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Mar 6, 2017

ELECTRIC VEHICLES * Germany

* Berlin - Daimler accelerates push into electric cars as it teams up with ChargePoint

--- Daimler AG is extending its push into electric vehicles as the lead investor in an $82 million financing round for the European expansion plans of ChargePoint, the leading charging network for electric vehicles, ahead of an expected surge in demand for battery-driven cars in Europe... The move comes as European auto makers prepare a significant push to develop electric vehicles and prepare continentwide charging networks to accommodate an expected surge in battery-driven cars on European roads... Pasquale Romano, Chief Executive of Campbell, Calif.-based ChargePoint, said the company has already begun exploring European markets and is building up staff in what are expected to be the biggest markets for electric vehicles: the Nordic countries, Germany, the U.K., France and the Netherlands... In Europe, Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen and Ford Motor Co. have joined forces to build a supercharger network along Europe’s major highways that could later include ChargePoint, analysts said... 
Berlin, Germany - The WSJ/Today Every, by William Boston - 5 March 2017

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Jun 14, 2013

Electric Vehicles: FUTURE WITH BATTERY-FREE ?

* Sweden - Volvo's electric roads concept points to battery-free EV future

(Image: Volvo has been testing the technology at a 400 meter-long test track in a facility in Hällered near Gothenburg since last year) 
Hällered,Sweden -Gizmag, by Paul Ridden -June 13, 2013: -- While quick charging technology installed at strategic points along a planned route might be a good fit for inner city buses, it's not going to be of much use to electric vehicles that stop infrequently. Volvo sees our future long-haul trucks and buses drawing the juice they need from the road itself, making large onboard batteries a thing of the past... Along with power generation and transport firm Alstrom, the company has constructed a 400 meter (1,312 ft) -long track at a facility in Hällered near Gothenburg, to test a truck fitted with a special collector that draws its power from rails installed into the surface of the road. It's an adaptation of technology that's been successfully used to supply electricity to trams in several cities around the world since 2003, and could help reduce an electric vehicle's dependence on big battery banks... The two power rails/lines run along the road's entire length. One is a positive pole, and the other is used to return the current. The lines are sectioned so that live current is only delivered to a collector mounted at the rear of, or under, the truck if an appropriate signal is detected. As an additional safety measure, the current flows only when the vehicle is moving at speeds greater than 60 km/h (37 mph)... When the collector comes into contact with the power lines, 750 V of direct current is delivered and routed to a water-cooled heating element, that has a similar power requirement to an electrically-driven truck. The collector has been designed to track the power rails, even when the vehicle is not directly over the middle of the contact lines... 

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May 1, 2013

AUTOMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Japan / China - Toyota adds two unnamed EV's to its Chinese portfolio

(Image: Guangzhou-Toyota's unnamed SUV is intended for a price conscious, younger, eco-minded audience)
Changchun,China -Gizmag, by Angus MacKenzie -May 1, 2013: ... A joint venture between Toyota and China’s FAW (First Auto Works), which resulted in a new sub-brand and a new electric vehicle that was displayed along with an SUV EV resulting from another Toyota-China joint venture... The new sub-brand through FAW-Toyota is known simply as “Ranz,” whose first car on display, of the Corollis blandus genus, came decked out with a helping of nature-inspired decals. The EV is aimed at the Chinese market, where such vehicles can’t come quick enough for many given the amount of smog and pollution in many of the country’s major centers... Another as yet unnamed EV resulting from yet another Toyota joint venture, this time with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC), that made an appearance was a very yellow, mid size SUV that is designed as a straight electric for the younger, economically minded demographic. According to CarNewsChina.com, the vehicle is part of a larger plan by the Chinese government to facilitate technology transfer from foreign automakers to their Chinese partners... This concept makes perfect sense given the country’s long term inability to produce a world-class ride, however foreign manufacturers are largely unwilling to hand over propriety design concepts and technology. So instead of acquiring new-gen technology, the Chinese end up with older platforms and outdated technology. The Guangzhou-Toyota partnership has been around since 2004 but this new sub-brand is intended to bring cheap electric vehicles to the burgeoning Chinese market... The two brands are set to provide actual names for the vehicles at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November. No powertrain specifics or details were available for either vehicle...


