Wireless battery management could add EV range, downsize packs

LG Innotek wireless battery management systemLG Innotek, a unit of battery supplier and electronics giant LG, has introduced a wireless battery management system (BMS) it claims will boost EV range. Introduced in February, and first spotted by Charged EVs, the system is the first to marry wireless battery management with 800-volt electrical architecture, LG Innotek claims. The company aims...

Tax credits for many American-made EVs will drop on April 18

2022 Bolt EV assembly - battery marriageThe U.S. Department of the Treasury on Friday posted guidance for battery materials, helping to clarify whether those buying EVs as soon as later next month will be able to claim the $3,750 credit dedicated to this under the new Clean Vehicle Credit. Based on an initial look, the rules will cast a wide net that follows the more liberal definition...

Battery degradation isn’t likely to brick your EV, data confirms

2017 BMW i3Used EV shoppers don't have to worry too much about battery degradation eroding range, according to a new study from Recurrent, which sells battery health reports for used EVs. "Used EV shoppers worry that the car battery will degrade quickly like a mobile phone battery, and not be able to hold a charge within a few years," Liz Najman, lead...

EV materials from Japan may be tax-credit-eligible with trade pact

2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orceA trade pact could make EVs with battery materials sourced from Japan eligible for federal tax credits, the Japan Times reported Tuesday. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) requires major battery components and critical minerals to be sourced from countries with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement, a rule that has drastically cut the number...

LG plans $5.5B Arizona battery plant as largest in America

Lucid Air battery cellsLG Energy Solution on Friday announced a $5.5-billion battery manufacturing complex in Queen Creek, Arizona. The company claims the plant will be the largest battery-making investment in the U.S. to date. The complex will consist of two manufacturing facilities—one for 2170-format cylindrical battery cells for EVs, and another for pouch-type...

Report: EV battery repair hurdles may inflate insurance premiums

2023 Tesla Model Y in the IIHS side impact testA lack of standards for repair and replacement of EV battery packs may lead to higher insurance premiums, according to a recent Reuters report (via Automotive News). Battery packs can represent up to 50% of an EV's price tag, often making it uneconomical to replace them, according to the report. And while there is no standard procedure for...