The eagerly awaited 2014 Volt will have no changes from the 2013 model, except for a couple of new colors – and a $5,000 price cut. The new sticker price will be $34,995, including an $810 destination charge. The 2014s have already begun shipping from GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, and will arrive in showrooms within… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "demand charge"
Australian researchers announce supercapacitor breakthrough
Researchers at Australia’s Monash University have developed a compact graphene-based supercapacitor device that lasts as long as a conventional battery, an advance with the potential to bring next-generation energy storage a step closer. Professor Dan Li of the Department of Materials Engineering and his team published their work this week in Science. Supercapacitors (SCs) are… Read more »
OnStar and TimberRock introduce EV solar charging partnership
GM and TimberRock have announced a partnership to combine OnStar software with TimberRock’s solar canopies, allowing for the management and storage of solar energy using electric vehicle fleets. TimberRock will use OnStar’s aggregation software to monitor the output of its solar charging stations, how much stored energy is available, and at what times during the day it… Read more »
BMW announces pricing of new electric i3
BMW has announced pricing for its upcoming i3 electric vehicle. MSRP in the US will be $41,350 (plus a “destination & handling fee” of $925). Prices in the UK will start at £25,680, or £369 a month (for a 36-month, 24,000-mile lease with a down payment of £2,995). BMW hasn’t said anything yet about leasing… Read more »
Sales surge leaves dealers scrambling for LEAFs
With the LEAF selling over 2,000 units a month – quadruple its year-ago sales – Nissan’s factory in Smyrna, Tennessee is ramping up production. But it’s not fast enough to meet the demand from dealers, Erik Gottfried, Nissan’s director of electric vehicle sales and marketing, told Automotive News. “We’re going to be short on inventory… Read more »
BRUSA offers electric drive components in 750-volt versions for commercial vehicles
The Swiss firm BRUSA is now offering its electric-drive components, including motors, controllers, power electronics, battery packs and chargers, in 750-volt versions, which are designed for commercial vehicles and applications demanding high output. Increasing the voltage allows the current to be reduced with no loss of performance. This means that cables can be thinner and… Read more »
A reluctant gem: The FIAT 500e EV
The cute, cuddly FIAT 500e EV may have been born only out of regulatory necessity. So what happens if it becomes the best-reviewed new EV in its class? The bar is raised; the game changes. Maybe Chrysler will even concede that it should sell it outside of the Golden State. Summertime in Sonoma County… Read more »
EVs in paradise: plug-ins and island markets
Islands make perfect EV habitats. Driving distances are generally short, and the need to ship supplies from the mainland keeps gas prices high. Also, islands around the world face a lot of environmental challenges, and many island economies depend on tourism, so the level of green consciousness tends to be high. Island governments around the… Read more »
Parker Hannifin races into traction motors
After years of development, the company plans to launch a new line of traction motors this summer. Parker Hannifin is an industrial motion and control powerhouse. With over $13 billion in sales last year, its products range from hydraulics to pneumatics to electric motors. But until recently, the company’s selection of motors was solely targeted at… Read more »
Nissan displays 300 km/h electrified race car prototype
Nissan has unveiled a prototype racer called the ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) that it claims will be able to reach speeds of more than 300 km/h under electric power. The ZEOD RC will begin testing later this summer, and will take part in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans. According… Read more »