Tesla faces lawsuit over software that cut range from some cars

2013 Tesla Model S, in July 2017   [photo: David Noland]What over-the-air-updates give, they can also take away. That’s part of what's at the root of a new lawsuit against Tesla on Thursday from a California man who says that a recent software update to his 2014 Model S cut 40 miles off the maximum range of his car, and it has lost about 8 kilowatt-hours of battery capacity. Since Tesla prices...

Nikola wins DOE fuel-cell development grant

Nikola TwoStartup truckmaker Nikola, which plans to build fuel-cell-powered semi trucks in Arizona, won a $1.7 million grant to research improved techniques to assemble fuel-cell membranes, the company announced on Wednesday. The company will partner with Department of Energy scientists from Carnegie Mellon University, Northeastern University, and Georgia...

Report: Next-generation Minis to go all electric

MINI Rocketman Concept MkIIAs the next-generation of Mini models goes on sale, they may all be electric. According to a Tuesday report from Automobile, Mini's overseers at BMW have may have nixed all future gas engines for the brand and simultaneously pared its future lineup to just three models. The remaining models, to come in 2023 or later, will include a replacement for...

EU engine-tech project could help gas catch up with gasoline

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, El Segundo, CA, Nov 2011Some biofuels, like biogas from landfills—or synthetic methane—are attractive for use in vehicles as they have a potentially low energy cost to produce. They also have lower criteria emissions, of the sort that affect human health and cause smog. These engines should easily be cross-compatible with those using compressed natural gas...

Can heat pumps solve cold-weather range loss for EVs?

Winter testing of electric cars in Norway by the Norwegian EV Association (Norsk Elbilforening)This past winter’s deep freeze and its record-low temperatures exposed a reality that anyone thinking about an electric car has to come to terms with: Cold winter weather can cut the effective driving range of some electric vehicles by 40 percent or more. Partly to blame is that the resistive heating electric cars rely on (yes, like those...

Tesla hiking prices for “Full Self-Driving” by $1,000 for some owners.

Consumer Reports Tesla Model 3 testing Navigate on Autopilot [CREDIT: Consumer Reports]Tesla announced in an email to owners on Wednesday that it will boost the price of its "Full Self-Driving Capability" suite of driver-assistance features starting Aug. 16. The increase applies over-the-air upgrades for existing Tesla owners who already have some of those features in the Enhanced Autopilot package. The move is the first step in...

Toyota to cut emissions from US operations by 40 percent

Rendering of solar installations at Toyota North America headquarters, Plano, TexasToyota announced plans last week to reduce emissions from its U.S. operations by 40 percent over the next three years as part of its plan to operate emissions-free by 2050. The plan calls to purchase Renewable Energy Credits equivalent to 40 percent of the energy needs of Toyota's U.S. operations. Those credits go to fund renewable energy...

Nissan, EVgo plan more 100-kw fast chargers

Nissan Leaf charging at EVgo fast charger in Baker, CaliforniaNissan is expanding its partnership with charging network EVgo to install 200 more DC fast-chargers across the U.S. The new chargers will each dispense up to 100 kw, which can deliver up to 150 miles of range in less than half an hour, and will have both a CHAdeMO plug to charge the Leaf and a CCS Combo plug to charge most other (non-Tesla) EVs as...