ElectriClub

Български електромобилен клуб

May 26, 2017

  • VivaTech 2017 превод на български
     
    This year Greenstage will be at VivaTech in France from June 15th to 17th.  We will be sharing our distributed energy solutions with the world and showing off our latest and greatest R&D.


    See you there!

May 25, 2017

  • One Week Before Unveiling, Tesla Model 3 Specs Are Revealed превод на български
     

    Tesla Model 3

    With one week to go before Tesla unveils a production version of the Tesla Model 3, more details are emerging about the company’s upcoming $35,000 EV. The unveiling will take place at a VIP event at Tesla’s Fremont factory on June 2 and 3.

    Regarding performance, we now know via leaked internal company documents that the Model 3 will accelerate to 60 mph in a brisk 5.6 seconds—right in line with the 75-kWh version of the Model S. The Model 3’s performance beats the 238-mile Chevy Bolt, which takes about seven seconds to reach 60 mph. Tesla has suggested that an even faster Model 3 will be produced about a year after the first units go on sale.

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May 24, 2017

  • Летящи коли за хвърчащи хора превод на български
     

    Летящи коли? Не, не като част от филм за бъдещето или прототипи с неясни дати на производство. Вече ги има. Вече се говори за индустрия, която работи в тази насока. Първата продадена летяща кола се очаква още през 2018г. (макар че първоначално се е очаквала през 2014г.)

    Представяте ли си? И дори е с два варианта на цени, като вторият е по-икономичен, но и малко по-далечен като време на производство. Производител е холандската компания Pal-V, която приема поръчки. Оставяте невъзвръщаем депозит от 25 000 или 10 000 евро (в зависимост от избрания вариант), отивате на курс за пилоти и оставате в очакване кога ще си получите колата от бъдещето.

    Сега по-конкретно: Liberty е кола, която може да се движи с максимална скорост от 160км/ч. Ако решите да я ползвате за летене, предвидете 10 минути за преобразяването ѝ в летящо превозно средство, което се движи с максимална скорост от 180км/ч, както и писта от 180м (за по-голяма безопасност дори 280м) за излитане. Звучи доста забавно, нали? Особено, ако можете да отделите 500 000 евро за първите 90 произведени бройки (Pioneer) или 300 000 евро за следващия модел (Sport). Производителите казват: “летете към вилата или работата си над планини, реки, езера и задръствания”.

    Колата има мотор с мощност 100к.с. и е бензинова, обявяват пробег от 1315км на сайта си. Самолетът има мощност от 200к.с., работи като автожир (роторът му служи за стабилизатор, а задвижването е от пропелер), може да измине максимум 500км във въздуха. От компанията казват, че отговаря на съществуващата регламентация и като кола, и като летящо превозно средство.

    Разбира се, това е просто илюстрация на развитието на съвременната техника, като ние се интересуваме от варианти с електрическо задвижване. През април 2017г. на изложението Top Marques в Монако е представен комерсиален модел летяща кола на AeroMobil.

    Това е базирана в Словакия компания, която планира да започне производство на модела до 2020г. Първоначално предвидените бройки са 500, на изложението са започнали да приемат резервации. Очакваната цена е между 1,2 и 1,5 милиона евро (на този фон другата изглежда като бюджетен вариант 😉 ). На пътя колата е хибрид – генератор задвижва 2 електромотора, разположени отпред, с обща мощност 110к.с. Във въздуха същият генератор e двигател (двулитров четирицилиндров боксерен турбо ДВГ) за витлото и има мощност от 300к.с. Максималната скорост на пътя е 160км/ч, а във въздуха – 360км/ч. Има нужда от писта за излитане с дължина от 397 до 595м. Можете да изминете 750км по въздух, по земя – 700км. А ако 10 минути за преобразяването на модела на PAL-V ви се струват много, този модел минава в летателен режим за по-малко от 3 минути. 🙂 Изпълнителният директор на AeroMobil казва, че искат моделът да стане част от споделена услуга в бъдеще. Засега са сертифицирани за Европа, но очакват това да стане и за САЩ, след което искат да предложат модела и в Китай. И отново ще трябва да минете курс за пилоти.

    Нали ви казах, че индустрията тръгва в тази насока? Е, ето още доказателства: на изложението в Женева през март Airbus представя прототипа си Pop.up – с нулеви емисии, изцяло електрически, съставен от 3 отделни части:

    • въздушен модул, електрически задвижван от 8 противоположно движещи се ротори (квадрокоптер);
    • пътническа капсула от въглеродни нишки;
    • задвижван от батерия земен модул.

    Когато избирате вариант за пътуването си, въвеждате в мобилно приложение къде искате да стигнете. Системата предлага спрямо условията на пътя, разстоянието, предпочитанията ви. Във вариант кола това е самоуправляващ се електромобил.

