in hybrid. The VW Group now offers no less than ten plug-ins: the Audi A3 e-tron, Q7 e-tron and R8 e-tron; the Porsche Cayenne and Panamera S E-Hybrids; the Golf and Passat GTE plug-ins, the low-volume XL1, and the battery-electric e-up! and… Read more »
Dana kicks copper to the curb in favor of all-aluminum cooling products for EVs
In 1982, the US Mint made the practical decision to change the composition of the penny coin from 95% copper/5% zinc – an alloy you know as brass – to 97.5% zinc with copper plating. Inflation had pushed the price of copper in a penny above one cent, and zinc was significantly less expensive and… Read more »
UQM Technologies grows from pioneer to power player in vehicle electrification
With its integrated electric propulsion systems spreading across the globe in all conceivable vehicle types, UQM Technologies could be called the biggest little company in the EV industry. Over the past few years, the company seems to have entered its prime, as in one of those TV commercials where a deep, authoritative voice tell us… Read more »