State of New York announces transit and school bus electrification initiatives


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a series of initiatives to increase the number of electric buses in the state. The plans include $16.4 million in incentives for transit buses, and $2.5 million for school buses. Under the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP), $16.4 million from the Volkswagen diesel settlement will be… Read more »

Tesla caps a winning year with record production and delivery numbers


Tesla reached so many milestones in 2020 that it’s impossible to list them all: the first Model Y deliveries; the start of construction on the German Gigafactory; the announcement of Austin, Texas as the site of Cybertruck production; the wonders of Battery Day; Tesla’s coronation as the world’s most valuable automaker and its addition to… Read more »

Nexperia’s new AEC-Q101 MOSFETs tested to 1 billion cycles


Semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia has launched a new AEC-Q101-qualified Repetitive Avalanche Application-Specific FET (ASFET) portfolio focused on powertrain applications. The company says the devices have been tested to 1 billion avalanche cycles, and can be used to control automotive inductive loads such as solenoids and actuators. In addition to providing a faster turn-off time (up to… Read more »

Porsche Taycan delivers electric luxury and performance


There are so many new EVs on the market or in the pipeline these days, in all form factors and all price ranges, that it’s becoming impossible to keep up with them. However, the Porsche Taycan stands out from the crowd for several reasons: it’s the flagship model of the Volkswagen Group, which is by… Read more »

Brexit deal forces UK carmakers to develop domestic battery supply chain


Britain’s new relationship to the EU has important implications for automakers, specifically for their battery supply chains. As The Guardian reports, all UK-EU trade in cars and parts will continue to be free of tariffs or quotas, as long as they contain enough content from either UK or EU factories. For three years, batteries will… Read more »

New heating concept increases EV range and enhances passenger comfort


Heating an EV passenger compartment requires additional energy, which sometimes reduces the vehicle’s range. Engineering specialist IAV teamed up with Louisenthal, a manufacturer of banknote substrates, security papers and security foils, to develop an energy-efficient heating concept that requires considerably less energy while increasing comfort for drivers and passengers.  At the heart of the heating… Read more »

EV manufacturer Arrival establishes North American HQ in Charlotte NC


British EV-maker Arrival plans to establish its North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company will add 150 new employees and invest $3 million in its new office complex in the trendy South End neighborhood. Arrival was founded in 2015, and has over 1,300 employees at sites in the UK, US, Germany, Netherlands, Israel,… Read more »

VW board backs CEO Diess’s ambitious electrification plans


Within the executive suites at every legacy automaker, there are pro-EV and anti-EV factions, which continually strive for mastery, like Zoroastrianism’s Asha and Druj. Now Volkswagen Group Chairman Herbert Diess, a staunch EV advocate, has apparently won a major boardroom battle, clearing the way for him to proceed with his progressive plans for the German… Read more »

Toyota announces new EV platform, revamped version of fuel cell-powered Mirai


Toyota has announced that it will someday release a preview of a possible electric SUV for the European market. Details are “to be announced in the coming months.” The unnamed “preview model” will be based on Toyota’s new e-TNGA platform. The new platform is designed to be easily adaptable for a range of vehicle types—some… Read more »

Tata Motors delivers first 26 of 340 electric buses to Mumbai


Indian commercial vehicle giant Tata Motors recently delivered 26 electric buses to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), which operates the public transport system in Mumbai. The buses are part of a larger order of 340 electric buses, which will be delivered in phases. The 25-seater Tata Ultra Urban 9/9 electric buses were delivered at… Read more »