    Ако има много задръствания, капсулата се отделя от земния модул и става самопилотиращо се градско въздушно превозно средство (с други думи дрон). Когато пътниците достигнат крайната си дестинация, всички модули на Pop.up автономно се връщат на определена зарядна станция за следващи пътници. Тоест това е насочено към “широката публика“ – градски транспорт на бъдещето? Изпълнителният директор на Italdesign, която разработва прототипа съвместно с Airbus казва, че Pop.up може лесно да стане интегрална част от градовете. Засега той минава кратки разстояния във въздуха – 60 мили.

    В момента работят по два варианта, които да ни покажат през следващите 2 години. И двата са електрически VTOL (vertical take off and landing) – вертикално издигащи се и кацащи машини. Vahana е за един пътник, а CityAirbus е за повече хора. Airbus трърди, че всичко това е осъществимо в реалността, като капсулите дори могат да се свързват във “влакова композиция” и да минават през hyperloop тръби.

    Не е ясно какво е бъдещето на такива прототипи, но е ясно, че за да има промяна ще са нужни освен работа от страна автомобилната и самолетната индустрия и сътрудничество с местните управляващи за регламентиране, както и за изграждане на съответна инфраструктура – за това говори Mathias Thompsen, мениджър в Airbus. Законодателството е писано през 50-те и 60-те години, не са предвидени такива варианти – вече говорим за регламентация на автономни самолети, освен автономни коли.

    Интересно, че в Дубай смятат да ползват дронове за превоз на пътници още тази година, а Uber искат да предложат услуга с летяща кола в рамките на 10 години. Както казват от Wired, това ще помогне на “заможни и смели” хора да преодолеят задръстванията.

    Според Astalosch от Italdesign “до 10 години земният транспорт ще премине на следващото ниво. Ще бъде споделен, свързан, автономен, мултимодален и ще използва третото измерение”.

    Дори имаме и български опит по въпроса. Инж. Иван Кръстев е изобретил и патентовал летяща кола, която е в два варианта – хибриден и изцяло електрически. Тя не е самоуправляваща се, така че за всеки случай минете един курс за пилоти. 🙂

  • Tesla Welcomes Gaby Toledano превод на български
     

    We would like to welcome Gaby Toledano, who has joined Tesla as Chief People Officer, leading Human Resources and Facilities, reporting into Elon Musk. Gaby joins Tesla after 10 years on the Executive Team at Electronic Arts (EA), during a time of transformation and growth. Prior to EA, Gaby led Human Resources at Siebel Systems. She has also held HR leadership positions at both Microsoft and Oracle and currently sits on four technology boards.

    Undefined

May 23, 2017

  • Southern California Edison Offers $450 to EV Drivers, Even Second Owners превод на български
     

    Ron Nichols, president of Southern California Edison—and Maria Santillan-Beas, mayor of Lynwood, Calif.—plug in the city’s new EV.

    Southern California Edison, which provides electricity to 14 million people, this week started offering a $450 reward to customers who drive plug-in vehicles. Utilities in California, and other states such as Georgia and Florida, have offered perks and special rates for years—but the new SCE incentive makes second and third owners of a vehicle eligible for the payment.

    As the market for electric vehicle expands, it’s important to incentivize new waves of buyer who might be interested in less expensive used electric cars. To qualify for a payment, customers with an active SCE residential account submit an application through the Clean Fuel Rewards website.

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May 22, 2017

  • The end of Stretchla, and a new beginning. превод на български
     
    Executive summary: Underground support for Salvage cars is helping make up for Tesla’s continuing unusual policies. The Stretchla project is out to pasture, I still plan to build a Tesla powered VW Vanagon camper, it may be regular “short” length. I found a perfect conversion candidate.   In my last post long ago I spoke about Tesla’s non-industry-standard and unusual (I […]
  • New national body to drive uptake of electric vehicles in Australia превод на български
     

    A new national body that aims to drive the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia was officially launched in Canberra today.

    The Electric Vehicle Council is an industry-led organisation representing and coordinating the broader electric vehicle industry in Australia. Representing companies involved in providing, powering and supporting electric vehicles, its members sell over 350,000 new vehicles per year in Australia, and have over 6 million Australian customers.

    The Minister for Energy and Environment, Josh Frydenberg, who attended the launch, announced a $390,000 grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia.

    The Electric Vehicle Council’s Chair, Behyad Jafari, said the market for electric vehicles includes significant opportunities to deliver economic investment, innovation and environmental sustainability. “While the global industry grows exponentially each year, Australia continues to miss out. In the next twelve months, almost one million electric vehicles are projected to be sold, with more than $50bn invested in the industry over the last 10 years,” he said.

    “Addressing the barriers preventing the mass uptake of electric vehicles in Australia requires a consistent and collaborative effort across a range of sectors.

    “In addition to introducing vehicle emission standards, key policy measures include incentivising electric vehicle purchase in the short term as the technology works to meet price parity through upfront incentives and taxation measures, as well as establishing a recommended roadmap for national public charging infrastructure.

