Motiv has announced a new generation of its EPIC chassis for medium-duty fleet EVs. The company says its fifth-generation EPIC F-59 and E-450 chassis reduce the total number of components in the electric powertrain by 30 percent, while also improving range, acceleration and top speed. The fifth-generation EPIC chassis incorporates BMW’s high-performance batteries in a… Read more »
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New emissions scandal? Tests show PHEVs emit more pollution than claimed
Sometimes it seems automakers will try any powertrain technology in order to avoid selling battery-electric vehicles. First diesels, then hydrogen, were touted as ways to reduce CO2 emissions while still maintaining the fill-er-up-with-fossil-fuel business model (and continuing to crank out the colossal SUVs that carmakers claim consumers crave). Many electric purists have long suspected that… Read more »
GM changes course, no longer backs Trump’s crusade against California emissions rules
Elections have consequences. GM has announced it will reverse course, and no longer back the Trump administration’s effort to bar California from setting its own emissions rules. GM CEO Mary Barra said in a letter to environmental groups that the company is “immediately withdrawing from the preemption litigation and inviting other automakers to join us.”… Read more »
Wireless charging provider WiTricity raises $34 million in venture capital
Wireless power transfer specialist WiTricity has closed a $34-million investment round. Stage 1 Ventures led the round, and investors included Air Waves Wireless Electricity and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas). The infusion of capital will enable WiTricity to continue its wireless power platform development and expand its intellectual property portfolio. WiTricity is actively engaged with key standards… Read more »
Consumer Reports: Popular EV models cost less to own than comparable legacy vehicles
Surprise, surprise! An analysis by Consumer Reports has confirmed what EV boosters have been saying for a few years now: opting for a plug-in vehicle will save you thousands of dollars compared to owning a gas-powered vehicle. Savings on fuel and maintenance more than offset the higher purchase prices of EVs and PHEVs over the… Read more »
VW: German auto industry push to subsidize hydrogen is “nonsensical”
The latest battle in the War of the Energy Storage Media has broken out in Germany, where the Volkswagen Group and an auto industry lobbying group (the German Association of the Automotive Industry, or VDA) are at daggers drawn over the government’s proposed plan to implement the EU’s renewable energy directive. Germany’s Federal Ministry of… Read more »
Considerations for selecting automotive-grade multilayer ceramic capacitors in EVs
Sponsored by Knowles Precision Devices The worldwide electric vehicle (EV) market is exploding in demand and mainstream adoption as governments push for fuel economy improvements and automotive companies look for new market opportunities. According to Forbes, “by 2020, EVs are likely to cost the same as conventional fuel powered equivalents.” Major manufacturers – like General Motors, Toyota,… Read more »
Nissan achieves breakthrough in carbon fiber parts production
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) was once seen as an ideal body material for EVs, because of its high strength and light weight. It was used in the Tesla Roadster and the BMW i3, but fell out of favor because of its high cost. Now Nissan has developed a new production process that speeds up… Read more »
Teardown expert Sandy Munro compares 10 leading EV motors in new video
Auto manufacturing expert Sandy Munro knows what makes cars tick. For years, he and his company have performed teardowns, taking new cars apart and analyzing every little bracket and screw—what it’s made of, who made it, and how much it cost. This week at the Charged Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, Sandy compared an assortment… Read more »
Shoppers buy more EVs if they understand charging—and now there’s proof (exclusive first look)
New-car salespeople have simple motivations: They want to spend the least time selling you a new car for the highest possible commission. You buy a new car every five years or so; they sell up to 25 cars a month. They make money on the difference in knowledge. That makes electric cars a problem: they… Read more »