At the recent Geneva Auto Salon, a number of smaller automakers had electrified supercars on display. Few of these are likely to be seen on the world’s roads any time soon, but it’s interesting to see how designers are combining electric and legacy drives for maximum performance. The British firm Arash (via Green Car Reports) unveiled a… Read more »
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February plug-in sales: Tesla and Chevy battle for the lead, Ford grabs third by a nose
US plug-in sales are on the rise again – February’s figure of 7,881 was the fourth consecutive monthly record, and an increase of 13% over last February’s 6,951. The Tesla Model S regained the lead that it briefly lost to the Volt in January – estimated sales were 1,550 units in the US (via InsideEVs). The… Read more »
DOE issues $25-million funding opportunity for next generation of electric machines
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy intends to issue a new $25-million Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0001467) entitled “Next Generation of Electric Machines: Enabling Technologies.” Goals for next-gen motors include high power density, high revolutions per minute and integrated power electronics. The FOA may include the following topic areas: High Performance Thermal and… Read more »
CPT invests £1 million in switched-reluctance 48 V hybrid vehicle powertrains
Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) specializes in the low-voltage application of switched-reluctance machines to vehicle powertrains, providing electrification of the propulsion system with near full hybrid capability. The UK-based company has invested £1 million in seven projects, including new durability test cells and a low-volume manufacturing facility. The new investment was partially funded by the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing… Read more »
The next nifty EV feature: perpendicular steering
Add another item to the list of neat tricks that cars will soon be learning: the ability to maneuver sideways in order to slip into tight parking spaces. The OmniSteer project, funded by Germany’s Ministry of Education and Research, aims to develop a vehicle with “a lateral and transverse guidance system capable of performing orthogonal,… Read more »
Québec government provides funding for new electric drivetrain project
The Canadian province of Québec has taken a forward-looking stance on EVs – electric utility HydroQuébec is deploying public fast charging stations, and the provincial government has funded the development of an electric school bus and research into V2G technology. Now Québec Premier Philippe Couillard has announced that the province will make 16 million Canadian… Read more »
DOE announces $58 million in funding for advanced vehicle technologies
The DOE has announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement that makes $58 million available for the development of various types of automotive technology advancements. The DOE will fund cost-shared projects with private industry, national laboratories, and university teams. “Our work refining cars that are efficient, affordable and can plug into the grid will help propel us… Read more »
Chrysler’s new hybrid minivan has a plug (but don’t tell anyone)
Chrysler holds an enviable position atop the popular minivan segment, and the less respectable distinction of being the leading electrification skeptic among major automakers. So the company’s new plug-in hybrid minivan, which is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in late 2016, is something of a milestone. The Pacifica Hybrid, which Chrysler calls the industry’s first… Read more »
Honda and GM to collaborate on PHEVs
The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that Honda and General Motors, which are jointly developing fuel cell vehicles, aim to expand their cooperation to include plug-in hybrids. The two automakers may consider jointly manufacturing PHEVs and FCVs, and also plan to work together to develop autonomous driving technology. According to the YS, Honda aims to benefit from… Read more »
BMW reportedly working on new i5 and i6 EVs
Industry observers already expect a new electric BMW, probably a small crossover EV called the i5, to appear sometime around late 2017. Now Automobile magazine has suggested that the 2018 model i5 will be followed by the i6, an electric sedan about the size of BMW’s best-selling 3 Series. Automobile says the i6 will be… Read more »