The city of Wellington is to increase the number of electric trolley buses from only two per cent up to 22 per cent. Through service provider Metlink, 98 new e-buses have now been ordered, which are to arrive in New Zealand between mid-2021 and early 2023.
Read more
The government in New Zealand has allocated 3.9 million dollars to electric transport initiatives. The 19 selected projects stretch from improving the range of electric camper vans over building charging stations.
Read moreElectrify America with 150kW: In the course of VW’s dieselgate penalty payment in the States, the German carmaker and EPA have now released the national plan for the first instalment of 300m dollars. It is to set up a nationwide quick charging network, including around 240 charging points with a minimum output of 150 kW but suitable to CCS, CHAdeMO and AC and open protocols. The project is to start in the second quarter of 2018. On top, VW has to implement around 300 charging stations with up to 50 kW in 11 metropolitan areas. The proposal still awaits approval.
electrek.co, hybridcars.com
Another giant trying to make amends is Shell, which has just joined the quick charging initiative CharIN. The oil company intends to add quick charging points to its petrol stations, first in Britain this year but later also in other countries. Besides, Shell murmured about its own intelligent tech for charging.
insideevs.com, charinev.org
Autonomous Bolt fleet: There exist 50 self-driving Chevrolet Bolt in three U.S. cities today but GM plans to raise their game. According to new documents handed in at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 300 additional Bolts are soon to hit the roads of San Francisco, Detroit, and Scottsdale. If they do, it would make GM’s autonomous EV fleet the world’s largest.
spectrum.ieee.org
Reserved for EVs: New Zealand’s capital Wellington plans to keep 100 parking spaces free for electric cars and those to share exclusively during the course of this year. 37 bays have been assigned already and will be equipped with EV charging opportunities.
stuff.co.nz
Paid to charge off-peak: EV owners in New York City and Westchester County are able to benefit from a new reward programme when charging their EV at times only few do. Electric utility Con Edison claims to pay 5 cents for each kilowatt-hour of charging during off-peak hours.
electrek.co
- ADVERTISEMENT -
429 fast-charging stations with multiple standards installed in 10 countries by four EU projects were merged into one pilot network, which has been completed this month. A total of 26.3m euros came from TEN-V as well as BMW, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen plus EDF, E.ON, ESB and Verbund. Benefiting countries are among others the UK, Austria and Denmark. The EU hopes to enable electric travel across borders to spur longterm confidence in EVs.
energie.de (in German)
Sleep and charge: AccorHotels teams up with Chargemaster to provide EV fast-charging facilities at Ibis and Novotel hotels across Great Britain. The first phase starting early next year will see 60 hotels being fitted with EV accommodations. Guest can charge their electric cars for free.
traveldailymedia.com, hotelowner.co.uk
Electric bus fleet: Wellington aims to successively electrify its entire bus fleet within the next five years, beginning with an electric bus demonstration in the first half of next year. The move is backed by the region’s council, which also plans to introduce ten hybrid buses in the interim period.
wellington.scoop.co.nz
Charging the USA: Philadelphia Airport now opened seven charging stations with two spots each, where charging is free at least until April. The stops are operated by ChargePoint. Salt Lake City, too, installed DC charging stations at six locations throughout the city. They are part of the EVgo network.
philly.com (Philadelphia), csrwire.com (Salt Lake City)
Sharing Chinese EVs: Kandi announced that its EV joint venture with Geely plans to deliver 2,000 Kandi electric vehicles to ZuoZhongYou in Hainan. The electric cars are destined for a Micro Public Transportation (MPT) programme in Haikou. Delivery is expected by the end of 2015.
money.cnn.com
All-electric public transport? Canadian Winnipeg is looking into replacing its entire bus fleet with electric vehicles. One such bus is already running and together with manufacturer Manitoba the city explores the conversion of 618 buses to electric. The report is expected in spring 2016.
cbc.ca, winnipegsun.com
All-electric public fleet? New Zealand’s capital Wellington plans to put an EV charging network in place that shall span the entire region. A working group will be set up including local councils to see how to get the infratsructure in place. Once set up the councilors vowed to replace their existing fleet with electric vehicles possibly starting by March 2016.
stuff.co.nz
Fortunate take over: Fortum expands its Charge & Drive network in Norway as it acquires ten EV charging stations from EV Power in Trøndelag. The firm will extend the existing spots to include two fast-chargers and one semi-fast charging station with twin outlets and also plans to install additional ones.
fortum.com
