Here we go again. A mainstream news source distills (some would say “distorts”) a complex scientific study into a sensational headline, and the online echo chamber spins the story into a narrative that’s almost the opposite of what the study actually found. The study, Life Cycle Air Quality Impacts of Conventional and Alternative Light-Duty Transportation… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "our next energy"
Next-gen battery pack testing: AeroVironment launches the AV-900 EX
In the late 1980s, General Motors contracted with the California-based firm AeroVironment to develop the Impact electric concept car. It was the prototype that evolved into the infamous EV1 production car. While designing the Impact, AeroVironment needed the ability to test large-format battery packs for automotive applications. However, at that time, essentially no one else… Read more »
GM releases details of next-generation Volt powertrain
GM has released some details of the second-generation Voltec electric-drive system that will power the 2016 Volt. According to Volt Lead Engineer Andrew Farah, the primary goals for the new powertrain were to improve performance, raise overall efficiency, and cut engine noise. The new Volt has a pair of electric motors, either or both of… Read more »
Proterra to use Toshiba SCiB batteries in its next-generation electric bus
Proterra has selected Toshiba as the battery supplier for its next-generation electric bus. Toshiba’s SCiB batteries feature a lithium titanate oxide chemistry, making them resistant to thermal runaway and lithium metal plating. The 20 Ah prismatic cells have nominal voltage of 2.3 V, gravimetric energy density of 90 Wh/kg and volumetric density of 177 Wh/L…. Read more »
ABB and BYD to collaborate on energy storage
Electronics giant ABB and Chinese automaker BYD have announced a strategic collaboration to develop new solutions for energy storage. The new partnership aims to accelerate the introduction of new solutions for EV charging, as well as stationary storage for renewable energy applications. The collaboration will focus on grid-connected energy storage, micro-grid applications, solar energy and… Read more »
GM developing next-generation power inverter
GM is developing a next-generation power inverter capable of 55 kW peak/30 kW continuous power. According to GM’s Sean Gleason, who gave a presentation on the project at the DOE’s Annual Merit Review, GM is almost two-thirds of the way through the $16.6-million project ($6 million of the funding support came from the DOE), which… Read more »
A123 acquires start/stop battery technology from Leyden Energy
A123 Systems is back in the news. The battery-maker, now a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s Wanxiang Group, has acquired Leyden Energy’s intellectual property in battery materials covering lithium titanate (LTO) and non-flammable electrolyte (Li-imide) technology. As part of the deal, some of Leyden’s key technical staff will be joining A123’s R&D organization. … Read more »
Next-generation LEAF, with substantially improved range, planned for 2017
If we had an electric crystal ball, the question we’d most like to ask is: When will a next-generation battery, with substantially improved range, show up in a production EV? According to Nissan, that Earth-shaking event may happen around 2017. At last month’s Beijing auto show, Executive VP Andy Palmer told Automotive News that a… Read more »
Drayson’s next mission: commercialize wireless power transfer technology
Drayson Racing is familiar to Charged readers as the developer of the Lola-Drayson B12/69EV electric Grand Prix race car, which set a new FIA World Electric Land Speed Record in 2013, and uses a Qualcomm Halo wireless charging system. Now Lord Paul Drayson has launched a new business, building on Drayson Technologies’ expertise in the… Read more »
Former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu joins board of Amprius
Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics and the former US Secretary of Energy, has joined the Board of Directors of Amprius, a developer of lithium-ion batteries with operations in California and China. Amprius, co-founded by Stanford Professor Yi Cui, introduced its first generation of batteries in May 2013, and it is now… Read more »