    “We welcome others from across industry, consumer groups and government to join the Electric Vehicle Council as we work to build and provide certainty for investment in the Australian electric vehicle industry.”

    ClimateWorks Australia Head of Implementation, Scott Ferraro said the funding from ARENA would support a broader effort to educate and engage Australians about electric vehicles. “Globally, the number of electric vehicles sold annually is growing rapidly. However in 2014, electric vehicle sales accounted for just 0.1 per cent of new cars sold in Australia,” he said. ‘This funding will enable us to work with the Electric Vehicle Council to provide more information about electric vehicles to Australian consumers and undertake research on the best policies to drive greater uptake of electric vehicles, particularly at the early stages in order to increase model choice and infrastructure.

    “The council will also publish a state of electric vehicles report annually so we can monitor progress on the transition of the Australian fleet.”

    Mr Ferraro said electric vehicles provide a significant range of environment, economic and social benefits.

    “When powered by renewable energy, electric vehicles are zero emission vehicles. This will help us meet our emission reduction targets faster and at lower cost, and can reduce impacts from air pollution in our cities,” he said.

May 21, 2017

May 20, 2017

  • Second-Generation Nissan LEAF Will Be Revealed in September превод на български
     

    The first teaser image of the second-generation Nissan LEAF electric car.

    A completely redesigned future version of the Nissan LEAF will be unveiled in Tokyo on Sept. 6. To build excitement, Nissan has released a teaser image (of the headlight) in advance of the September event. The company—once considered the leader in electric vehicles—said the image is “the first in a series of photos and informational briefs scheduled this summer in preparation for the global reveal of the new Nissan Leaf later this year.”

    Camouflaged LEAF test mules have recently been spotted in Europe, raising questions about the look of the new EV. But the biggest questions relates to range and price—how a new LEAF will stack up against $35,000 long-range electric cars like the Chevrolet Bolt and upcoming Tesla Model 3. There are already rumors circulating about multiple battery pack sizes, ranging from 40 to 60 kilowatt-hours—which would provide between about 160 and 225 miles of driving range on a single charge.

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May 19, 2017

  • Renault & Qualcomm demonstrate dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging [VIDEO] превод на български
     

    Renault today demonstrated dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging (DEVC), which allows vehicles to charge while driving. Renault has participated with Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom in designing a DEVC system capable of charging an electric vehicle dynamically with a charge of up to 20 kilowatts at speeds up to, and in excess of, 100 kilometers per hour. The DEVC system has been designed to support real-world implementation of dynamic charging. The two Renault Kangoo Z.E. vehicles can pick up charge in both directions along the track.

    The dynamic charging demonstrations took place at the 100-meter test track, built by Vedecom at Satory, Versailles, near Paris, within the FABRIC project. Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom installed the primary part of the DEVC system in the test track, whilst Vedecom and Renault installed the secondary part onto two Renault Kangoos Z.E.. The DEVC system will shortly be handed over to Vedecom to perform tests for FABRIC. The tests will evaluate the operation and efficiency of energy transfer to the vehicles for a wide range of practical scenarios including vehicle identification and authorization on entering track, power level agreement between track and vehicle, speed and alignment of vehicle along track.

    FABRIC is a €9 million project, mostly funded by the European Commission, addressing the technological feasibility, economic viability, and socio-environmental sustainability of wireless DEVC. The project began in January 2014 and will continue through December 2017, and is being undertaken by a consortium of 25 organizations from nine European countries, including automotive manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and research organizations from automotive, road and energy infrastructure domains. VEDECOM is one of the FABRIC collaborators and responsible for providing the demonstration of the charging solution at Satory using the Qualcomm Halo DEVC system. FABRIC’s main goal is to conduct feasibility analysis of wireless DEVC as a means of EV range extension.

    “Our engineers and management have fully supported this project since the very beginning as it aligns perfectly with our focus on EVs, charging systems and mobility services,” says Luc Marbach, chief executive officer, VEDECOM. “We are a public-private partnership focused on pre-competitive research. The installation of one of the world’s first DEVC test platforms has provided us with a unique test facility and we look forward to expanding our expertise with the future testing.”

    “Being part of this exciting project has enabled us to test and further research dynamic charging on our Kangoo Z.E. vehicles,” said Eric Feunteun, electric vehicle program director, Groupe Renault. “Our engineers have worked very closely with the Qualcomm Technologies and VEDECOM teams to complete the DEVC system integration demonstration as part of FABRIC. We see dynamic charging as a great vision to further enhance the ease of use of EVs, thus the accessibility of EVs for all.”

    “We are inventors. We are WEVC. This dynamic charging demonstration is the embodiment of this,” said Steve Pazol, vice president and general manager, wireless charging, Qualcomm Incorporated. “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved. The combination of a global team of expert engineers and Qualcomm Halo technology, which covers all aspects of WEVC systems, irrespective of the magnetics used, has enabled us to really push the boundaries of the possible and outline our vision for future urban mobility.”

