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electric vehicles

Bosch presents tomorrow’s mobility today

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Bosch will present its new concept of shuttle at The Consumer Electronics Show CES 2019 in Las Vegas on January 8-11.

A light, airy, minimalistic design, a futuristic outer shell made of display screens and glass, and a spacious interior – the description of a new class of vehicle and a new kind of mobility: driverless electric shuttles that glide almost silently through city centres and are seamlessly connected with their environment.

These may soon be a common sight on our city streets. Bosch provides components and systems for automating, connecting, and electrifying the shuttles, but shuttle mobility won’t be possible without mobility services.

[Read more…] about Bosch presents tomorrow’s mobility today

Capgemini study reveals barriers to electric car adoption in US

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Capgemini has released a study showing that battery capacity and availability of charging stations for electric cars are the two biggest concerns of U.S. consumers that might deter purchases.

According to Capgemini’s Cars Online Trends Study, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and retailers must collaborate to address these and other concerns to meet governmental expectations, increase electric car sales and develop new services for consumers.

“OEM investment in electric cars has led to exciting technological breakthroughs and the promise of reduced emissions, yet so far sales figures have been lower than initially predicted,” said Mathew Desmond, Principal Automotive Domain Specialist at Capgemini.

[Read more…] about Capgemini study reveals barriers to electric car adoption in US

FedEx acquires 1,000 Chanje electric vehicles

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FedEx Corp. is expanding its fleet to add 1,000 Chanje V8100 electric delivery vehicles, buying 100 of the vehicles from Chanje Energy Inc and leasing 900 from Ryder System, Inc.

The purpose-built electric vehicles will be operated by FedEx Express for commercial and residential pick-up and delivery services in the United States.

The vehicles are manufactured by FDG in Hangzhou, China, and purchased through Chanje Energy Inc., the company’s subsidiary for global business. Ryder System, Inc. will provide support services for all of the vehicles.

[Read more…] about FedEx acquires 1,000 Chanje electric vehicles

ZF claims broadest portfolio of hybrid and electric drive solutions

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ZF claims to now offer the broadest range of hybrid and all-electric drive solutions for almost every vehicle segment.

In 2008, ZF was the first company in Europe to volume-produce hybrid modules – a technology that reduces CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent compared to vehicles with combustion engines.

In the meantime, many manufacturers are now producing a variety of car models equipped with the 8-speed plug-in hybrid transmission (8P) that features a longitudinally-mounted drive.

[Read more…] about ZF claims broadest portfolio of hybrid and electric drive solutions

Electric vehicles: Mercedes-Benz starts construction of battery factory

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Mercedes-Benz Cars has held a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of the construction of a new battery factory. The factory will be built near the vehicle production site in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA, providing batteries for future electric SUV under the product and technology brand EQ.

Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain, attended the ceremony: “We aim to play a pioneering role in the development of e-mobility and are well prepared to accomplish this mission.

“One year ago, we announced $1 billion investment in Tuscaloosa mostly for the production of electric SUVs and a battery plant. We are bringing electric mobility for Mercedes-Benz to the United States. Around the globe, we are preparing six sites for production of EQ models and our battery network will consist of eight factories.”

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ATS to acquire KMW to strengthen its position in the electric vehicle market

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ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire KMW Konstruktion, Maschinen- & Werkzeugbau GmbH & Co. KG and KMW GmbH, a German-based supplier of custom micro-assembly systems and test equipment solutions.

The addition of KMW’s micro-assembly technology and expertise are expected to strengthen ATS’ current offerings in the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Micro-assembly systems are critical elements in the assembly of various components used in electric vehicles, including motors, power storage systems, braking, steering, and electronic modules.

[Read more…] about ATS to acquire KMW to strengthen its position in the electric vehicle market

Magna and Beijing Electric Vehicle to jointly engineer and build electric vehicles in China

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Magna is to form two new joint ventures with Beijing Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd (BJEV) for complete vehicle manufacturing as well as engineering of electric vehicles.

BJEV, a subsidiary of the BAIC Group for electric cars, and Magna, a global automotive supplier and the world’s leading brand-independent vehicle contract manufacturer, have signed term sheets for the new joint ventures.

Over the coming months, Magna and BJEV will work with authorities to implement legally binding joint-venture agreements which will govern the operations of these two joint ventures.

[Read more…] about Magna and Beijing Electric Vehicle to jointly engineer and build electric vehicles in China

Growth in electric vehicle sales will not strain the power grid, says McKinsey

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The growing popularity and sales of electric vehicle will not strain the power grid, according to an analysis by McKinsey, one of the world’s leading management consultancies. 

McKinsey says its analysis suggests “the projected growth in e-mobility will not drive substantial increases in total electrical-grid power demand in the near- to mid-term, limiting the need for new electricity-generation capacity during that period”.

The authors of the report used Germany as an example and found that electric vehicle sales may grow to the extent that five extra gigawatts of power will be required, but that is only 1 percent of total supply.  [Read more…] about Growth in electric vehicle sales will not strain the power grid, says McKinsey

Electric car market in China ‘outpacing Western counterparts’

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By Edward Tse, Gao Feng Advisory

China’s electric vehicle market and is now outpacing its Western counterparts.

Already the largest auto market in the world, China is now also the largest electric vehicle market.

It is also the largest car market for many global automakers, including Volkswagen, BMW, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz.  [Read more…] about Electric car market in China ‘outpacing Western counterparts’

Rohm supplies silicon carbide power modules to Formula E racing team Venturi

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Rohm Semiconductor is providing the full SiC [silicon carbide] power modules to the Venturi Formula E team in the FIA Formula E 2017–2018.

Probably the only racing series for electric vehicles in the world, and very likely the largest, the Formula E competition started in the last couple of days in Hong Kong.

The module Rohm is supplying will support further improvements in the car’s performance under racing conditions.  [Read more…] about Rohm supplies silicon carbide power modules to Formula E racing team Venturi