* Germany - BMW and SOLARWATT team up for solar carport system

(Photo: The SOLARWATT Carport System) 
Munich,Germany -Gizmag, by Adam Williams -30 April 2013: -- BMW’s sustainable mobility-focused sub-brand BMW i has announced it is to join forces with German photovoltaic firm SOLARWATT GmbH, in a bid to supply consumer-friendly solar-powered carport and rooftop charging systems to future i3 and i8 owners... The latest collaboration is part of a wider push by the German automotive giant to ensure owners of its upcoming i3 and i8 electric vehicles have ample charging options open to them. BMW has already established partnerships with Naturstrom, Schneider Electric and The Mobility House, and this new deal will give EV buyers the opportunity to purchase SOLARWATT's Carport System alongside a BMW i vehicle, or separately over the internet... The system utilizes glass-glass PV modules – which the company cites as offering an increased lifespan and durability, compared to glass-foil modules – to provide solar-based battery charging for BMW EVs, as well as micro power generation for the household...

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Apr 8, 2013

* USA - THE ONE-MINUTE ELECTRIC CAR RECHARGE

* California -  ... An accidental discovery may be the key !

  (Video from io9)
Los Angeles,CAL,USA -Fleet Europe (Belgium), by Tim Harrup -25 March 2013: -- The greatest obstacle to the wider adoption of electric cars, apart from price, is the very limited driving range and the recharging time of several hours. An accidental discovery in America at the UCLA opens up the possibility of recharging an electric car – using a supercapacitor in place of a battery – in around one minute. Scientist Richard Kaner believes that using graphene, a carbon-based and recyclable material, this could one day be feasible. The production process for this material (a Nobel prize winning material) has been refined by the UCLA team to make it possible on a large scale...

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Mar 8, 2013

ELECTRIC TAXIS in BRAZIL

* Brazil - With a new electric taxi program, Rio de Janeiro enters zero emissions era

Rio Janeiro,RJ,Brazil -Automotive World -5 Mar 2013: -- Beginning this month, the city of Rio de Janeiro enters the zero-emission mobility era with the launch of the electric taxi program, a partnership between the Rio de Janeiro City Government, NBA and Petrobras Distribuidora. In the first phase, two Nissan LEAF taxis, pure-electric vehicles that produce no tailpipe-pollution, will be available in Rio. By the end of the year, 13 more units will be added to the fleet...


* France - Muses offers very urban vans 

(Photo: Mooville the Muses are environmentally friendly, can contain up to 8 m3 and even take the highway)
Paris,France -Logistics Magazine/WK Transport et Logistique, by JS Scandella -8 March 2013: -- Sure, the Muses have Mooville looks a lot different than delivery devices that have been used to cross the city... But if they have a "head toy", these new vehicles have a very serious purpose: to ensure urban deliveries, the so-called "last mile" where the standard utilities are bitching by their lack of maneuverability and apparent contempt for environment...  These machines, which already existed in version 2 now available m3 and 8 m3, have instead of key assets for this job...  First, their four-wheel drive (these are electric wheel motors) guidelines and camped at each corner of the machine gives them a record turning radius, while ensuring travel 90 km (and exchanging batteries) without polluting the countryside and, more importantly, without losing a crumb of the volume of the vehicle. Then their central driving position offering a 180-degree vision is both more comfortable for the driver and safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Finally, with a top speed of 90 km / h, they have nothing to envy to traditional truck and can even drive on the highway...

