Berlin-based emmy and Green City Energy are expanding their fleet of shared electric scooters in Munich after their crowdfunding campaign is yielding results. Backers enabled the partners to buy another 100 retro mopeds and they want more.
Weiterlesen
The Indian startup Twenty Two Motors has developed an affordable electric scooter and has now presented it to the public. The networked scooter is called Flow and costs about 1,000 euros.
Weiterlesen
The Silicon Saxony or Saxony Valley welcomes a new player in town as Bosch starts construction of its chip factory in Dresden as planned. It will mainly produce processors to serve e-mobility and is the largest investment in the company’s history.
Weiterlesen
Tesla has started a global recall, asking for the return of 123,000 Model S due to a potential steering issue. The reason behind the problem are rusty screws installed in the power steering. The flawed parts came from Bosch.
Weiterlesen
The Hydrogen Council, founded at last year’s summit in Davos, now counts another 11 members, among them Bosch, Great Wall Motor or 3m. They join the likes of ABB, BMW or Shell who all want to foster transport fuelled by hydrogen.
Weiterlesen
Peugeot presents its latest electric bicycle. The eM02 FS Powertube mountain bike precurses a line of what the carmaker’s design lab calls “in-frame eBikes,” pedelecs with the battery integrated in the frame. The on sale is imminent.
Weiterlesen
It is a clear “Nein” to producing its own cells that Bosch has sent over the wires, saying the investment would be too risky. The decision crushes hopes of EU politicians who had wanted the German supplier on board the planned Battery Alliance. For Bosch, the No is total.
Weiterlesen
Bosch has launched system!e, connected services for electric mobility at the IoT conference in Berlin. It combines the supplier’s electrified drive components and services for electric cars and connects them to the cloud for smart energy management.
Weiterlesen
Bosch has announced that they will significantly increase its product line in India. Car manufacturers and fleet operators will have a range of end-to-end solutions including drive components for electric vehicles, as well as charging infrastructure.
Weiterlesen
Bosch is next to come to the “Saxonian Valley” as the supplier decided to build a chip factory in Dresden. Construction is planned to start this spring and will cost around one billion euros. The opening is set for 2021, when they will produce processors to serve e-mobility, among other things.
Weiterlesen
Bosch’s electric scooter sharing Coup is coming to Spain this summer, when Madrid will witness the launch of the Gogoro scooters. For Bosch it is the third European capital where the firm deploys the electric two-wheelers and the fleet is to grow to 3,500 LEVs this year.
Weiterlesen
After two and a half years, Swiss Micro Mobility Systems has taken the wraps off the pilot production version of its Microlino in Zurich. The company received already more than 4,600 pre-orders for the BMW Isetta based Microlino EV. Now ‘production hell’ is waiting.
Weiterlesen
Bosch completes the sale of its starter motor and generator division that will now be known as SEG Automotive. It belongs to the Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group with immediate effect.
Weiterlesen
Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner says that a final decision, whether Bosch starts to produce battery cells, won’t be taken before next year, according to the “Handelsblatt”. But he gives more specific numbers for the first time.
Weiterlesen
Future Mobility’s EV brand Byton is now present in the United States, as planned. The Chinese start-up’s new American office is situated in Santa Clara, California. Moreover, the company entered into partnerships with Bosch and Faurencia.
Weiterlesen
German supplier Bosch teams up with Weichai Power, a Chinese car supplier that so far has been specialised in diesel cars. Together, they seek to develop fuel cell and related components for the utility car market. In this context, Bosch will support Weichai to erect plants in the People’s Republic.
yicaiglobal.com, fuelcellsworks.com
Faster evaluation of used EV batteries: German auditing company Dekra and the research centre FKFS in Stuttgart have found a way to check the status of used batteries much faster than it is possible today. The accelerated procedure could replace currently applied time-intensive measurements and shall be tested in some of Dekra’s branches from 2018 on.
dekra.de
Bosch shows battery for hybrids: The German supplier presents a new 48-volt battery for HEVs with standardized set-up for an easy integration in all sorts of hybrid vehicles. Production kick-off is scheduled to start in late 2018. Bosch estimates that by 2025 not less than 15m HEVs could benefit from its 48-volt battery.
bosch-presse.de
Siemens’ hybrid drive concepts for mine trucks: The company’s aim is to replace diesel-mechanical drive systems in mine trucks through hybrid solutions. After first trials in Australia, Siemens is convinced that its new concepts enhance efficiency as well as performance. In detail, the Germans registered 15 percent lower vehicle maintenance and servicing costs, less noise and emissions as well as a more efficient mine yield as a result of shorter cycle times.
