What’s more efficient, using natural gas to power an ICE vehicle, or using it to generate electricity to power an EV? A well-to-wheels (WTW) analysis by a team of researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has found that, with a high PTW (pump-to-wheels) efficiency and the potential for high generation efficiency with NGCC… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "US Hybrid"
BYD chief: Electric buses and PHEV consumer cars will lead the Chinese boom
The head of Chinese automaker BYD sees a major plug-in boom on the horizon, but has some definite ideas about the proper roles of PHEVs vis a vis pure EVs. Some would say the party has already started – BYD’s share price has nearly doubled this year, as the company delivered 6,600 units of its… Read more »
Electric buses begin to take over the public transit world
The humble city bus is quietly (also smoothly and emissions-free) going electric. In the past couple of months alone, Chicago, Washington DC, Portland, Oregon and London have begun trials of battery-electric buses, and the Chinese city of Hangzhou has placed an order for 2,000. China’s BYD is building buses in California and planning a factory… Read more »
European EV sales – a very different selection from the US
The US and European auto markets differ in several significant ways, so it’s not surprising that the sales figures for the various plug-in models available look quite different across the water. One of the biggest differences is size. We Americans love our pickups and SUVs, while Europeans love cute little cars that would be laughed… Read more »
Mercedes reveals details of S 500 Plug-in Hybrid as deliveries begin
Mercedes has released some more details on its S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, which is scheduled to begin deliveries in Germany this month. The plug-in Benz sports a V6 biturbo engine, an 85 kW electric motor, an 8.7 kWh water-cooled lithium-iron phosphate battery, and a 3.6 kW on-board charger. The high-voltage battery and plug-in components are covered… Read more »
US plug-in sales break 250,000 as National Drive Electric Week kicks off
US plug-in vehicle sales have surpassed the quarter-million mark, just in time for National Drive Electric Week, September 15-21. Sales have increased by a healthy percentage every year since the Volt and LEAF went on the market at the end of 2010. 2014 sales total 76,799 so far, on track to handily beat 2013’s figure… Read more »
August plug-in sales: LEAF sets all-time record, BMW i3 goes wild
August plug-in sales showed a decent increase over July, and 2014 is still on track to handily beat 2013’s figure. Sales of the industry-leading LEAF grew to 3,186 in August, the 18th consecutive monthly record, a 32% increase over August 2013, and a new all-time monthly record for any pure EV. The 2015 LEAFs are… Read more »
Mitsubishi launches top-selling Outlander PHEV in Russia
Is Russia poised to be the next EV hotspot? If so, Mitsubishi is ready to reap the rewards. Its iMiEV is currently the only foreign plug-in sold in the country, and its Outlander PHEV will go on sale in Russia in September. Mitsubishi presented the plug-in SUV at last week’s Moscow International Automobile Salon, along… Read more »
Prestolite to supply 250 electric powertrains to Chinese bus manufacturer
Prestolite E-Propulsion Systems (PEPS), a joint venture between Prestolite Electric Beijing and TM4 Inc, has received a multi-million-dollar order from Chinese bus manufacturer Foton for 250 SUMO HD electric powertrains. PEPS has been working with Foton to test its SUMO HD systems over the last 18 months. Prestolite’s TM4 SUMO system is designed for medium-… Read more »
Mercedes S 500 Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale
Mercedes-Benz has begun taking orders for the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid. Prices (in Germany) start at €108,944 ($146,000). The new sedan will begin arriving at dealerships in September. The plug-in Benz features an 85 kW, 340 N·m electric motor and a new 245 kW, 480 N·m, 3.0-liter biturbo V6 gas engine. Combined system output is… Read more »