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electric vehicle

Volkswagen unveils concept robot for electric vehicle charging

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Volkswagen has provided a glimpse into a future in which the search for charging stations for electric cars comes to an end. (See video below.)

Volkswagen Group Components’ mobile charging robot takes over this task – and drives to the electric car completely autonomously.

After it is started via app or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication, the mobile robot drives itself to the vehicle that needs charging and communicates with it. [Read more…] about Volkswagen unveils concept robot for electric vehicle charging

Nagel tests Mercedes-Benz eActros electric truck in Hamburg

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The fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros will now take to the roads for the food logistics specialist Nagel-Group in Hamburg.

The vehicle will round off the Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros “Innovation Fleet” for testing the heavy-duty electric truck.

The first eActros has been taking part in customer testing since September 2018 and the eActros in use by Nagel-Group is the tenth vehicle in the fleet.

[Read more…] about Nagel tests Mercedes-Benz eActros electric truck in Hamburg

How do DC/DC converters work in hybrid and electric cars?

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Within every electric vehicle is a battery that outputs a certain voltage.

Given that this voltage might not be appropriate for the various devices being driven, we need to install another device along the signal path.

This device is known as a DC/DC converter, and without it, the modern electric car wouldn’t be possible. [Read more…] about How do DC/DC converters work in hybrid and electric cars?

ZF unveils electric truck prototype for Japan

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ZF has developed an electric light commercial vehicle specifically for the Japanese market.

The company has been electrifying a wide range of systems not only for passenger cars and commercial vehicles but also for industrial machines.

This prototype vehicle has been developed by ZF Japan’s engineering team at their Tech Centre in Yokohama, collaborating with a team in ZF HQ in Germany in order to satisfy Japan’s unique requirements.

[Read more…] about ZF unveils electric truck prototype for Japan

Renault pilots large-scale vehicle-to-grid charging from electric vehicles

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Groupe Renault is beginning the first large-scale pilot schemes in vehicle-to-grid charging, also called reversible electric charging.

A fleet of fifteen Zoe vehicles with vehicle-to-grid charging will be introduced in Europe over the course of 2019 to develop the company’s future portfolio in reversible charging and lay the groundwork for future standards.

These pilot schemes began in Utrecht (the Netherlands) in an ecosystem developed by We Drive Solar and on Porto Santo Island, in Madeira, Portugal, with Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira. More pilot schemes will be introduced in France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark.

[Read more…] about Renault pilots large-scale vehicle-to-grid charging from electric vehicles

Faraday Future to manufacture electric cars in partnership with computer games company

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Faraday Future is partnering with a computer games company called The9 to produce electric cars for the Chinese market.

The California-based Faraday Future says it has signed a joint venture agreement with The9 to form a joint venture to manufacture, market, distribute, and sell “luxury intelligent electric vehicles” in China.

This also marks a key first step for FF to officially launch its dual-home-market and dual-brand strategy in both China and the US.  [Read more…] about Faraday Future to manufacture electric cars in partnership with computer games company

Honda will premiere its new electric vehicle prototype at 2019 Geneva Motor Show

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Honda has confirmed the global premiere of a prototype version of its new electric vehicle will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019.

Honda’s new electric vehicle is developed with a focus on functionality and purpose and the prototype sketch demonstrates this through its clean, simple and unique design. The image highlights a clear link to Honda’s Urban EV Concept initially shown at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The debut is a further demonstration of Honda’s ‘Electric Vision’, a commitment that two thirds of European sales will feature electrified technology by 2025. A mass production version of the car will be on sale later in the year.

Alstom’s electric bus Aptis goes on test in Spain

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Alstom is sending Aptis on a six-week roadshow in Spain to be tested, together with local transport companies, in Barcelona, Madrid and Vigo.

The first operational test starts in January in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, before going to Madrid on the 4th of February. The roadshow will then continue in Vigo from 14 to 22 February.

The tests conducted in the customer depots as well as under real operating conditions are designed to evaluate the specific characteristics of Aptis in a new urban setting, its charging system, its autonomy, and its insertion performance in traffic, following the first successful tests in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

[Read more…] about Alstom’s electric bus Aptis goes on test in Spain

BMW to build entire future around iNext autonomous electric concept

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At the BMW AG Annual General Meeting in May 2018, Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management at the BMW Group, described iNext as follows: “The iNext project will provide our building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all of its brands are set to benefit.”

iNext addresses the big question that is at the heart of the BMW Group’s day-to-day work: “How will we be moving around in future?” iNext builds on the idea that first took shape in 2007 with “project i” and evolved into the launch of the BMW i3 in 2013.

The BMW Group has already achieved a great deal on this front: it now has over ten years of experience with electric mobility under its belt in both small-scale and large-scale production, the BMW i models are being improved all the time, and their technology is being employed to gradually electrify models from the BMW and MINI ranges.

[Read more…] about BMW to build entire future around iNext autonomous electric concept

Nissan integrates ProPilot autonomous tech in Leaf electric vehicle

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Nissan has launched the new version of Leaf, which the company claims is “world’s most advanced mass-market electric vehicle”. 

The new Nissan Leaf is the company’s first car in Europe that will embrace the early steps of advanced driver assistance, and is packed with cutting-edge innovations such as e-Pedal, allowing humans to drive and brake in “a totally new and seamless way”.

Nissan says the new vehicle can also go further, with a range of 378 km on a single charge, and has been redesigned for a new generation, with a sleeker look inside and out.  [Read more…] about Nissan integrates ProPilot autonomous tech in Leaf electric vehicle