In some EVs, the cabin cooling system helps speed up fast-charging

Charging stations at Volkswagen Arizona Proving GroundsIn some electric cars, the hardware that keeps occupants cool does the same for the battery pack. The air-conditioning condensers for EVs are for more than just cabin comfort, in many cases, supplier Mahle noted in a recent press release. They help keep the battery cool during driving and are especially important during higher-power fast-charging...

Report: Panasonic cells for Tesla will get 20% energy boost

2020 Tesla Model XPanasonic plans to give battery cells for Tesla electric cars a 20% boost in energy density in five years, Reuters reported Thursday. That timeframe could potentially line both the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y for a boost in range, performance, or both at that time. Tesla could at that time choose to make packs smaller and lighter with the same...

Tesla Model 3 battery change for China will free up cells for Semi

2020 Tesla Model 3Tesla's Gigafactory Shanghai will make some Model 3 sedans with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries starting later this year. CEO Elon Musk confirmed the move, which had been reported by business press and insiders for months, during a Q2 financial update call Wednesday. And he clarified the motivation behind the move: to free up more...

Tesla Model 3 battery change for China will free up cobalt cells for Semi

2020 Tesla Model 3Tesla's Gigafactory Shanghai will make some Model 3 sedans with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries starting later this year. CEO Elon Musk confirmed the move, which had been reported by business press and insiders for months, during a Q2 financial update call Wednesday. And he clarified the motivation behind the move: to free up more...

Sweden’s Northvolt will make $2.3B of electric-car batteries for BMW

BMW Concept i4As it ramps up electric-car production, BMW has inked a battery-supply deal with Sweden's Northvolt. BMW plans to buy 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) of batteries from Northvolt beginning in 2024. Batteries will be manufactured at a factory currently under construction Skelleftea, Sweden, which will use 100% renewable energy, according to a BMW...

Analysis: Range is a red herring and we don’t need a 500-mile EV

2020 Hyundai Ioniq ElectricRange is glamorous. And big batteries have a wow factor that appeals both to luxury shoppers expecting excess and to tech-savvy people for the mind-boggling amount of energy packed neatly under the floor. It’s easy to understand the mindset. The idea of a 400-, 500-, or 600-mile range in an electric vehicle appeals to the same side of the...