A new report from The Brattle Group finds that EVs will be a major disruptor for the US electric power sector. The group’s economists predict that the number of EVs in the US will increase from 1.5 million in 2020 to 10-35 million by 2030. They estimate that the electric power sector will need to… Read more »
Author: Charles Morris
UN highlights social and environmental impacts of surging demand for battery raw materials
Demand for raw materials used in the production of EV batteries is expected to soar, and the UN trade body, UNCTAD, says the industry urgently needs to address the social and environmental impacts of the extraction of raw materials. UNCTAD predicts that the market for EV batteries will grow from an estimated $7 billion to… Read more »
Elon Musk offers to let automakers license Tesla’s tech (again)
Tesla’s mission has always been to advance the transition to electromobility, and Elon Musk has said many times that he’s open to licensing deals that would allow other automakers to use the company’s technology. As far as we know, only two major brands have ever taken Tesla up on the offer: back in the 2010s,… Read more »
Volvo Trucks pilots VNR Electric truck at California dealership
Volvo Trucks North America has deployed its first pilot VNR Electric truck in Southern California as part of the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project—a collaboration with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and 13 other organizations to develop a blueprint to scale up the adoption of battery-electric trucks. The first… Read more »
Nikola founder Trevor Milton on fuel cells, batteries and a pay-per-mile model
In these troubled days, the world is divided into two hostile camps—each faction demonizes the other, and refuses even to listen to the other side’s arguments. Families have been torn apart, and sometimes it seems people are about to come to physical violence, or even block former Facebook friends. But what if the batteries-vs-hydrogen debate… Read more »
Link Transit’s 10 new BYD buses come with Momentum Dynamics wireless charging system
Following a phased reopening of its Lancaster, California manufacturing plant in mid-May, BYD is back to building electric buses. The company’s first post-closure delivery completed an order of 10 battery-electric K9S buses to Link Transit in Wenatchee, Washington. The K9S 35-ft electric bus seats up to 32, has a range of 215 miles, and can… Read more »
Nissan launches pilot in Australia, will offer V2G to customers this year
A major government trial of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in Australia will demonstrate the Nissan LEAF’s ability to supply energy to a home or commercial site, or to feed power back to the grid, thanks to its built-in bidirectional charging capability. The Realising Electric Vehicle Services (REVS) project is a precursor to the customer launch of… Read more »
Sunstone Engineering’s new battery welding system enables copper and nickel tab welding
Sunstone Engineering, a manufacturer of high-tech micro-welding and engraving solutions, has developed a new battery welding system that’s capable of welding copper and nickel tabs to power cells. Sunstone’s Omega PA250i includes new welding technology that clears a path for battery manufacturers to use pure copper or nickel tabs in the production of power cells…. Read more »
Edmonton Transit Service to deploy 40 Proterra Catalyst E2 Max electric buses and charging infrastructure
Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has unveiled first 21 Proterra electric buses, the first installment of 40 that it plans to deploy this year, as well as a new, purpose-built electric bus garage. ETS, which serves the capital of Alberta, Canada, with a fleet of over 900 buses, will begin putting its new electric buses into… Read more »
Northvolt to supply €2 billion worth of green battery cells to BMW
The BMW Group has signed a long-term battery cell supply contract worth 2 billion euros with Swedish supplier Northvolt. The cells will be produced beginning in 2024 at the Northvolt Ett gigafactory, which is currently under construction in Skellefteå in northern Sweden. Northvolt Ett in Sweden is to go on line in 2021 with an… Read more »
