Electrify America finishes first cross-country fast-charging route for EVs

Electrify America DC fast chargers in Gulfport, MississippiElectrify America has completed its first cross-country DC fast-charging route for electric cars, installing enough stations for drivers to complete a coast-to-coast journey between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The initial route spans 11 states and more than 2,700 miles, Electrify America said in a press release Wednesday. It follows...

In 2019, electric car chargers grew by 60% as EV sales rose just 6%

Tesla Supercharger station V3, Las VegasFor many households, public charging infrastructure is necessary for electric cars to replace gasoline vehicles, while for companies or utilities, electric cars are necessary to support such an infrastructure. Which comes first? Short answer before pondering about chicken and eggs: The growth ebbs and flows, and it depends where in the world you...

Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV will include several free fast charges

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E at Electrify America fast chargerIn advance of first deliveries of the Mustang Mach-E SUV due for first deliveries later this year, Ford announced a few more details Monday about how customers can plan to keep their EV charged. First off, Ford is wrapping in 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary Electrify America DC fast charging with each 2021 Mustang Mach-E. That’s enough...

Charging connectors will be required at gas stations in Germany

Shell charging station in Britain (higher res)Germany will require all gas stations to offer electric car charging as part of a 130 billion euro ($146 billion) economic recovery plan, reports Reuters. While some gas-station chains have begun to add electric-car charging, Germany is likely the first country to mandate it nationwide. The requirement is part of a sweeping recovery plan announced...

Audi E-Tron fast charging: Why predictability was a priority over peak power

E-Tron at Electrify America station, Marietta GAWhen an electric vehicle is plugged in overnight in a garage, whether it needs four hours or six hours to top off is most likely insignificant. But on a road trip and stopped at a DC fast charger, every minute counts—and knowing exactly how long a roadside charging stop can be can make a big difference for morale. As Audi has previously...

Pasadena claims to have the largest public EV fast-charging station in the US

Marengo Charging Plaza, Pasadena, CaliforniaMost places in the United States are lucky to have just one EV fast-charging outlet. Pasadena, California, isn't like most places. Located in the state with more electric cars than any other, Pasadena now claims to have the largest fast-charging station in the U.S. The Marengo Charging Plaza, in a downtown parking garage, boasts 44 charging plugs...

Pop-up EV charging hubs deemed a success in UK trial

Urban Electric pop-up street-side charging hubs in BritainA trial of pop-up EV charging stations in the United Kingdom has proven successful, showing a possible way to expand urban charging infrastructure without adding clutter. A British company called Urban Electric announced the trial last year, placing prototype pop-up charging "hubs" along streets in Oxford, England. Activated by an app, the...

Mobile fast-charging: A must-have for electric truck and bus fleets?

Lightning Mobile charging system in Ford van Fully electric delivery trucks, cargo vans, shuttle vehicles, and transit and school buses are all due to become increasingly common as fleets go green and diesels are retired. That’s where a recent surge of interest in mobile-charging solutions comes in. As a backup plan for the times when charge points and infrastructure won’t quite...

Chicago acts to keep city from becoming a charging desert

Chicago, by Flickr user Mr Hicks46 (Used under CC License)Electric-car charging infrastructure in Chicago could use a boost, and the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance Friday meant to pave the way for that. Scheduled to take effect this fall, the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Ready (EVSE-Ready) ordinance would require property owners to reserve more parking spaces for electric-car charging...

Wireless charging demo for trucks: 20 kw across 11 inches, 92% efficiency

ORNL wireless charging demonstration with UPS hybrid truckWireless charging for passenger cars has been slow to take off, but a recent demonstration shows the potential of the technology for commercial trucks. The United States Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced in a press release Tuesday that, in February, it had demonstrated a 20-kilowatt bi-directional wireless...

Touchless charging: An app summons Aiways’ robotic concierge

Aiways CARL robotic chargingWith a global pandemic forcing people to be more self conscious about the objects they touch, what better time to launch a robotic charging system for electric cars? Chinese startup Always has an idea that is both convenient, and could help reduce anxiety in the current situation. Called CARL, it's a small robot that can be summoned via an app...

Byton names a partner for home charger installation, and it isn’t Amazon

Byton M-ByteAhead of the U.S. arrival of the M-Byte electric SUV next year, the fledgling electric automaker Byton has announced a partnership with Qmerit for residential charger installations. Initially, the agreement will result in a program for coordinated installation of Level 2 home wall-box charge points. Most brands offering plug-in vehicles have so...

Electrify America offering discounted pricing for Kia Niro EV drivers

2020 Kia Niro EVKia is the latest automaker to partner with a charging network on discounted rates for drivers of its electric cars. Kia Niro EV drivers can now get discounts on Electrify America DC fast charging through the Kia Select program. Current 2019 and 2020-model-year Niro EV owners can now pay a flat rate of $0.35 per minute. The program also waives...