May 18, 2017

May 17, 2017

  • What You Need to Know About Electric Car Battery Warranties превод на български
     

    The Chevy Bolt’s battery warranty covers for eight years and 100,000 miles—and if its capacity drops by 40 percent.

    Many electric car shoppers worry that buying an EV might mean replacing an expensive battery after a few years of use. Those worries are unfounded for a number of reasons. First, electric car batteries are manufactured to last the lifetime of the vehicle—with very few reported incidents of total battery failure. The more common (but still rare) occurrence is a significant reduction in range over time. Regardless, the key to putting your mind at ease is a better understanding of the warranties that come with all electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

    The auto industry norm is to protect an electric care battery for eight years and 100,000 miles. (Hyundai goes further by offering a lifetime warranty on its plug-in car batteries.) But for EV batteries, it’s also important to make a distinction between warranties that not only cover total failure but also reduced capacity over time.

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May 16, 2017

  • News: WAJ Media Day Offers Preview of Upcoming Test Drives превод на български
     

    Western Automotive Journalists’ Media Day Review

    Ford F-250 Super Duty

    Unexpected luxury in a work truck

    Once a year a group of automotive journalists including Clean Fleet Report gathers on the Monterey Peninsula to drive a selection of the latest models available. This year we had the opportunity to sample a variety of vehicles, with First Drive stories scheduled to appear in the near future.

    Here’s a preview of what we drove over two days and a headline of what we thought (in alphabetical order):

    • Acura MDX Sport Hybrid – This is a big SUV that is now pushing close to 30 mpg with some careful driving. It’s got some odd gearwork inside, but comes loaded with luxury items.
      Acura MDX Hybrid

      A big SUV with big MPG

      Chrysler Pacifica Plug–in Hybrid – Chrysler’s rep told us the plug-in nature of this model may not be highlighted and we found out why. The added fuel economy (84 MPGe with a 32 mpg in gas-only mode) is nice, but the overall car is the best minivan I’ve ever driven.

    • Ford F–250 Super Duty – Diesel is definitely not dead in this class of big truck. The power and added fuel economy are expected, but the luxury in this serious work truck is a real plus.
    • Honda Clarity – The third entry in the fuel cell car sweepstakes is a stunner. It looks great and travels as smooth as we’ve come to expect from most electric cars. It’s good competition for the Toyota Mirai.
    • Jaguar XE 2.0d – A sure-footed AWD sedan that feels a bit like a throwback—specifically the first generation BMW 3-Series—and that’s not a bad thing.
    • Kia Niro Hybrid – My colleagues have already praised this model highly so my expectations were high, but like several other Kia models—it delivers.
    • Land Rover Discovery Td6 – Another big, high-riding SUV, this one with diesel power giving it mid-20s mpg. The torque from the diesel reinforces a feeling of invincibility.
    • Land Rover Discovery Td6

      Big, powerful and ready to go anywhere

      Mazda CX–5 – Mazda seems to keep pumping up this model, which is the heart of its SUV lineup. It’s understated, but a real pleasure to drive while tagging on fuel economy up to almost 30 mpg on the highway.

    • Mercedes–Benz GLA 250 – I wasn’t sure what to expect from this little red number. It looked sporty, but offered a hint of SUV utility. It turned out to suffer from this kind of schizophrenia, which muddled its image.
    • Toyota CH–R – Toyota finally jumps into the hot subcompact SUV segment with this wild-looking model. It’s fun, but quirky in more than just its looks.
    • Toyota Prius Prime – This round the plug-in Prius gets a redo to distinguish it from the non-plug-in Prius and also adds some new gadgets. It’s definitely a step up, but the competition hasn’t been standing still so it is going to continue struggle with all but Toyota loyalists.
    • Zero Motorcycles – Zero brought out its full line of electric bikes and got a lot of attention for the bikes quiet performance. It turns out police all over the country love that combination (quiet+performance).

    In addition to all of the fun hardware (and trust me, I didn’t have a chance to try everything I wanted to), WAJ Media Day also gave me a chance to learn more about Navdy’s head-up display and get updated on why high-strength steel is still used so extensively in the auto industry.

    Stay tuned!

    The post News: WAJ Media Day Offers Preview of Upcoming Test Drives appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

May 15, 2017

  • Why I work at a National Lab. превод на български
     
    Over the years, one question that keeps popping up is why I decided to work for a National Lab, as opposed to a university or industry.  My first answer to this question, which is “because John Travolta once told me that without a job, residence or legal tender, I will be a bum” does not seem to lead to satisfaction.  So, here is the alternate answer.

    When I first came to a National Lab, I really had no idea what a Lab did versus these other entities.  I had heard the origin story (the Manhattan project), seen the big, unique, expensive facilities (the synchrotron sources and the nano-centers) and knew the names of the many of the scientists in the complex as leaders in their field.  But it took a few years of being at a Lab (after I got past the “do not become a bum” phase) for me to really understand their critical role in scientific innovation.