blogs.siemens.com
U.S. tech for electric-powered buses: In Atlanta, U.S. engine manufacturer Cummins has introduced a new drivetrain for electric buses, available also with an additional range extender. Furthermore, the company has announced to team up with bus manufacturer Gillig: Both partners signed a technical collaboration agreement as they seek to integrate Cummins battery tech components into Gillig’s electric buses.
ngtnews.com, greencarcongress.com
Deutz acquires Torqeedo: German engine specialist Deutz takes over Munich-based Torqeedo in order to accelerate the market launch of new electric and hybrid drive systems in the off-highway sector. The company considers Torqeedo a catalyst for its “e-Deutz strategy” and plans to serial produce first innovative components within two years – much earlier than if Deutz would have stayed on its own. Torqeedo has been particularly known for finding integrated electric and hybrid drive solutions for boats.
deutz.com
EasyJet to develop electric airplanes: Already, when start-up Wright Electric showed its concept of an electric-powered short distance airplane for 150 passengers and a range of up to 300 miles in March, it mentioned a likely partnership with UK airline EasyJet. Six month later, this cooperation is official: The partners’ aim is to put all-electric airplanes into operation within the next ten years.
cnbc.com, theguardian.com
Audi’s Formula E racing car: Ahead of its Formula E debut in December, team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler revealed its first all-electric racer: the Audi e-tron F04. The team’s pilots will be Daniel Abt (Germany) and title defender Lucas di Grassi (Brazil). Audi is the first German car manufacturer to race in Formula E.
electricautosport.com, greencarcongress.com, audi-mediacenter.com
Bosch eBike Systems readies Cobi takeover: Bosch’s electric bike unit waits approval of the antitrust authorities to acquire Frankfurt-based Cobi. The start-up’s devices integrate all sorts of bike technologies like navigation or fitness applications in a smartphone which can be locked and charged on the handlebar.
bosch-presse.de
Bosch powertrain for Nikola’s H2 trucks: The U.S. start-up partners with German supplier Bosch in order to equip its upcoming H2 trucks Nikola One and Nikola Two with Bosch’s eAxle – a compact unit combining the electric motor, power electronics and transmission. The fuel cell vehicles’ market launch is due by 2021.
greencarcongress.com, autoblog.com, bosch-presse.de
Major order for Electrovaya: The Canadian battery specialist has signed a contract worth 4.3m Canadian dollars (3.51m USD) with Walmart Canada for its forklift battery systems. The reason is that Walmart intends to replace lead acid batteries of forklifts in one of its distribution centres through lithium ion battery systems.
greencarcongress.com, electrovaya.com
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www.evs30.org
New battery cell for utility vehicles: U.S. electric bus manufacturer Proterra teams up with Korean battery specialist LG Chem in order to develop a new cell, meeting particularly the performance and safety demands of the heavy-duty vehicle market. Proterra’s new battery facility in Burlingame/California has meanwhile started production. After an initial ramp-up period, the company hopes to reach a total output of 500 MWh annually.
proterra.com
Ballard joins Hydrogen Council: Canadian fuel cell specialist Ballard is now a member of the Hydrogen Council, which was founded at the World Economic Forum in January in order to encourage investments in fuel cell technology. Members are vehicle manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Kawasaki and Toyota, but also companies like Air Liquide, ENGIE, Shell, Linde, Total, Alstom, Anglo American, Iwatani, Plastic Omnium – and now also Ballard Power Systems
ballard.com
Germany to double “Clean Air” fund: 500m euros were supposed to finance measures to improve air quality in Germany and thus to avoid diesel bans. Now the government decided to double this sum in order to enable e.g. cities to realise electric mobility concepts on a local level. One quarter of the 1 bn euros fund comes from the car industry. As reported, top executives of the German auto industry agreed with ministers and state leaders to cut NOx emissions also by updating the software of 5 million diesel cars.
usnews.com
Bosch to electrify India: The car supplier intends to kick-off production of EV components in the Asian country and thus to benefit from India’s predicted shift towards electric mobility (ban for diesel and petrol cars by 2030). Initially, the Germans obviously intend to focus at the electric scooter segment and to gradually use their know-how to target other emerging markets.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com, business-standard.com
Renault presents new EV concept: Symbioz is the name of a new concept car that shows Renaults vision of an electric-powered, connected and autonomous vehicle for the future. Ahead of its official debut at the IAA, the company published now a teaser picture, but did not give any further details about the concept’s specifications.