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Mar 3, 2013

AUTOMAKERS NEWS * USA

* Michigan - 2014 Stingray convertible unveiled in photos ahead of Geneva Motor Show

(Image from Chevrolet: The ragtop Corvette is expected to use the same powertrain as the coupe)
Detroit,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by John McCormick -March 3, 2013: -- Two photographs of the highly anticipated new 2014 Corvette Stingray convertible have been released before the car's official debut at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday... The drop-top model builds on the excitement generated by the unveiling of the all-new seventh-generation coupe at January's Detroit auto show... The photos show the convertible shares the same dramatic body styling of the coupe, but with a folding fabric top. Underneath its skin, the ragtop Corvette is expected to use the same powertrain as the coupe, which means Chevy's new LT1 6.2-liter V-8 with 450-hp and 450 lb ft of torque... There is no word yet on pricing or availability, although the coupe model is due to go on sale this fall...

* Michigan  - Fiat beats Mini in boost to Marchionne's U.S. strategy

(Photo: 2013 Fiat 500L Images)
Auburns Hills,MICH,USA -Bloomberg News/The Detroit News, by Mark Clothier and Tommaso Ebhardt -March 4, 2013: ... The growing acceptance of the $16,000 Fiat 500 subcompact, even among large-living Texans, helped it outsell Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's rival Mini in January and February, and four of the last seven months... In U.S. sales surge to 43,772 cars last year from 19,769 a year earlier, helping beat an internal sales goal for North America by more than 25 percent and narrowing the gap to Mini, which sold 66,123 vehicles to U.S. drivers in 2012, including the Countryman crossover... BMW introduced the retro-styled Mini in 2001 as an upscale compact to appeal to urban drivers. The car starts at $20,400 in the U.S. for the entry-level hatchback and runs as high as $36,400 for the John Cooper Works performance version of the roadster. The Fiat 500 tops out at $26,000 for the sporty Abarth convertible... Both Fiat and BMW are benefitting from growing demand for small cars. U.S. deliveries of subcompacts and smaller cars are expected to rise to 1.02 million this year, a 37 percent increase from 2011, according to IHS...


* Maryland - Workplaces offer electric car charging for employees

(Photo by Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/MCT - The GM transmission plant in White Marsh, Maryland, has installed eight solar-powered charging stations for recharging company or employees' electric vehicles)
White Marsh,MD,USA -Baltimore Sun/The Detroit News, by LORRAINE MIRABELLA -3 March 2013: -- Employees at General Motors' plant in White Marsh, Md., have an unusual workplace benefit: Anyone who drives an electric car can plug it in to charge while they work. At the plant, which produces transmissions and electric motors, workers can park their electric vehicles — or EVs — in any of eight spaces under two solar-powered canopies in the employee lot...   It's not surprising that an automaker that makes plug-in electric vehicles is emerging as a leader in working to expand charging stations for consumers, starting with its own workers at company facilities in Maryland and elsewhere. But now other large employers are joining efforts to boost workplace EV charging, including Verizon, Google, 3M, General Electric and Eli Lilly and Co....

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Feb 22, 2013

ELECTRIC CARS INFRASTRUCTURES * USA

* New York - Bloomberg endorses preparing parking spaces for E.V. Charging

  (Photo: Prototype of 2012 Nissan Leaf as New York city taxi cab) 
NY,USA -The New York Times, by JIM MOTAVALLI -February 14, 2013: -- In his final State of the City address on Thursday, Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, announced plans to make New York City a “national leader” in electric vehicles. He said he would work with the City Council to amend the building code and require up to 20 percent of all new public parking spaces be set up for electric vehicle charging, which could lead to “10,000 parking spots for electric vehicles over the next seven years” ... New York City has 100 public charging stations, the administration said, and at least 50 will be added this year... In his speech, the mayor said the city’s goal was to make a third of its taxi fleet electric by 2020... The city will also add 50 new electric cars to city fleets this year. The new vehicles will be operated by the departments of Parks, Transportation and Education, among others. The mayor’s office said that New York City operated 458 plug-in electrics, including 102 Chevrolet Volts... City fleets are served by 120 charging stations, and an additional 30 will be added as part of the new initiative, the city said...

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Sep 5, 2012

ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURES * Europe

* Belgium - Charging infrastructure allowing to charge plug-in electric vehicles faces battle in Europe to match growth

Brussels,Belgium -Fleet Europe, by Filip Van Mullem -23 Aug 2012: -- An early straw in the wind suggests that there are substantial obstacles that will hamper uptake of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including standardisation issues and toxic political associations... But evidence suggests that it is economic fundamentals that pose the biggest threat. Spain’s descent into economic turmoil has had a devastating impact on uptake of PEVs, and the risk of contagion for other EU economies hardly inspires confidence... More government support is needed, but the austerity programme has ruled out significant new chunks of cash being thrown at the EV market... Nonetheless, by 2020, a new study from Pike Research expects almost 3 million PEVs to be in use in Europe, which will be serviced by 4.1 million charging stations... Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Italy are expected to be the biggest customers of EV supply equipment, representing 60% of the total market... All sides are optimistic about the long-term prospects for the PEV sector, but the watchword across the industry is caution...

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Jul 23, 2012

ELECTRIC VEHICLES * USA

* CarCharging Announces Proposed Acquisition of 350Green, Potentially Expanding National Footprint for Electric Vehicle Charging Services 

(Photo: Quick charging stations for electric cars) 
Miami,FLA / Los Angeles,CAL, USA -CarCharging -July 17, 2012: -- Proposed acquisition would create the largest EV service provider in the U.S., with more than 1,000 EV charging service locations across the country... CarCharging Group, Inc., a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, today announced that it has entered into a term sheet to acquire 350Green LLC, an owner and operator of EV charging stations throughout the United States...  The acquisition would expand CarCharging’s contracts with major municipalities, including the City of Chicago, and further extend the company’s penetration into the West Coast market where EV adoption is expanding quickly... 


* Extending the Range of Electric Vehicles. Eco-routing navigation system in car

(Photo: Prototype eco-routing navigation system installed in a passenger car) 
Riverside,CAL,USA -UCR Today, by Sean Nealon -July 18, 2012: -- Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, believe they can extend the range of electric vehicles by at least 10 percent by taking into account real-time traffic information, road type and grade and passenger and cargo weight... The researchers, who work at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), which is part of the Bourns College of Engineering, have received a nearly $95,000 one-year grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a eco-routing algorithm that finds the route requiring the least amount of energy for a trip... They found eco-routing navigation systems can potentially reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in fossil fuel-powered by 5 to 15 percent... Most electric vehicles have a manufacturer estimated range of 100 miles or greater. However, range can vary drastically. For example, the range of the Nissan LEAF may vary between 47 and 138 miles depending on driving conditions, such as air temperature, traffic congestion and road grade, according to EPA testing...
 

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Jul 12, 2010

Survey * USA - Fleets not yet ready for plug-in electric vehicles

Northbrook,ILL,USA -Fleet Owner, by Sean Kilcarr -Jul 12, 2010: -- Nearly 65% of 100 private and government fleets in a recent nationwide poll say they are “not likely” to purchase either a plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle, primarily due to a lack of data regarding operating cost, emission reductions, vehicle specifications, pricing, resale values, and fuel efficiency... Chelsea Mathis, an environmental consultant told FleetOwner that many of the fleets participating in Donlen’s survey expressed particular concern regarding the battery charging process... Roughly 35% of fleets responding to Donlen’s survey viewed saw a plug-in electric vehicle as a good fit for sales application drivers, with 25% targeting service drivers. More than 25% of respondents would target the Midwest region as the starting point for the use of plug-in electric vehicles, while the majority would consider multiple regions... More than 46% of respondents would charge their electric vehicles at an office location with 33% charging their vehicles at home, according to the survey... (Photo from ev-chargeamerica: Electric Vehicle Charging Station)