    At its core, scientific discovery has become hard.  The days of the inventor who tinkered on something in the garage and discovered the next big battery breakthrough are long gone, unless you are developing battery apps.  The “low hanging fruits” have all been picked.  The world still needs new discoveries leading to better technologies; so we have had to, and will continue to, go higher and higher up the proverbial tree.  

    National Labs were/are built to satisfy this need.  In my opinion there are three aspects to a national lab, the first two being:  (i) take a bunch of smart scientists and engineers from diverse disciples who are willing to dedicate their life, working as a team, to solve a problem, and (ii) provide them with the means to build unique facilities (think big $$) and capabilities (think brains), unlike any other in the world.  Do this long enough that this combination will yield new breakthroughs, new insights, Nobel prizes, and the rest of the good stuff.  And out of this mix emerges the thought leaders who define the next phase of innovation and set the path for what will be the future. 

    In the age when the great industrial research labs are all long gone, this role takes on an even greater importance.  

    But there is a third aspect to a National Lab which, in my opinion, is equally important.  We are taxpayer funded and have an obligation to help the taxpayer in whatever way we can.  Which means that it is not enough to develop (i) and (ii) and then keep it behind closed doors, with an insular approach to problem solving.  Rather, our mandate is to use said facilities and capabilities to help the broader community gain further knowledge, aid in their quest to discover new things, win their Nobel prizes, and serve as a means of enabling new products that will drive the next big market. 

    But there is lack of understanding among the larger science and technology community about this aspect of Labs.  This is especially true for companies.  For one, we at the Labs do not do a great job of explaining what we have and the breadth of our capabilities.  There is a translation problem between a Lab scientist explaining a new technique and a company scientist understanding how that technique can solve a battery problem. 

    And then there is confusion about the ways to even work with the labs.  Companies often don’t realize that they there are well-established mechanisms to work with Labs, that protection of IP and confidentiality are built into these relationships, and that the Labs actually WANT companies to work with them. 

    A decade ago, during the cleantech boom, I was able to witness this issue firsthand.  As companies started investing more into commercializing new technologies, the translation problem became an obstracle in leveraging the assets in the National Labs to effectively move forward.  Since those days, I have been passionate about finding ways to solve this problem. 

    In June 14th, we are embarking on another part of the journey to solve the translation problem with, what we are calling, “Battery Industry Day at Argonne”.  On that day, we will open up the door to industry (and others) to show you what we have, both the people and the facilities, tell you a bit about what we do, hear from you on what issues you face, and introduce you to the various mechanisms we have to work with outside entities. 

    We will talk about three areas where Argonne has deep expertise: high-energy batteries used in everything from cell phones to EVs, stationary storage and its integration with the grid, and batteries for our national security needs.

    You can read a bit more about the day and register at this site.  Ping me with any questions.


    Venkat
  • Employers Adopt Cost-Effective Approaches to EV Workplace Charging превод на български
     

    Electric vehicles charging at Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters.

    As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow, carmakers and government agencies are increasing their support of public EV charging infrastructure. While much of the attention is focused on public charging—especially fast charging along highway corridors—the importance of workplace charging is also on the rise. Considering that employees often park their car for long periods, workplace charging can be one of the most useful and cost-effective ways to encourage electric car adoption.

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  • Mains attraction: Prius Plug-in review превод на български
     
    Toyota Prius Plug-in

    Prius Plug-in
    Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    Good: extremely economical, useful solar roof
    Bad: short EV range, small boot, expensive
    Price: from £29,195 after the Plug-in Car Grant

    Toyota’s current Prius is not the prettiest vehicle on the road, and I can’t decide if the styling changes made for the new Prius Plug-in have made matters better or worse. It certainly looks futuristic, particularly in the vibrant Aqua blue that’s unique to the plug-in model.

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  • All you need to know about batteries: in a dozen tweets. превод на български
     
    I've been told that my blog posts are very long.  I have been known to retort that no one reads anything anymore.  After a few years of going back and forth on this I have come to the conclusion that if you can't best them, join them.  

    Research (an euphemism for "made up") suggests that the human brain can't take more than 140 characters.  So here goes.  A summary of batteries in a dozen bite-sized tweets: 

    Guess which battery will power most phones, EVs, and home solar in 2025?  A lithium battery. Yes. Really. Good luck new chemistries.

    A battery fire is a feature…in Antarctica. For the rest, so wish we had new chemistries.  Water, where art thou? Hate flammable electrolytes.

    Lead-acid (yes, that old dog), will destroy Li-ion for grid storage. Oh ya… there is that sulfation thing to solve. 

    The 2017 Li-ion battery is not your grandfathers one.  It is oh, so different on the inside. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

    Is there a solid-state battery in your EV future?  Not unless you are less than 50 years old (assumption: life expectancy=70). I made it.

    EV battery roadmap: High voltage then silicon, then Li metal, sulfur, (oxygen?), Mg (Al?). After that? Aliens tech. Or maybe fluorine.  

