The German government has ordered Daimler to recall 238,000 vehicles in Germany after they were found to be fitted with illegal software that conceals the true amount of emissions. Daimler said that some 774,000 diesel vehicles in Europe, including diesel versions of the Mercedes C-Class, Vito and GLC, contain “defeat devices,” and that it would… Read more »
Tag: The Vehicles
CARB approves plan to invest $423 million from VW mitigation fund in zero-emission trucks, buses
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a plan to invest $423 million that the state will receive from the National VW Environmental Trust. The mitigation plan will invest primarily in zero-emission replacements for heavy-duty trucks, buses and equipment. There is also money to reduce emissions at freight facilities and marine projects, and for… Read more »
DOE: US plug-in vehicles consumed nearly 2 TWh of electricity in 2017
American drivers are plugging in, and they’re beginning to consume substantial amounts of electricity, according to new figures from the DOE. Plug-in vehicles in the US consumed 1.94 TWh of electricity in 2017 – nearly 100 times more than the measly 0.02 TWh consumed in 2011, says the DOE. Furthermore, the share of consumption from… Read more »
Electric autonomous container vessel to go into service in Norway
In 2017, fertilizer producer Yara announced a partnership with Kongsberg Maritime to build a fully autonomous, battery-electric container ship. Now Yara has made an agreement with cargo handling firm Kalmar, which will deliver equipment, software and services for a fully autonomous container handling solution at Yara’s Porsgrunn facility in Norway. All operations related to the… Read more »
Fiat Chrysler announces plans for 10 new EVs
You’ll never guess which of the Big Three just announced plans for 10 new EVs. Yes, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) plans to introduce the new models under its Jeep, Maserati, and Fiat brands within the next 4 years. Currently, Fiat’s only plug-ins are the e500, a compliance car that CEO Sergio Marchionne has asked customers not… Read more »
Even in the Nordic countries, car dealerships are a major barrier to EV adoption
It’s not really news that auto dealerships are a significant roadblock to wider EV adoption. A 2017 study found that most traditional dealers have few EVs in their inventory, and are unprepared to answer customers’ questions about EVs. In some cases, dealers actively discourage buyers from going electric. A new study from Aarhus University in… Read more »
BYTON raises $500 million in Series B funding, opens global headquarters in Nanjing
EV startup BYTON has concluded a Series B fundraising round, attracting a total of $500 million, which it will invest in mass production, R&D and product development. “The success of this funding round highlights how diversified strategic investors will further expand BYTON’s circle of friends and broaden our development opportunities,” said BYTON President and co-founder… Read more »
New UCS report indicates automakers have lost interest in reducing emissions
The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued a new report that ranks the environmental performance of global automakers. It’s no surprise that Tesla topped the rankings by a wide margin. (Yes, the report considers the full lifecycle of vehicles, including emissions associated with manufacturing and the production of fuel.) However, EV fans may be surprised… Read more »
Tesla Autopilot adds “full self-driving features,” Roadster gets rockets
Tesla seems to be back into the pattern its investors love to see: Elon tweets out a slow drip of good news items, and the stock ratchets higher (as the media makes an about-face and the short sellers gnash their teeth). The latest tidbit is that the eagerly awaited Autopilot version 9 software upgrade, scheduled… Read more »
Siemens and VW to test long-haul trucks charged by overhead power lines
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment has approved a subsidized pilot project to research the electrification of long-haul trucks using a roof-mounted pantograph to charge from an overhead power line. Siemens will be responsible for developing the pantograph, and Volkswagen will provide hybrid trucks via subsidiary Scania, and will carry out the research. Trial… Read more »
