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 »
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Consortium to test multi-ratio EV transmissions in Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque compact SUV will be the platform for a £16 million research program supported by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board. The Evoque_E program will investigate the benefits of high-speed motors and multi-speed transmissions for hybrid and electric vehicles. The project will build three development vehicles based on Land Rover’s new Range Rover… 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 »
New study predicts a bright future for plug-ins in Brazil
Brazil is poised to become the next EV hotspot, according to a new study from Frost & Sullivan. The company’s Strategic Analysis of Brazil Electric Vehicle Market [sic] estimates that 35 plug-in models will be launched in Brazil, and sell some 80,877 units by 2020. PHEVs will account for more than 70 percent of the… Read more »
California senate prolongs popular perk for plug-ins
The California state senate has approved two bills (AB-266 and SB-286) that extend existing programs allowing plug-in drivers to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes until 2019. The Golden State is famous for its traffic jams, and access to HOV lanes is a particularly prized perquisite. A legacy vehicle must have a minimum of either two… Read more »
Leonine Volvo plug-in coupé to prowl in Frankfurt
Volvo’s Concept Coupé, which will debut at September’s Frankfurt Auto Show, is the first of a series of three concept cars that will use the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). So far, Volvo’s announcements about the new concept have featured plenty of braggadocio… “Think about the powerful calmness of a lion. He doesn’t have… Read more »
Bosch touts its compact and flexible electric motor
Bosch is singing the praises of its SMG 180/120 electric motor, a petite powerhouse that weighs only 32 kilos and “fits inside a typical school backpack” (a handy feature). The permanent magnet synchronous motor is already used in several production vehicles, including the smart fortwo electric drive and Fiat 500e EVs, and the Peugeot 3008… Read more »
Bosch and partners research powerline communications for battery management
German researchers have launched a new project to improve battery performance in hybrid and electric vehicles through smarter battery management. The focus of the project is on using the power lines in a battery pack to transmit the data that allows individual battery cells to be monitored and controlled, eliminating the need for separate data-transmission… Read more »
EVs take 1.1% of California auto market
EV sales have cracked the whole-digit mark for the first time. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 1.1% of new vehicle sales in California in the first half of 2013, according to California Auto Outlook, a publication of the California New Car Dealers Association. Hybrids took 7% of the market, up from 6.2% in 2012, while… Read more »
New Volvo engines are designed with electrification in mind
This fall, Volvo will launch a new line of powertrains that are designed to reach new levels of fuel efficiency – and to be ready for the transition to electrification. The Drive-E range of powertrains consists of two four-cylinder engines, one common rail diesel and one direct-injected gas version. They replace eight engine architectures on… Read more »