    Grid battery roadmap: Li-ion or lead-acid or flow or sodium or Zinc or... Who knows. Confused? So is everyone else. Except the aliens.

    Hear about an amazing breakthrough in batteries? Safely ignore it. The inventors did when they violated a few laws of nature. 

    All battery companies will claim to drive cost to less than $100/kWh sometime in the future. Even if they make the battery out of solid gold.  

    Performance of any battery will fall (just) short of expectations irrespective of the complexity of the device it is powering.

    Pull the plug. Your battery will thank you.  And don’t use the wrong rules for the wrong battery. Memory effect is so 1995.   

    It takes 10 years and $250M to start a battery company. Unless you are in China. Then it takes 1 year and $50M. Gotta love incentives.


    Venkat
  • Creating the Safest Car Factory in the World превод на български
     

    Earlier this year, the United Automobile Workers (UAW) announced it was attempting to organize workers in Tesla’s Fremont factory. The latest phase of their campaign involves a concerted and professional media push intended to raise questions about safety at Tesla.

    Undefined

May 14, 2017

May 13, 2017

May 12, 2017

  • Tesla Makes Progress in Pursuit of a Battery Breakthrough превод на български
     

    A researcher working for Tesla said this week that the life of electric car batteries could be extended to 20 years of use. Jeff Dahn of Dalhousie University, based in Nova Scotia, said that battery life—the capability of cells to maintain their energy and power capacity over time—is one of his four critical interrelated research goals. The other three are lower costs, increased energy density and improved safety.

    “Doubling the lifetime of the cells was exceeded in round one,” said Dahn in a presentation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The use of an aluminum coating appeared to be helpful in extending the longevity of cells. “We have another four years to go,” said Dahn. “So we’re going to go as far as we can.”

    read more

  • The Next Step in Energy Storage: Aggregation превод на български
     

    Today, modern utilities and grid operators are utilizing battery technology like never before. The next step in tapping the potential of energy storage is putting together thousands of batteries to form an energy network that utilities can use to deliver immediate value for the electric system. Tesla can now bundle Powerwall and Powerpack batteries into a single portfolio, also called aggregation, to make the grid cleaner and more efficient. Meanwhile, Powerwall customers who allow Tesla and the utilities to use their battery when energy demand is highest will not only have home backup power, but will also receive compensation for its use on the grid.

    Undefined
  • “Стратегия 2025” на Ауди превод на български
     

    Карате ли Ауди? А искате ли? А какво ще кажете за електрическо Ауди? Не ви дразня просто така 🙂 – възможно е в близко бъдеще да можете да карате Ауди или Тесла, или друга подобна кола, без да я притежавате. Това е част от разбиването на стереотипите в автомобилната индустрия и транспорта като цяло, за което се говори напоследък. Знаете, че Тесла искат да развиват споделянето на коли и това да намали цената на луксозните им коли. От Ауди също са казали, че искат да развиват такива услуги. Това е част от тяхната “Стратегия 2025г.” Така че освен купуване и лизингови схеми, ще имат и схеми за платен превоз и за споделяне на коли, предлагани от дилъри, а не от собственици на коли (за разлика от други такива схеми). При предлагането на повече такива услуги от автомобилни компании “успехът ще се измерва в изминати километри”, а не в продадени коли – обяснява Dr Dietmar Voggenreiter, член на борда на Ауди. Това е част от нова политика на компанията майка Фолксваген.

    Както писахме, Ауди планира да предложи 3 изцяло електрически коли до 2020г. “Логично”, както казва един приятел – след скандала с вредните емисии на Фолксваген и целта на Европейската комисия замърсяването от въглеродни емисии през 2021г. да бъде 95г/км. Фолксваген искат дори да са водещи в производството на електромобили и до 2025г. да произвеждат по 1 милион годишно.

    Първата изцяло електрическа кола на Ауди се очаква да започне производство още през 2018г. Представена е като прототип на автомобилното шоу във Франкфурт през 2015г. като Audi E-tron Quattro. Засега са казали, че смятат да я нарекат просто Е-трон, защото това е много важна серия за компанията. Идва от електрификация и се отнася за всички електрически и хибридни коли. Според Стадлър от Ауди в следващите 10-15 години 20-30% от колите ще бъдат електромобили.

    Прототипът има 2 мотора – за предните и за задните колела, с обща мощност 503к.с. Стига 100км/ч за 4,6сек и има максимална скорост от 210км/ч. Батерията е с капацитет от 95кВч и дава пробег от 500км. Хареса ми как шефът на отдела за развитие на Ауди Ulrich Hackenberg говори за Тесла: “Тесла подготвиха пазара.” В тази връзка от Топ Гиър определят Е-трон като Тесла Модел Х, но с нормални врати (това ще е плюс за колата предвид оплакванията от вратите). Има и видео огледала:

    През март 2017г. са потвърдили, че започват производство от догодина. Пробегът ще бъде 310 мили. Може да зареди 250 мили за половин час на бързите зарядни с мощност от 350кВ, които Порше изгражда по магистралите в Европа. Очаква се да има 250 такива зарядни до края на 2018г., когато колата ще бъде в продажба. Плановете са през 2019г. мрежата да се увеличи с още 400 зарядни. Според проучвания на компанията обаче първите купувачи ще зареждат колите си вкъщи през нощта.

