BMW has emerged as Europe’s electric standard-bearer. Its i3 EV, which is to go on sale in Germany in November, has proven so popular that the company may increase production, and a spokesman recently said that the company is “planning to have a plug-in hybrid in each and every model series.” All this has led… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "US Hybrid"
EADS and Siemens electrify aviation
Electric aircraft may be taking to the skies sooner than you think. EADS (the parent company of Airbus) and various partners have several “E-aircraft” research projects underway, and have already flown a couple of electrified airplanes. In 2010, EADS Innovation Works (IW) and Aero Composites Saintonge (ACS) flew a single-seat, 375 lb plane called the… Read more »
8 to 10 Mini models to be based on new platform, one of them a PHEV
The Mini is one of those cult cars. It might be called the Grateful Dead of automobiles – its fanatical followers love every one of its dozens of variations, while other people just don’t see the attraction. Of course, the important question is, when will an electric version be available? Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW’s board member… Read more »
University of Michigan and Ford open new battery lab
A new $8 million battery lab opened this week at the University of Michigan, the result of a collaboration between the university, Ford Motor Company, battery suppliers, and the state and federal governments. The lab is actually a battery manufacturing facility in which state-of-the-art methods will be used to make test batteries that replicate the… Read more »
Mercedes exec: B Class EV beats BMW i3
Daimler R&D chief Thomas Weber talked EVs in an interview this week with Automotive News Europe’s German sister Automobilwoche. Weber believes the upcoming Mercedes B class Electric Drive will be a worthy competitor for the BMW i3: “In all the key criteria, this vehicle will be at least as competitive as our competitors’ models. With… Read more »
2014 Cadillac ELR to go on sale in January for 76 grand
What’s built on the same platform as the Volt, has the same powertrain, and costs more than twice as much? The 2014 Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid, which will go on sale in January with a sticker price of $75,995, including destination charges. GM plans to produce only a limited number of the luxury sedans, and… Read more »
Vermont announces new incentives for public chargers
The state of Vermont became the latest to hit the charge button this week, as it announced two new initiatives to support EVs. The first expands the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) loan program, and the second provides financial resources for public charging stations in Vermont’s historic downtown areas. Under the SIB program, municipalities and businesses… Read more »
BASF expands battery R&D facility
BASF has announced that it will invest $25 million to renovate and expand its R&D facility in Beachwood, Ohio. In addition to the existing catalyst and battery materials research, the facility is being renovated to make space for a new cathode materials research team. Construction is underway and completion is expected in early 2014. The… Read more »
Around the EV world in 1,000 blog posts
This is my 1,000th blog post for Charged and, since I don’t care for Champagne, I’ll celebrate the occasion by writing myself a little pat on the back and a fond recap. Since I began in October 2011, I’ve written a couple of these every day, and I’ve covered a huge variety of topics, including:… Read more »
California Air Resources Board allots an additional $72.5 million to incentive programs
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has announced an additional $72.5 million in funding for state emissions-reducing programs, including incentives to clean up heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses. “The incentive programs provide critical early investments needed to accelerate the transformation of California’s car, truck and bus fleets to the cleanest advanced technologies,” ARB… Read more »