europe.autonews.com, autocar.co.uk
Electric motorcycle made in the Netherlands: Start-up NXT Motors is keen to present its NXT One after successfully having raised 100.000 euros through crowd funding. The motorcycle is said to reach 100kph within 3 seconds and to come with a range of 200km. A prototype close to the upcoming serial model will be on display at the EICMA event in November, first deliveries shall follow before the year’s end. In the long term, NXT Motors targets an annual production output of 1.000 motorcycles.
technologicvehicles.com, nxtmotors.com
Updated Kangoo Z.E. in the UK: Renault’s Kangoo Z.E. is now available with its new 33 kWh battery pack in Great Britain. Pricing starts at 14,195 pounds (net and inclusive state subsidies). First deliveries are scheduled for November.
autoexpress.co.uk, press.renault.co.uk
Also e-Golf update enters UK market: 50 percent more range – that is how Volkswagen promotes its updated version of the e-Golf. British showrooms offer the EV model for 27,690 pounds (net and inclusive state subsidies).
carscoops.com, cleantechnica.com, electriccarsreport.com
Bosch wants to grow together with the EV market and hopes for its “all in one” drive concept e-Axle to become a “major coup” according to board member Dr. Rolf Bulander. On display at the IAA this year, the powertrains will roll off the production lines from 2019.
bosch-presse.de
Montage of a rack: Efficiency may be gained in a number of ways and so the EU looked into the racks that carry EV batteries. Project OPERA4FEV (Operating rack for full-electric vehicle) managed to repackage cells in a robust plastic envelope and thus got rid of intermediate housing, while integrating electrical and hydraulic connections as well as components in the new solution. The 11-member consortium’s work resulted in cheaper, safer and more environmentally-friendly racks.
cordis.europa.eu
NCM batteries reloaded: SK Innovation will commence commercial production of pouch-type batteries made from nickel, cobalt and manganese that would allow a range of up to 500 kilometers for electric vehicles. Starting in December this year, the so-called NCM811 will first be supplied for energy storage systems, while EV makers may get their hands on the batteries from Q3 2018.
koreaherald.com, koreajoongangdaily.joins.com, businesstimes.com.sg
Electric CV joint venture: UQM and CNHTC plan to to manufacture and sell electric propulsion systems for commercial and other vehicles through a JV in China. CNHTC’s subsidiary Sinotruk is expected to be the first and largest client, once the two-stage agreement has gone through.
greencarcongress.com
Video tip: As Tesla addresses the masses this weekend, it publishes the list of its Top 10 video entries for the Project Loveday competition. The three spots to receive the most likes on Twitter, will form the backdrop to the Model 3 launch event. The live stream starts at 20.45 PDT (5.45 CEST on Saturday).
youtube.com (Top 10 Playlist), twitter.com (to vote)
Reading tip: It looks like the UK Government will increase taxes on new diesel cars in order to fund its air quality plans and will announce the measures in the autumn budget statement.
autocar.co.uk
Honda’s hybrid from October: Tokyo will see the premier of Honda’s dedicated hybrid this autumn at the Motor Show before sales will start by 2018. It marks a reload of the company’s electrification efforts, that got off to an early start in 1999 with the Insight but have been rather lame in the years between. However, Honda is working on a long-range EV as well and got the Clarity left, after discontinuing both the Fit EV and the Insight. It can be hoped for the coming standalone hybrid to venture a bit further from mainstream to appeal. Details and most of all images are scarce but Honda did say it wants to settle production in the States.
caranddriver.com, carscoops.com
Model 2: Geely’s dedicated electric brand Lynk & Co is about to unveil its third model. It sits between the SUV simply dubbed 01 and the sedan 03 so consequently no. 02 will be a crossover. The 01 SUV is set for launch before the year’s end in China before Europe and the USA will follow by mid-2019.
autoexpress.co.uk
Bosch eBike Systems ventures into the land of pedelec pioneers Yamaha and Panasonic and wants to introduce its electric bicycle offering at the Tokyo Motor Show this autumn. Japan is the third presence in the Asia-Pacific region for Bosch after Australia and New Zealand. The chosen local service partner is Intertec and only the Active Line Plus qualifies for Japanese e-bike regulation as well as a market that traditionally values comfort over peak performance.
bosch-presse.de
Formula E in NYC: Sam Bird from team DS Virgin Racing scored a double victory at the New York ePrix, making him the second driver to ever win a double-header Formula E event. Championship leader Sebastien Buemi was absent due to his clashing commitment for the WEC.
