Northvolt acquires Cuberg, will commercialize next-gen lithium metal battery cells


Northvolt has announced the acquisition of Cuberg, a battery company delivering lithium metal cells produced on existing lithium-ion manufacturing lines. Cuberg says its cells, which are based on its electrolyte technology for lithium metal anodes, deliver more than 70 percent increased capacity versus comparable lithium-ion cells. Building on this foundation, Northvolt and Cuberg will expand… Read more »

ChargePoint cooperates with truck stop chains to deploy public charging across the US


Charging network ChargePoint and NATSO, a national trade association representing the truck stop and travel plaza industry, have announced significant progress in the first year of the National Highway Charging Collaborative, an initiative that plans to leverage $1 billion in public and private capital to deploy charging at more than 4,000 travel plazas and fuel… Read more »

ZeroAvia raises $24 million in new funding, speeds development of 50-seat zero-emission aircraft


ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-fueled powertrain technology to replace conventional engines in commercial aircraft. The company has successfully completed flight tests of electric aircraft in the US and in the UK, and expects to achieve commercialization for its hydrogen-electric powertrain as early as 2024. (See our interview with CEO and founder Val Miftakhov, who makes a… Read more »

Over 50 free EV engineering sessions confirmed: Charged Virtual Conference starts in two weeks


The Spring 2021 sessions list for the Charged Virtual Conference on EV Engineering is out now. Just like the content Charged brings you every day, conference topics will span the entire EV engineering supply chain and ecosystem including motor and power electronics design and manufacturing, cell development, battery systems, testing, powertrains, thermal management, circuit protection,… Read more »

Draper wins patent for electrostatic motor


Draper is developing a family of electric motors and generators based on fundamentally different principles from common e-motors used today. Underpinning the initiative is a recent patent on aspects of the technology. Draper says its approach to electric motors has numerous advantages over conventional electric motors, including lower weight, higher efficiency, higher specific power and… Read more »

Chinese phone maker Xiaomi rings into booming EV market


Everybody wants to get into the EV racket—Chinese hopefuls include search engine provider Baidu, e-commerce giant Alibaba and ride-hailing app DiDi Chuxing. Even vacuum cleaner vendor Dyson set out to suck up some coins from the electric carpet before conceding that it couldn’t see a way to commercial viability. The latest entrant to the crowded… Read more »

Extreme E brings electric racing to the Saudi Arabian desert


If Formula E is a dignified ambassador for electric performance, Extreme E is an in-your-face wild beast (but with a green conscience). Custom electric off-road SUVs tear through some of the harshest and most vehicle-punishing terrain on the globe. Extreme E’s first race, the Desert X Prix, took place on April 3 and 4, on… Read more »

Tesla Q1 deliveries blow past forecasts, set new record


Tesla turned in a delightful delivery report for the first quarter (dated April 2 to head off the skeptics). The figures—180,338 vehicles produced and 184,800 delivered—represent a new all-time quarterly record, a 110% year-over-year increase, and a beat of most of the forecasts—the average of analysts’ estimates was around 177,000. The fat figures are the… Read more »

Volvo Penta and TICO partner to develop e-trucks


Volvo Penta has joined forces with terminal tractor manufacturer TICO to develop electric terminal truck prototypes. Terminal tractors, also known as yard goats, are used to move cargo in ports, distribution centers, and rail terminals. They are considered an ideal application for EVs. “TICO has always been at the forefront of bringing alternative powertrain solutions… Read more »

Volkswagen Group and bp partner to expand ultra-fast charging across Europe


Volkswagen and bp have announced a partnership to deploy DC fast charging facilities at bp and Aral retail sites in the UK, Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Oil giant bp aims to grow its public charging network to over 70,000 charging points worldwide by 2030. In the UK, bp pulse, the company’s charging arm, plans… Read more »