In the popular imagination, aviation represents the last frontier for electrification. Considering the weight and limited range of batteries, an electric airplane might seem practically impossible. However, while electric long-haul airliners probably lie pretty far in the future, the fact is that, in some applications, the technical obstacles to electrified aircraft are not as formidable… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "VIA Motors"
Mercedes asks car buyers if they’re interested in EVs – and gets a reality check
Like most of the legacy auto brands, Mercedes has given conflicting signals about its interest in electrification. Its only EV to date, the B-Class Electric, was a compliance car that it sold in limited volume, and recently discontinued. However, the company says it plans to introduce a line of purpose-built EVs under the new EQ… Read more »
DOE awarding $19 million to 22 advanced vehicle technologies projects
The DOE is awarding $19.4 million to 22 new cost-shared research projects in the fields of advanced batteries, lightweight materials, emission control, and energy-efficient mobility systems. Fifteen of these are Phase 1 Battery Seedling projects, aimed at battery materials and approaches that complement the Battery500 Consortium’s research. Promising Phase 1 awardees will be competitively weeded… Read more »
Efficient Drivetrains to provide plug-in bus powertrains to 4 Chinese OEMs
Four separate Chinese OEMs have selected a plug-in hybrid drivetrain made by Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI) to integrate into their 8- and 12-meter buses. EDI will supply its EDI PowerDrive 6000 system, along with the EDI PowerSuite vehicle control software, to Shaanxi Automotive; Ankai; Xiamen Jinlong; and Yaxing Motors. Government regulations in China are driving… Read more »
Mitsubishi delivers 635 Outlander PHEVs to Ukranian police
Mitsubishi has delivered 635 Outlander PHEV vehicles to the National Police of Ukraine, an order resulting from an emissions trading agreement called the Green Investment Scheme. This is the second time MMC has supplied vehicles under the Green Investment Scheme – in 2011, it delivered 507 i‐MiEVs to the government of Estonia. Since its launch… Read more »
A look inside Tesla’s Nvidia supercomputer
All Tesla vehicles produced since October 2016 are equipped with a powerful computer that will eventually enable fully self-driving capability. Nvidia describes its Drive PX 2 as “the world’s first AI supercomputer for self-driving cars.” It has the computing power of about 150 MacBook Pros, and the company estimates that one can support Level 4… Read more »
Will Tesla’s semi truck need the Mother Of All Batteries?
We all know Elon Musk and company are used to thinking big. Even so, the recent announcement that a Tesla Semi truck would be unveiled in September caused jaws to drop and heads to shake. In the trucking industry, there was plenty of skepticism, but also a healthy concern for the future. “Commercial vehicle makers… Read more »
Tesla founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning talk EVs
Here’s a treat for any EV fan: a long and meaty talk with Tesla founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, delivered at Stanford last October. While there are several substantial talks with Tarpenning available on YouTube (he also graciously granted me a lengthy interview for my book about Tesla), Martin Eberhard has seldom sat down… Read more »
BYD partners with San Francisco Goodwill for electric delivery truck pilot
The San Francisco chapter of Goodwill will test the viability of electric delivery trucks by deploying 11 BYD trucks in San Francisco and nearby Redwood City and Burlingame. SF Goodwill will operate 10 Class 6 delivery trucks and one Class 8 refuse truck for 24 months, while collecting and analyzing data on vehicle performance, maintenance… Read more »
All-Tesla racing championship begins in Europe in November
A new all-Tesla racing championship is scheduled to kick off this November at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The calendar will continue with a race every month or so in Portugal, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain. The Electric GT Championship will offer “motorsport for the 21st century, that presents our… Read more »