electricautosport.com, electriccarsreport.com, youtube.com (highlights race 1), youtube.com (race 2)
BorgWarner to swallow Sevcon: British maker of components for electrified vehicles aka Sevcon is about to be acquired by BorgWarner for 200m dollars allegedly. The merger has definitely been agreed and may be completed this year if all shareholders agree.
globenewswire.com
The SUV flood is about to swamp even Renault’s sports label Alpine comes 2019. At least, a PHEV and possibly EV variant is likely as well, Autoexpress suggests.
autoexpress.co.uk
The world’s most car-centric region is Baden-Württemberg with its capital Stuttgart. After all, it is here that Bertha Benz drove the first Daimler and to this day it shelters Mercedes, Porsche and suppliers like Bosch or Mahle. The heartbeat of the German car industry can be felt most strongly here and has transported combustion engine technology […]
Weiterlesen
BYD opened first plant in Europe: The Chinese manufacturer has started production of electric buses in its new assembly facility in Komárom in northern Hungary as planned. Up to 400 EVs for the European market shall roll off the lines here every year from now. At a later time electric trucks and forklifts are planned, too. As reported, a second plant in France is to follow in the first half of 2018 with an annual capacity of up to 200 buses.
bbj.hu, chinadaily.com.cn
Tesla now most valuable carmaker: Forget yesterday’s news that placed Tesla’s on rank two of the State’s most valuable carmakers in terms of market capitalisation. Tuesday’s stock trading catapulted the Californian EV maker also above GM. Tesla’s shares thus cracked the 300 dollars mark, market cap leaped up to 53bn dollars. Besides, new photos emerged showing a Model 3 “release candidate.”
cnet.com, theverge.com, www.teslarati.com (Model 3)
German duo for autonomous driving: Bosch and Daimler want to push the development of fully automated and driverless driving together as they seek to make fully automated (level 4) and driverless (level 5) rides possible by the beginning of the next decade. First and foremost, the new technology is supposed to boost car sharing. Corresponding to its CASE strategy (Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric), Daimler will supposedly contribute EVs – the press release already shows a prototype F 015.
greencarcongress.com, media.daimler.com
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Forth I.D. concept at the IAA? Volkswagen is said to present another model build on its MEB architecture at the IAA this September, Autocar reports. This sedan would be the fourth model based on MEB after the show car I.D., the I.D. Buzz and an electric SUV, which VW is about to unveil in Shanghai.
autocar.co.uk
Electric buses by Mahindra: From 2018, Indian’s carmaker giant Mahindra intends to include electric buses in its line-up. Currently, its engineers develop appropriate electric drive systems. In the next two to three years, Mahindra aims at selling up to 100,000 electrified vehicles – buses as well as cars.
livemint.com
Bosch Powertrain Solutions: A dedicated business unit will lead the supplier into electric mobility. Powertrain Solutions is to unite electric as well as gasoline and diesel motors under one roof by 2018. The division will span 25 countries and 60 facilities with 88,000 employees. Bosch estimates that by 2025, 20m hybrid and electric vehicles will be produced worldwide. Reason enough to get ready indeed.
electronics-eetimes.com, greencarcongress.com
Tesla cap at 100 kWh: Elon Musk clarified that there will not be a 100 kWh power pack for the Model 3 as its wheelbase cannot fit it. The Tesla CEO also ruled out higher powered options, i.e. a 110 kWh version for the Model S and X, but hinted at bigger batteries for the utility vehicle.
insideevs.com, electrek.co
BMW i3S-port? There had been rumours that the Bavarian EV may get a sporty makeover, turning it into the i3S. Now it looks as if it may make an appearance at this year’s IAA, BMW blog reports. The S variant could come with 7 – 11 kW more than the regular i3 and may come to market by 2018.
bmwblog.com
Prius PHEV on the Isles: On sale for the Prius has started in the UK. Here, the second gen Toyota hybrid costs from 34,895 pounds with first deliveries scheduled for March.
autocar.co.uk, blog.toyota.co.uk
As subsidies fall so do EV sales in China, where national incentives have been cut by 20 percent. BYD has raised prices for the Qin and Tang PHEV by 5,000 yuan, while other manufacturers try take the discount onto themselves. Some dealers stopped sales of electric models for now due to this volatility.
globaltimes.cn
Hyundai delays China entry: The Korean carmaker postponed the Sonata hybrid launch in China by a year as it is not eligible for subsidies. The problem are the battery cells, which the Chinese government refused to certify in a protectionist move, that effectively bans Korean cells (we reported).