May 11, 2017

  • Top 10 Most Sustainable Cities превод на български
     

    ACEEE Ranks Most Energy-Efficient Cities

    Here’s where you want to live if you drive an electric car. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has been measuring the energy-efficiency of the 51 major American cities for several years. Among the criteria to be a top pick is an active transportation policy that is designed to make their cities more compact and closer to transit options, shifts to efficient modes of transportation, transit investments, efficient vehicles and vehicle infrastructure, and energy-efficient freight transport.

    This year’s rankings were just released and there are some surprises. Here are the top 10:

    1. Boston
    2. New York City

      EVSE in Boston

      EV charging aids to a cities sustainability score (here in Boston)

    3. Seattle
    4. Los Angeles
    5. Portland (tied for #4)
    6. Austin
    7. Chicago
    8. Washington, DC
    9. Denver
    10. San Francisco (tied for #9)

    In addition to their transportation activities, cities were judged on their local government efficiency, community-wide initiatives (for energy diversification and decentralization), building policies (stringent energy codes and incentives) and efficient energy utilities.

    Another group of cities were cited as those showing the most improvement, including San Diego, Kansas City, Phoenix and Orlando (LA was also among the most improved).

    Among the actions the cities’ representatives called out as reasons for their success were using renewable or cleaner-burning fuels in city vehicles, boosting bus service and light rail, and adding infrastructure like electric vehicle charging stations.

    At the other end of the list, five cities were noted as most in need of improvement—Hartford, Memphis, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Birmingham.

    The post Top 10 Most Sustainable Cities appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

May 10, 2017

  • Solar Roof превод на български
     

    Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to a sustainable energy future by creating products that are so compelling, there is no alternative. Solar energy has always been part of our master plan, and we recognized the need for a roof that is simultaneously affordable, durable, beautiful and integrated with battery storage.

    Undefined
  • Fall Protection превод на български
     
    Probably my single biggest goal of building my own solar system is simply to NOT FALL OFF MY ROOF! Once I got the first piece of solar racking up, I had a brace which let me get ON the roof. At that point, I realized that the metal roofing is INSANELY slippery and would NOT [...]
  • $600 глоба за шофьор сложил кукла в електромобила си в Осло превод на български
     

    В този блог: Шофьор на електромобил в Норвегия е бил глобен заради кукла - пасажер в колата си.

    Хитрецът се е опитал да заобиколи закона, слагайки кукла като свой придружител. Коли без пасажери нямат право да се движат в сутрешните часове по въпросния маршрут в Осло... 

  • Какво става с Тесла? Накратко. превод на български
     

    Тесла представи на 3 май финансовите си резултати (PDF файл) от първото тримесечие на годината. Показват рекордно производство, доставки и платени данъци – “производството на коли се е увеличило с 64% за първата четвърт на годината спрямо същия период на миналата година”.

    Мъск потвърждава, че няма причина за закъснение на производството на Модел 3. Така че първите бройки се очакват през юли. Колата е разработена така, че да се произвежда лесно и в някакъв момент през 2017г. производството ще достигне 5000 бройки седмично, а през 2018г. – 10 000 бройки седмично.

    Плановете на компанията са следващото поколение производствена линия – “машината която произвежда машини”, да стане дори по-добра от най-добрите разработени до момента такива линии.

    Мъск казва, че резервациите за Модел 3 стават все повече с всяка изминала седмица: “Никаква реклама. Нищо за пробно каране. Въпреки това се увеличават всяка седмица.”

    Очаква се Модел Y да започне производство през 2020г. (или края 2019г.) и акронимът на Тесла от буквите на моделите му да бъде завършен:

    Финансовата цел на компанията, предлагайки още един модел, е да стигне 1 милион броя продадени коли през 2020г.

    Всички очакват и камионите на Тесла. Според Мъск навлизането на електрическото задвижване във всички сегменти на индустрията е неизбежно. Не уточнява кога се очаква да се появят техните камиони, но казва, че при производството им могат да се използват много части от Модел 3, което ще намали цената им. През април 2017г. Мъск е казал в Twitter, че първият им камион се очаква да бъде представен през септември.

    Тесла смятат да удвоят броя на свръхбързите си зарядни станции тази година. Имат отбелязана една и в България на картата за бъдещите си планове.

    Планират да добавят и 100 центъра за обслужване на клиенти по света. Локациите не са уточнени. Според вас ще има ли в България? 🙂 Не ми се вярва.

