Congress questions VW $2 billion in zero-emission infrastructure funding

U.S. Capitol BuildingThe Volkswagen diesel settlement for 2.0-liter TDI models, approved at the end of October, includes a provision for $2 billion in funds to install charging or fueling infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles. There has been considerable debate over what those funds should be used for, and how they should be administered. The vast majority of the...

Supercapacitor energy density could soar using contact-lens polymer

contact lens (photo via Wikimedia Commons)Engineers are nothing if not creative. Significant research is going into improved ways of storing electricity, including alternatives to the currently dominant lithium-ion battery-cell chemistry in electric cars. That includes using supercapacitors to substitute for storage batteries in some circumstances. DON'T MISS: Batteries from junkyard...

Tesla to recall certain accessory adapter cables for overheating risk

2016 Tesla Model STesla will voluntarily recall about 7,000 electric-car charging adapters after two reports of overheating resulting in melted plastic on the adapters. The adapters are accessory items sold by Tesla online, but were manufactured by an outside supplier. They haven't been sold in six months, according to Tesla. DON'T MISS: Tesla takes it to Michigan...

Tesla to charge new buyers for Supercharging after Jan 1

Tesla Model S at Supercharger site in Ventura, CA, with just one slot open  [photo: David Noland]A major perk for Tesla Model S and Model X owners has been free access to the carmaker's network of Supercharger DC fast-charging stations. But after January 1, new Tesla buyers won't get that free access. Tesla will charge anyone who buys one of its cars after that point for use of Supercharger stations, a move it says is meant to emphasize use...

Wireless electric-car charging: perfect for automated parking?

Evatran Plugless wireless charger for Tesla Model SWireless electric-car charging seems to offer a somewhat more convenient experience. Instead of plugging in a charge cord, drivers simply park their electric cars over a pad, usually on the floor of a garage. But what if they didn't even have to do that? DON'T MISS: Plugless charging for 80 percent of electric cars by end of 2017: Evatran Evatran...

Mercedes-Benz S550e wireless charging comes into focus

Mercedes-Benz wireless inductive charging systemThe Mercedes-Benz S550e plug-in hybrid luxury sedan will likely be the first production car to offer wireless charging as a factory option. The availability of wireless charging was announced earlier this year by Mercedes as part of a significant update of the current-generation car. We now know that the S550e will use a version of the Qualcomm...

Plugless charging for 80 percent of electric cars by end of 2017: Evatran

Evatran Plugless wireless charger for Tesla Model SWireless charging for electric cars has been talked about almost as long as modern electric cars have been on sale. The thought of charging an electric car without having to wrestle with a bulky charging cable can certainly be appealing. So far, though, wireless-charging systems have only been available in limited quantities from a handful of...