What’s Down the Road for Silicon?
Meet the new materials overpowering the electric economy.
The Tesla Effect: Snowmobiles, Boats and Mowers Go Electric
They’re quieter and better for the climate. But snow and water create new technological challenges for designers.
Hurdle to Broad Adoption of E.V.s: The Misperception They’re Unsafe
Fully electric vehicles have fewer fires than gasoline-powered and hybrid cars, and their crash protection is at least equivalent.
DOE: $3.1 billion for EV battery supply chain, $45 million for development
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) this week announced new funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for domestic EV battery production and development. The DOE on Monday announced $3.16 billion for the domestic battery supply chain. Part of more than $7 billion the infrastructure law has designated for battery... Biden Administration Begins $3 Billion Plan for Electric Car Batteries
The Biden administration is planning a major shift to electric vehicles, but experts say it requires a secure, resilient supply of critical minerals.
Chevy Bolt EV battery recall update: Nearly half have been remedied
General Motors has remedied nearly half the vehicles in an expanded, ongoing Chevrolet Bolt EV battery recall, according to a quarterly report on the recall campaign published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Wednesday. First spotted by Reddit users, the report shows that as of April 22, 26,925 vehicles out of a total... Will solid-state batteries be the key to make electric SUVs and pickups viable?
Earlier this month Nissan announced the establishment of a prototype production facility for all-solid-state battery cells—with plans to establish a pilot production line as soon as 2024 in Japan, and market availability in an EV in 2028. The cells are potentially “a game changer for EV democratization,” according to Nissan, with... CATL launches first battery-swapping in China, aimed at those without home charging
Chinese battery maker CATL is launching a battery-swapping service in its home country. Called Evogo, the service launches with four stations in the city of Xiamen. A total of 30 stations are planned in that city by the end of the year, meaning drivers will never be more than 1.8 miles from a station, CATL said in a press release. "In the future... Truck Makers Face a Tech Dilemma: Batteries or Hydrogen?
Under pressure to cut emissions, truck manufacturers are choosing between batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Wagering incorrectly could cost them billions of dollars.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: Nodding to Past While Pushing Toward E.V. Future
For now, supply may be constrained, but Hyundai is putting a big bet on building electrics for the American market.
NHTSA investigates LG batteries behind EV recalls for GM, Hyundai, others
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is opening a review of defective batteries produced by LG Energy Solution that have been the cause of several large recalls, Reuters reported Tuesday. General Motors, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Volkswagen began issuing recalls related to LG batteries in 2020. The NHTSA review... Koch Industries’ Bet on Batteries
The company is plugging $30 million into a start-up co-founded by one of Silicon Valley’s favorite scientists.
Stopping Climate Change Is Doable, but Time Is Short, U.N. Panel Warns
A major new scientific report offers a road map for how countries can limit global warming, but warns that the margin for error is vanishingly small.
CATL improves cell-to-pack tech, claims advantage over Tesla 4680 cells
Battery supplier CATL on Wednesday announced its third-generation cell-to-pack technology, claiming this new version produces more power than the latest Tesla battery tech. Cell-to-pack refers to the direct integration of cells into a battery pack, without the modules used in most current pack designs. CATL claims the latest iteration of this... EV batteries should last 15 years, says former Tesla CTO Straubel
Typically, electric vehicle battery packs are lasting longer—and for more miles—than originally intended. According to former Tesla CTO and co-founder JB Straubel, EV battery packs should last about 15 years—a key piece for the timeline as Straubel’s current venture, Redwood Materials, ramps up as part of a supply chain for... Stellantis and LG partner for first large-scale battery plant in Canada
Stellantis and LG Energy Solution on Wednesday announced plans for a Canadian joint-venture battery plant—the automaker's first large-scale battery venture for North America. To be located in Windsor, Ontario, $5 billion Canadian ($4.1 billion U.S.) plant is scheduled to start producing batteries in 2024, and will have an annual... Stellantis, maker of Chryslers and Jeeps, and LG will spend $4 billion on a new battery factory in Ontario.
The automaker, which was created by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot, has lagged in the fast-growing market for electric cars.
How the War in Ukraine Could Slow the Sales of Electric Cars
The price of nickel, an essential ingredient in most batteries, has soared because of fear that Russian supplies could be cut off.
Used Jaguar I-Pace batteries are supporting Formula E racing
Jaguar is using repurposed batteries from I-Pace electric SUVs to support its Formula E racing program. Used I-Pace form the basis for the Off-Grid Energy Storage System (ESS) developed by portable-generator company Pramac. Charged by solar panels, it uses cells from one-and-a-half I-Pace battery packs to provide a mobile source of power where... Mercedes Opens Alabama Battery Plant, Part of a Southern Wave
The German automaker, which has made cars in the state for decades, has invested $1 billion in a factory to supply the power for electric vehicles.