As is the case with a legacy vehicle, towing a trailer with an EV greatly reduces range—as John Voelcker found in his recent test of a Ford F-150 Lightning (see the latest issue of Charged), towing can reduce range by 40% or even more. But what if the trailer had its own electric powertrain? That’s… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "our next energy"
Researchers find additive can limit dendrite growth
A research team led by Dr. Hongyi Li and Dr. Tetsu Ichitsubo, both of Tohoku University in Japan, found that a multivalent cation additive can limit dendrite growth in rechargeable batteries by modifying the solvation structures of lithium or sodium ions in electrolyte. In an article published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the researchers say:… Read more »
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV: Chevy previews a mass-market electric SUV
Mid-size five-seat crossovers are a huge segment, and Chevy wants yours to plug in—next year. Chevrolet, it seems, doesn’t want to scare potential shoppers by offering up electric vehicles that stress too heavily the fact they’re … well, different. An advance preview of the upcoming 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV suggested it’s very much a Chevy… Read more »
Panasonic to build EV battery plant in Kansas to supply Tesla
Panasonic plans to build a new battery plant in De Soto, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. The new facility will primarily supply batteries to Tesla, but will also have a research department focused on next-generation battery tech. The company has made no official announcement of the planned production capacity or investment amount. The Kansas… Read more »
West Coast fast charging network EVCS raises $69 million
EVCS, which operates a network of DC fast chargers on the US West Coast, recently completed a $68- million funding raise, comprised of a $50 million debt facility from Spring Lane Capital and a Series A equity investment of $18.8 million. EVCS will use the new capital to expand into at least 35 new cities… Read more »
AIMPLAS develops composite battery casings for battery swap system
Spanish plastics firm AIMPLAS is working on structural battery casings for a battery swap system intended for lightweight EVs. The casings are made of recyclable, long-fiber thermoplastic composites that are flame-retardant and designed to protect the battery from electromagnetic interference (EMI). “Thermoplastic matrix composites could play a key role in industry in the 21st century… Read more »
Mercedes to use Sila’s silicon anode chemistry in forthcoming electric G-Class
Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will use Sila’s silicon anode chemistry in EV batteries that will be optional in its upcoming electric G-Class SUV. The company says the batteries will be produced with 100% renewable energy and will be available at mid-decade. Mercedes-Benz says, “Compared to today’s commercially available cells with a comparable format, Sila’s… Read more »
Brookhaven researchers describe benefits of electrolyte additive
A team led by researchers at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory has investigated the benefits of a lithium difluorophosphate additive for electrolytes in lithium batteries with nickel-rich layered cathodes. According to Brookhaven, the possibility of high-energy-density cells composed of nickel-rich layered cathodes and lithium metal anodes is limited by processes that reduce their capacity. In an… Read more »
Leclanché announces breakthrough in safety of its battery technology with fire-retardant electrolyte additive
Swiss battery provider Leclanché says it has achieved “a significant breakthrough” in the safety of its lithium-ion batteries, without compromising cell performance. By adding a special fire-retardant additive to its electrolyte formula composition, Leclanché says it has lowered the risk of a thermal event by close to 80%. The achievement has been validated by Intertek… Read more »
Mercedes VISION EQXX makes 747-mile road trip from Germany to England on a single charge
The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, a research vehicle designed for maximum efficiency, demonstrated its 1,000 km+ range on a road trip from Stuttgart to Cassis, France in April. Now the test car has cracked the thousand-kilometer mark again, driving 747 miles on a single charge on its way to the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed in… Read more »