Harvard University recently purchased four Proterra electric buses, along with the necessary charging infrastructure. The new buses, which will replace four biodiesel-powered vehicles, represent about a third of Harvard’s fleet. Each 35-foot Proterra transit bus has a seating capacity of 29, and features a 450 kWh battery pack and an 800-volt system architecture. The shuttles… Read more »
Tag: The Vehicles
Effenco offers its heavy-duty EV powertrain at the same purchase price as diesel alternatives
Effenco, a designer of electric propulsion systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, says its new electric solution is available at the same purchase price as diesel alternatives. Effenco’s powertrain uses ultracapacitors to optimize the battery load and increase efficiency. The company says its ultracapacitors also enable much faster charging than competing systems, using a wireless charging… Read more »
Mercedes-Benz triples global plug-in sales, meets 2020 European emissions targets
Which auto brands will meet the EU’s ever-tightening emissions targets? The answer may provide an indication of which brands are serious about electrification. Mercedes-Benz seems to want to be included on that list—the company reported significant progress on its “journey towards CO2 neutrality” in 2020. Mercedes-Benz Cars sold more than 160,000 PHEVs and EVs worldwide… Read more »
Brazilian beverage maker orders 1,000 electric trucks, with Octillion batteries and Danfoss Editron drivetrains
Brazilian beverage maker Ambev has ordered 1,000 electric delivery trucks from manufacturer FNM (Fábrica Nacional de Mobilidades). The trucks, which FNM developed in collaboration with vehicle manufacturer Agrale, will use battery packs from California-based Octillion Power Systems and electric drivetrains from Danfoss Editron. Ambev expects to deploy the 1,000 electric delivery vehicles by the end… Read more »
Is Ford’s increase in EV investment a shot across GM’s bow?
Ford’s Q4 2020 earnings report included an announcement that the automaker will increase its investments in electrification to at least $22 billion through 2025, nearly twice the previously-announced level (the company also committed an additional $7 billion to autonomous vehicle tech). As auto analyst John Voelcker pointed out, Ford’s figure tops GM’s announced investment of… Read more »
U.S. Gain generates credits for vehicle fleets under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
U.S. Gain, a specialist in the development of alternative fuels, now plans to offer “credit generation” to electric “fleets and forklifts” in California, which the company says will open a new revenue stream for customers. U.S. Gain touts its experience with credit generation programs such as the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), California’s Low Carbon… Read more »
Merchants Fleet to buy 12,600 commercial EVs from GM’s BrightDrop
Merchants Fleet, a national fleet management company, plans to procure 12,600 light commercial EVs from BrightDrop, GM’s recently-announced business venture. Merchants Fleet expects the BrightDrop EV600, an electric van optimized for last-mile goods delivery, to enter its clients’ fleets starting in early 2023. BrightDrop’s EV600 will be built on GM’s Ultium platform. The new e-van… Read more »
Chinese EV-maker Evergrande raises $3.35 billion
China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group, a Hong Kong-listed unit of the real-estate giant Evergrande Group, has raised HK$26 billion ($3.35 billion US) in an offering of 952 million new shares. The company will use the new funding for R&D, vehicle production, and to retire older debt. China Evergrande NEV is controlled by Hui Ka-yan,… Read more »
Archer partners with Fiat Chrysler to develop electric VTOL aircraft
Palo Alto-based Archer has teamed up with Fiat Chrysler (FCA) to develop electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with the intent of starting production in 2023. FCA has already collaborated on cockpit design elements of Archer’s first aircraft, which is expected to be unveiled early this year. Archer’s goal is to create a vertically… Read more »
Truck-maker Scania favors battery-electric over hydrogen vehicles
Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, says it will “gradually” electrify its heavy-duty vehicles, and that “battery-electric vehicles will be the main tool to drive this shift.” “By 2025, Scania expects that electrified vehicles will account for around 10 percent or our total vehicle sales volumes in Europe and by… Read more »