    Очакванията са продуктите им за генериране и съхранение на енергия да имат увеличаваща се печалба тази година. През втората четвърт на годината ще започнат производство на соларните си керемиди във Фримонт, а после ще преместят производството в Гигафабрика 2, в Бъфало. Чудя се кога ще ги предлагат някъде по-наблизо.

    Как ви се струва, дали е прав автомобилният анализатор Adam Jonas, като казва: променя“Виждаме Тесла да разбива представите ни за транспортирането, а не просто за автомобилната индустрия”? Jonas говори за огромната промяна, която започва с Тесла при производителите на коли. Все повече от тях започват производство на електромобили и говорят за споделяне на коли. Jonas казва, че Тесла са натиснали “копчето на лудостта” (в добрия смисъл), когато през 2015г. разработват Модел Х и започват построяването на Гигафабриката. Продължава с обяснението, че това е виждано и преди в бизнеса – революциите, предизвикани от Томас Едисон и електричеството, Хенри Форд и поточната линия. Анализаторът говори за Мъск като за човек от тази величина, който е “капиталист/учен/разказвач на приказки”.

  • News: WallyPark Electric Shuttle Buses Now At Los Angeles International Airport превод на български
     

    No Emissions from Parking to the Plane

    For the eco-minded living in the Los Angeles area, WallyPark shuttling service now offers battery electric shuttle bus service from its off-site parking location to catch a flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), making it the first all-electric airport parking service in the country.

    WallyPark, owned by the L&R Group of Companies, purchased 16 Zero Emissions Utility Shuttle (ZEUS) buses for its Los Angeles facility as part of a 50-unit order from Phoenix Motor Cars, an Ontario, Calif.–based developer of electric vehicles for the fleet market.

    WallyPark electric shuttle bus

    Zero emission shuttle now available at LAX

    “We are pleased to partner with Phoenix Motor Cars as we electrify our fleet of buses. We are committed to this technology and to providing our customers with a superior driving experience,” said L&R Head of Operations, Ed Pomponio.

    Each bus carries up to 14 passengers and their luggage between the airport’s terminals and the WallyPark parking location, about a four-mile roundtrip.

    Phoenix Motor Cars said each of the shuttles is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 tons of carbon dioxide per year compared with a conventional diesel shuttle. The buses have fast-charging capability, allowing full charging to take place in less than three hours.

    L&R operates airport shuttle services in 10 major metropolitan areas across the nation, including Joe’s Airport Parking. It will soon add electric shuttle buses to San Diego International and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airports.

     

     

    The post News: WallyPark Electric Shuttle Buses Now At Los Angeles International Airport appeared first on Clean Fleet Report.

  • MotoGP set for all-electric class in 2019 превод на български
     

    The world’s most popular motorcycle racing series is adding an all-electric class. Dorna CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, told Motorsport.com that an electric support series featuring up to 18 bikes could start competing as early as 2019.

    Plans are under way to have an electric series on the support bill for as many as five MotoGP races in 2019, with four manufacturers having offered to supply the grid of 18 bikes.

    The bikes are expected to reach speeds of around 200 km/h (124mph), making them slightly slower than the existing Moto3 bikes, while races are planned to last around 10 laps each.

    Electric motorcycles have been around long enough that the MotoGP class won’t be the first time they’ve seen serious competition. What started in 2010 as a zero-emissions class at the yearly Isle of Man TT motorcycle race is now dominated by electric bikes, and they’re quickly catching up to their gas-powered counterparts.

    Meanwhile in Australia the local superbike championship has run an eFXC electric Formula Xtreme class since 2011.

    While Formula E relies on carbon-neutral glycerine generators to recharge its cars between sessions, Ezpeleta wants the new MotoGP support series to use solar panels.

    “We want the batteries to be recharged from solar panels, not from generators like in other championships,” added Ezpeleta. “This way, we can leave something profitable for the circuits where the series races.”

May 09, 2017

  • Volvo Reiterates Big EV Plans, Starting in 2019 превод на български
     

    A year ago, Volvo unveiled the Volvo Concept 40.1—one of two sleek and sporty concept cars to introduce its new compact platform. The design accommodates electric and plug-in hybrid batteries.

    Volvo wants to be a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles. The EV goals expressed by the Swedish automaker, which is owned by Chinese company Geely, echoes similar claims by several manufacturers such as BMW, Ford and Volkswagen. These carmakers have announced big plans but have not yet produced electric cars in significant volumes. The first test of Volvo’s commitment will be delivering on its plans to debut its first all-electric model in 2019.

    The new Volvo EV is expected to rival the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3 regarding range and cost. It’s likely to use the company’s small 40-series platform, sell for under $40,000, and offer a driving range of about 250 miles.

    read more

May 08, 2017

  • Solar Racking Begins! превод на български
     
    I finally had a chance to start installing the Racking! My package with the S-5! clamps showed up, and I was able to begin the racking during two evenings of this past week. Let’s state two things right off the bat: 1) I am NOT a professional. I do not make a living doing this [...]