Batteries
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U.K.-based battery supplier demonstrates peak charging at 350 kw to recharge a 35-kwh pack in less than five minutes.
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Ford patents unconventional method for battery-swapping EVs
Commercial battery-swapping stations are already a thing in some countries, and Ford in the future may have some of its own.
Stephen Edelstein -
Ferrari teams up with SK On on battery tech
The two companies have worked together before and now Ferrari could use SK On for both plug-in hybrids and EVs.
Stephen Edelstein -
How lithium-ion batteries work
They power most electric vehicles on the road today, but what exactly are lithium-ion batteries? Find out here.
Stephen Edelstein -
Ford patents roof-mounted backup battery for EVs
Ford's envisioning a way to mount backup batteries to the roof of EVs in the future.
Stephen Edelstein -
Mercedes-Benz G-Class EV will use silicon battery tech increasing energy density
Mercedes plans to begin using Sila's cells mid-decade for an extended-range version of the G-Class EV.
Stephen Edelstein -
Porsche's investment in Group 14 Technologies brings access to a silicon anode that can provide greater energy density in batteries.
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Nissan is ready to build prototype solid-state batteries
The facility will allow engineers to study materials, design, and manufacturing processes for solid-state batteries that Nissan hopes to bring to market by 2028.
Stephen Edelstein -
Future electric cars could store energy in carbon-fiber bodies instead of batteries
One day, electric cars may actually store their energy in carbon-fiber bodies and replace the need for heavy batteries. Research published in October from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden shows carbon fiber can operate as electrodes in a lithium-ion battery. A car could feature a...
Sean Szymkowski -
VW to use quantum computing to develop tailored batteries for its EVs
Volkswagen says quantum computers may help the company develop batteries customized to future electric vehicles, the German automaker said June 8. The news last week came after VW announced a partnership with Google over quantum computing last November. The automaker said it planned to develop the...
Sean Szymkowski -
Self-driving electric cars will need stronger batteries to cope with extended use
In a future with autonomous cars, batteries must be more resilient to operate constantly and serve multiple masters. That's Akira Yoshino's belief. He's the man who invented the lithium-ion prototype battery in 1985. Yoshino told Bloomberg in a report published last Wednesday that future batteries...
Sean Szymkowski -
BMW partners with US solid-state battery company
As electrification moves to the automotive world's center stage, automakers are quickly sorting out strategic partnerships with battery suppliers to solidify their futures. On Monday, Solid Power, a U.S.-based battery company, announced it would work with BMW on game-changing solid-state batteries...
Sean Szymkowski -
Porsche previously asserted that half of its sales will come from electrified cars by 2025. Judging by the demand for Panamera hybrid models, the brand may have made a pretty solid prediction. Reuters reported on Saturday that battery suppliers are having trouble keeping up with demand for the Porsche Panamera's hybrid models. The range includes the Panamera E-Hybrid and the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid in various trims. It is unclear if the batteries for those vehicles are supplied by one or more suppliers. We reached out to Porsche for clarification, but Porsche said it can't share supplier...
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Google and VW will use quantum computers to develop battery, self-driving technology
Volkswagen will embark on a transformation of its business through electric cars and self-driving technology, and it is looking elsewhere to bolster its technological capabilities. On Monday, the German automaker announced a partnership with Google to work with quantum computers for future battery...
Sean Szymkowski -
European Union launches battery cell alliance to compete with Asia
Battery cells are poised to become the most important component in future vehicles as the industry moves away from internal-combustion engines and toward battery-electric vehicles. With an increased demand for battery packs, battery cell production will be paramount, and the European Union plans to...
Sean Szymkowski -
Electric news: Bosch and Nikola team up on hydrogen semis, Camel Group invests in Rimac
Two major movements occurred this week on the alternative-propulsion front. First, Croatian firm Rimac, responsible for the insane Concept_One supercar, announced Chinese battery manufacturer Camel Group has invested $36 million into its future operations. Second, Bosch announced it will join...
Sean Szymkowski -
Patent filing suggests Tesla still interested in battery swapping
Tesla first toyed with the idea of battery swapping three years ago, only to walk away from the service less than one year later. Despite this, the electric-car maker may still have an eye on battery swapping, and a new patent filing is evidence of this. In May of this year, Tesla filed to patent a...
Sean Szymkowski -
Tesla Model 3's battery-pack size revealed in EPA documents
The Tesla Model 3 has officially begun rolling off the assembly line, but the car will see a staggered launch. Specifically, the Model 3 in production today is what has been named the "Long Range" variant. Now, we have some additional details on that car. Preliminary EPA documents, discovered by...
Sean Szymkowski -
Remember Fisker's promise to introduce the industry's first automotive-grade graphene batteries? That's not happening. Now, Fisker's upcoming Emotion electric car will utilize fairly standard lithium-ion battery cells. The latest information, reported by Automotive News (subscription required), comes after Fisker announced the graphene batteries wouldn't be available at the launch of the Emotion. However, the demise of the advanced battery technology stems from Fisker and Nanotech's dissolved joint venture. The two companies were initially working on the automotive-grade graphene batteries...
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Tesla Model S May Get Battery Swapping Soon: Report
The 2013 Tesla Model S has received rave reviews, including the best score that Consumer Reports has given any car in six years. The stock of Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] is on a roll, the company is delivering hundreds of its Model S all-electric luxury sport sedan every week, and it just turned in...
John Voelcker -
Chinese Firm Buys Fisker Battery Supplier A123 Systems
When lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123 systems declared bankruptcy last October, the move left Fisker Automotive without a battery supplier for its Karma plug-in hybrid luxury sedan. Fisker downplayed the drama, insisting that it had sufficient inventory for the near future, and that the sale...
Kurt Ernst -
Battery Maker A123 Systems Announces New Li-Ion Battery Technology
When it comes to building battery packs for electric cars, temperature extremes are the enemy of battery range. To deliver optimum results, electric car batteries need to be kept within a fairly narrow band of ideal operating temperatures. To get around this, thermal conditioning is used to...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW And Toyota Start Joint Development Of Next-Gen Batteries
Late last year BMW and Toyota signed a memorandum of understanding concerning a mid-to-long-term collaboration on next-generation environment-friendly technologies, which covered everything from the joint development of electric car technologies to the sharing of engines. Today, the two automakers...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
A123 Systems Recalls Battery Used In Fisker Karma And Other Plug-Ins
The supplier of the Fisker Karma's lithium-ion batteries, 123 Systems, has issued a recall on them due to what it claims are defective prismatic cells.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran