An EV battery is also called a traction battery or traction battery pack. Unlike a standard 12 volt starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) battery, an EV high voltage traction battery is designed to convert the chemical energy stored in the battery to electricity to power the electric motors that propel
Nissan will open up reservations for the Leaf, their flagship pure electric vehicle (Read the News Release) tomorrow May 15th. The Leaf will be delivered to select markets in December with an increasing distribution in the Spring of 2011 and a full rollout in 2012. The specifications for the Leaf
General Motors (GM) announced today that it will become the first major U.S. automaker to design and manufacture electric motors. In a press release, a GM vice chairman said that “In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now”. I am surprised the VP
It was announced yesterday that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) approved a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors – the electric California based automaker currently producing the Tesla Roadster. This loan is to help bring to market (in larger volumes) the Model S electric sedan. The Model S
The plug-in vehicle movement is in high gear. This week in Long Beach, CA the Plug-In 2009 Convention is attracting attention. Workshops include: Making Your Community Plug-In Ready – The Automaker Perspective; Community and City Infrastructure Planning; Electrical Codes and Regulations for EV Charging Equipment; Design of Charging Infrastructure for
General Motors hopes to begin selling the Chevy Volt in 2010. Tesla Motors currently sells the Tesla Roadster. Mitsubishi plans on selling the i MiEV. And now Best Buy is making its way as an electric vehicle retailer. Several media outlets (CNET, AutoBlog, Wall Street Journal) have reported that Best
Jay Leno, on Jay Leno’s Garage, recently test drove the Aptera 2e. The Aptera 2e is very lightweight and energy efficient. The Aptera 2e is actually registered as a motorcycle. Having an extremely low coefficient of drag (aerodynamics), is the key to the Aptera 2e. Features of the Aptera 2e
On the West Coast, electric charging stations are gaining attention once again. Portland General Electric (PGE), a utility that claims that their “customers are number one in the nation in purchasing renewable power”, is teaming up with Mitsubishi and the state of Oregon to create a network of charging stations