yonhapnews.co.kr
Bosch battery production: Bosch wants to decide until the end of the year whether or not to venture into battery cell production. According to Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner, the decision mostly depends on whether it is possible to develop and manufacture technologically better and cheaper cells than i.e. Samsung SDI or Panasonic.
autonews.com
Vanadium battery by Swatch: Said to have a 30 percent higher capacity than regular batteries (we reported), the vanadium battery will be testes in China in March. Expectations are high. Swatch CEO Nick Hayek expects that just by selling the technology to other OEMs, Swatch will make between 10 and 15bn francs by 2020.
cash.ch, luzernerzeitung.ch (articles in German)
Giving back: Georgia-based manufacturer Blue Bird is working on a school bus with bi-directional charging capabilities. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and aims to demonstrate eight such buses in California by 2019.
greencarcongress.com
Wheel hub motor with transmission: Japanese company NSK presented the, by its own account, world’s first transmission equipped wheel hub motor. Based on expertise gained from the prototype, NSK wants to commercialise components for wheel hub motors in the future.
automotiveworld.com, nsk.com
World premiere: Bosch premiered its electric axle drive system (eAxle) at the motor show in Detroit. The modular system fits multiple platforms and brings together powertrain components in one compact system.
bosch-presse.de
Gigafactory details: Elon Musk spilled some beans at an investors’ event at the Gigafactory 1, such as that a recycling unit is currently under construction. It will use materials from old Tesla batteries and use them in new cells. The Gigafactory also makes due without any energy from conventional sources. It instead gets its power for a solar roof, said to be seven times the size than any other solar roof currently installed.
electrek.co
Patent purchase: Company Umicore has bought patents for three Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) cathodes from 3M. The cathodes are the reference in a wide range of lithium ion rechargeable batteries, including in the automotive sector. The patents cover South Korea, China, Japan, Europe and the U.S. and are valid between 2021 and 2024.
greencarcongress.com, umicore.de
New subsidy programme in the U.S.: As part of its programme “Circuits,” the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has earmarked up to 20m dollars in subsidies for the development of a new class of efficient, lightweight, and reliable power converters based on wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors. These will be used in electric cars, hybrids and charging stations.
greencarcongress.com
Utility kicks off charging offensive: Italian utility Enel wants to set up some 11,000 bi-directional chargers for electric vehicles in the next three years. EV drivers could then not only get energy, but also feed some back into the grid for monetary compensation.
dailymail.co.uk
Good for the grid: As part of the project Smart Mobile Energy, Berlin, Birmingham and Valencia will look at the integration of V2G technology and using EVs as short time energy storage. The goal is to increase energy efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and help build new business models.
autovolt-magazine.com, transportxtra.com
Belectric changes name to chargeIT mobility: The new name is said to help the infrastructure provider to become a leading providers of operating systems for EV chargers. IT solutions are becoming more and more important, the company stressed.
pressebox.de
Bosch presents new charger: The company now offers two new level 2 chargers in the U.S. – the Power Max 2 and Power Max 2Plus. Both are available with 7.2 or 9.6 kW and start at 674 dollars.
chargedevs.com
VW details EV plan for China: As previously announced, the carmaker has formed a joint venture with JAC for the Chinese market. According to China chief Jochem Heinzmann, first EVs will be affordable, be built on a JAC platform and will hit the road under a new brand. VW also wants to build EVs for China with partners SAIC and FAW – but not before 2020 or 2021 and based on its own MEB platform.
autonews.com
Changan chooses LG: The Chinese manufacturer wants to introduce no less than 27 new electric and plug-in hybrid models by 2025. The needed batteries will be produced in the LG Chem facility in Nanjing.
automobil-produktion.de (in German), ihssupplierinsight.com (paid content)
Two-wheeled alliance: Honda and Yamaha want to work together on the development and production of conventional, as well as all-electric scooters for the Japanese market. According to Nikkei, the latter will even sell its scooter production in Taiwan to its new partner.
nikkei.com
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Swedish EV draws investors: Uniti, the developer of Sweden’s first electric city car (we reported), kicked off a crowdfunding campaign yesterday. The goal was to raise 500,000 euros in return for about 5 percent of shares. At the time of writing, more than 82 percent of the targeted sum had already been reached.
fundedbyme.com
Luxembourg gets e-bus centre: Volvo Buses there opened its first competence centre outside of Sweden. The centre is to develop electric mobility projects for cities and work closely with universities, government and transportation companies.
corporatenews.lu
Bosch strengthens e-mobility branch: Harald Kröger, who had been working as head of development for electric mobility and electronics at Daimler, will join Bosch come February 1st, where he will head the automotive electronics branch.
wiwo.de (in German)