As EV-haters constantly remind us, the liquid electrolytes used in current EV batteries can catch fire or even explode in emergency situations such as a charging fault or a crash, or in the case of a defective cell. Solid-state cells are expected to be much safer, but they’re just beginning to appear in limited numbers… Read more…

US locomotive and railcar manufacturer Wabtec and Roy Hill, an Australian iron ore mining company, recently debuted the FLXdrive battery locomotive at Wabtec’s Pennsylvania design and development center. The locomotive has an energy capacity of 7 MWh and is expected to provide a double-digit-percentage reduction in fuel costs and emissions per train. After final battery… Read more…

Pity the poor souls who get their “news” from headlines alone, seldom clicking through to read the articles that lie beneath—what a warped view of the world they must have. As the mainstream media announced that Tesla has recalled almost all of its vehicles, headline-grazers must have envisioned two million enraged Tesla owners having to… Read more…

Fleet electrification specialist InCharge Energy has launched a new Level 2 charging solution for fleets. The new Dual ICE-80A charger can simultaneously charge two vehicles at a maximum output of 19.2 kW on each cable. The two-cable option offers a smaller footprint, thus minimizing installation costs and saving space at fleet depots. The Dual ICE-80A… Read more…

Polestar and South Korean battery manufacturer SK On have signed an agreement for the supply of battery cell modules for the forthcoming Polestar 5 electric 4-door GT. Polestar says it chose SK On due to its “superior battery cell technology that offers high-performing chemistry, fast charging, efficient discharging and superior driving range. The high-nickel battery… Read more…

German firm Volocopter is developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which it envisions using as air taxis, making short- to medium-range flights. The company recently tested a prototype aircraft at Tampa International Airport, and media and local pols were on hand for the event. The flight test campaign, which used a crewed Volocopter… Read more…

Volvo Cars has launched a new business unit called Energy Solutions to develop the potential for bidirectional charging applications such as V2H and V2G. The EX90 electric SUV, which is to be released in 2024, will be “the first Volvo car equipped with all the necessary hardware and (over time) software to enable bidirectional charging… Read more…

The Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN), a non-profit standards association with over 300 global members, conducts an annual “Testival” at which vehicle OEMs and EVSE providers test the compatibility between specific EVs and charging stations. CharIN describes the event as “speed dating” for vehicles and chargers. The 2023 Testival North America, a three-day event hosted by… Read more…

Panasonic and battery materials company Sila Nanotechnologies have signed a commercial agreement for Sila’s nano-composite silicon anode, Titan Silicon, which could enable the battery maker to dramatically improve both vehicle range and charging time. Sila’s anode materials, to be produced at the company’s plant in Moses Lake, Washington, will be optimized for Panasonic’s next-generation lithium-ion… Read more…

Sustainable Westchester, a renewable energy provider and advocacy group, recently unveiled a new EV fast charging station powered entirely by solar energy. The Sunshine to EV project, located at Sustainable Westchester’s Mount Kisco, New York headquarters, includes an 85 kW solar photovoltaic array, a 180 kWh on-site storage battery, and twin Jule 75 kW DC… Read more…

Diesel-powered trucks are an endangered species in California—assuming that existing laws stand, all trucks in use in the state must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2042, and interim targets will start to bite much sooner. CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule requires manufacturers to make ZEVs an increasing percentage of their annual California sales from 2024… Read more…

Fast charger manufacturer Tritium has installed and commissioned 33 of its chargers at a container terminal at the Port of Long Beach. The 175 kW chargers are equipped with Stäubli mechanized charging connectors to support the terminal’s electric terminal tractors, which are used to transport shipping containers. SSA Terminals, the operator of the container terminal,… Read more…

Layered lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), a key component of lithium-ion batteries, has been synthesized at 300° C in 30 minutes by a team of researchers at Hokkaido University and Kobe University. Lithium cobalt oxide is used for the cathode in lithium-ion batteries and traditionally, the synthesis of this compound takes 10-20 hours to complete at… Read more…

Battery makers are scrambling to build North American supply chains, and at the same time they’re increasingly turning to chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in order to reduce reliance on problematic elements such as nickel and cobalt. Wildcat Discovery Technologies sees opportunity in these trends, and is now finalizing site negotiations for a… Read more…

bp pulse, the EV charging arm of oil giant bp, has opened what it calls its most powerful charging hub in Central London. Located at Q-Park Pimlico in the Borough of Westminster, the hub features eight 150 kW chargers. Sixteen EVs can charge simultaneously. The new hub is the latest addition to bp pulse’s network… Read more…

Ford Pro, the commercial division of Ford, is collaborating with electric utility Xcel Energy to deploy 30,000 EV charging ports in Xcel service territories across the US by 2030. The companies’ 30×30 initiative is a part of Xcel Energy’s Electric Vehicle Supply Infrastructure (EVSI) program. As part of this effort, Xcel Energy will offset most… Read more…

Automotive adhesives maker Henkel has developed a new material for silicone liquid gasketing for automotive electronic components. Loctite SI 5972FC is a one-part RTV silicone form-in-place-gasket (FIPG) solution that expedites electronic module sealing. The liquid silicone material adheres to metal and plastic surfaces and is designed to pass OEM leak or blow-out pressure tests immediately… Read more…

InCharge Energy, a provider of fleet electrification services, has released a new version of its InControl charge management software (CMS) platform for fleets. InControl 4.0 features a new Depot View, which provides in-depth insights into fleet vehicle readiness and real-time status updates. The company has also enhanced the user interface, adding persistent filters and the… Read more…

Pilot Travel Centers, in cooperation with GM and EVgo, is building a new national fast EV charging network. Now the company has opened the first 17 locations, located in 13 states. The partners aim to deploy fast charging at around 25 Pilot and Flying J travel centers by the end of 2023, and at 200… Read more…

Poland-based EV charger manufacturer Ekoenergetyka will supply chargers, including its latest model, the Axon Easy 400, to ORLEN Deutschland, the German unit of Polish energy group ORLEN. Ekoenergetyka currently supplies 80% of ORLEN’s charging network in Poland, and has provided charging infrastructure for public transit operators in European cities including Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg and Paris…. Read more…