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Apr 13, 2010

ELECTRIC TRUCKS * USA - Expect Shocking Electricity Bills for Recharging EVs

New York,NY,USA -Wards Auto, by Steve Finlay -April 7, 2010: -- “Rechargeable vehicles represent a new frontier,” says Ford Motor Co. CEO, Alan Mulally, at the New York Auto Show... They will also represent a significant new home-energy cost, one that may shock a lot of people when they look at their monthly electricity bill... If you think running the air conditioner, clothes dryer and refrigerator costs a lot, wait until you plug in your car every day. Appliances on wheels with seating for four are going to really set the electricity-usage meter spinning... EVs are destined to become the biggest user of household electricity, says Troy Bollerberry, an executive with Microsoft Corp... That means figuring out best times for people to recharge their vehicles, depending on daily schedules – and keeping in mind that users must stagger charging times... Otherwise, a city’s over-burdened electrical grid could zap out. So forget about everyone plugging in their EVs right after the commute home. That would be the EV equivalent of everybody going to the service station at the same time... (Photo from fultonleasing.co.uk: recharger)

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Apr 5, 2010

Electric Vehicle Charging * USA - Shorepower and Grape Solar partner on


(Photo from shorepower: Shorepower EV Charging Stations)

Portland,ORE,USA -Fleet Owner -Apr 5, 2010: -- Two Oregon-based firms, Shorepower Technologies and Grape Solar, have partnered to provide turnkey solar-powered charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). According to Shorepower Technologes, the “best of breed” system is now available to Grape Solar’s national network of 5,000 installers as the market prepares for the rollout of electric vehicles starting at the end of 2010... Shorepower provides solutions for connecting cars and trucks to the electrical grid including Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) and charging stations for EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).

(Photo from grapesolar: A 22.68 KW solar system in Owingen-Germany, in 2008)

Based in Eugene, Grape Solar, Inc. is a solar PV module solution provider. It sells PV equipment directly to residential and commercial solar installers nationwide. Grape Solar noted its panels are UL- and CEC- listed under the Grape Solar brand, and range from 175W to 280W...

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Dec 18, 2009

Electric Charging Stations * USA - Seattle to Build 2,500 EV CS

Seattle,WASH,USA -The Seattle Times -December 11, 2009: -- 2,500 charging stations for electric vehicles will be built in Seattle area in next 2 years. Part of partnership between Nissan North America and Electric Transportation Engineering Corp (eTec)... Last summer eTec received $100M grant through Dept of Energy for building charging stations. Building in TN, OR, San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix/Tucson w/ project participants providing matching funds... Nissan's Mark Perry said installation of stations in Seattle should begin next summer. Nissan wants to have all the stations constructed by the fall of 2011... Most stations to take 8 hours to fully charge car; 40 stations give substantial charge in 15 minutes...


* USA - Recharging Preparation Needed for Electric Leaf and Volt

New York,NY,USA -CNNMoney,by Peter Valdes-Dapena -December 11, 2009: -- Recharging Leaf, Volt or other electric car requires home electrical work... They can be slow charged from normal electrical outlet in 8-16 hours... Special "quick chargers" have to be hardwired directly into high-power lines... Equipment has to be UL approved, installed by professional, and inspected... (Photo GM: Chevrolet Volt Quick Charger)

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Apr 12, 2009

Electric Vehicles * USA - ODOT Seeks Car Charging Stations

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has become the first state in the nation to solicit bids for a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations

Portland,OR,USA -The Portland Business Journal -31 March 2009: -- "This effort to promote consistency in the EV charging network is vital to gaining public recognition and acceptance of the new technologies coming on the market," says Gail Achterman, chairwoman of the Oregon Transportation Commission... Art James, director of the electric vehicle initiative for ODOT's Office of Innovative Partnerships, notes that the state is learning from others' mistakes. In the late 1990s, for example, there were two competing charging technologies employed around Los Angeles. "If you were driving an electric vehicle and running out of juice, if it didn't connect to your vehicle you were out of luck," says James...

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